CH. VI.'] A Strange Use for a Dog's Tail. 1 1 1 



I saw at once that three of the latter were 

 very good and up to their work ; but there 

 was a fourth, a nondescript sort of beast with 

 a long tail, that appeared quite useless ; and 

 I observed with amusement that directly the 

 man put a ferret into a hole, the dog tucked 

 its tail tight between its legs and went and 

 stood well out in the field. I asked the man 

 why he kept such a useless beast, and with 

 a chuckle he answered, " Well, mate, I'll 

 own up he ain't much to boast on for rat- 

 killing, nor yet for looks, but he has his use 

 like some other of we h-ugly ones. You see, 

 sir, I've got one or two ferrets as won't come 

 out of a 'ole, but stand a peeping at the 

 h-entrance and waste a lot of time. Then 

 that 'ere dawg comes in useful. I catches 

 him, lifts him up, and sticks his bushy tail 

 down to the ferret, who catches tight hold, 

 and I draws it out. Nothing ain't made for 

 nothing, and I expect that dawg was made 



