FIDELITY OF TRAMP. 329 



fidelity : in the soft sand between the rails I saw the 

 print of a man's footstep, not anything like so large 

 a foot as mine, and yet, when I placed mine purposely 

 by it, it was evident that the stranger was heavier 

 than I was or carried some weight, for he sank 

 much deeper in the sand. Short as the space 

 permitted me was, I took notice of the nails of his 

 shoes and any peculiarity on heels or soles ; and, so 

 true had Tramp been to the trail, that in one place 

 he had actually stepped into the footprint of the 

 man. There was the foot-print of a second man, 

 but that I did not much observe. The ditch of the 

 embankment was wet where Tramp jumped it, and 

 he checked on the other side; but my eye caught 

 sio-ht of the bottom of the ditch as I got over, and 

 I saw that the water was newly mudded. A little 

 lower down the ditch was dry again, and there were 

 the small footsteps of my friend once more ! Calling 

 now in full confidence to Tramp, I set him right, and 

 he carried the scent some distance down the ditch, 

 and then away faster than ever in his long trot up 

 the heathery hill and into the high furze towards the 

 village of Burley, notorious for more than one bad 

 character. Up the hill I followed to where Tramp 

 disappeared, but, before I got there. Tramp returned 

 as if seeking me, with great quickness in his manner 

 and anxiety that I should arrive ; he disappeared for a 

 moment again, and then, as I neared the spot, he came 

 to meet me, full of jumping joy and congratulation, 

 and so lie led me on into and through the gorse at 

 times, more by the motion he gave it than any sight 

 I had of him, till I came up to him, standing joy- 

 fully on guard over the body of the recaptured 

 deer. We were then not far from the village, and 



