78 EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 



is smooth and brown; he is about 30 in. in 

 length from tip of nose to end of tail; his 

 height is about 7 in. from foot to shoulder ; 

 his belly 2 in. from the ground ; and he has 

 only one eye. He has a most powerful tail ; 

 it serves as a rudder and propeller. Of course, 

 when he goes with me I look upon myself as 

 his master, but he thinks very differently ; he 

 regards me as an inferior being. He patronises 

 me. " Good morning," he says, "going for 

 a walk ? I'll go with you." Off he goes, his 

 propeller wagging from side to side, his front 

 toes turned out, and his head erect. He keeps 

 about a hundred yards ahead of me, and every 

 now and then he turns round and says, "Now 

 do come along ; how slow you are ! " Then 

 he wags on till he comes to a turning; he 

 looks round again and says, "Which way 

 now ? " A nod and a gesture to right or left 

 is quite sufficient for him. Our walks are long 

 and varied. Sometimes he behaves very well 

 and sometimes quite the reverse. When, on 

 returning, we get within a quarter of a mile 

 of home, he suddenly stops and waits till I get 

 up to him. Then he makes me a little speech : 

 " Now, old man, I've brought you safely to this 



