MY DOG, SLOP. 237- 



calmly as I was able, to calculate the chances for and 

 against a rescue. 



" Everything depended upon Slop. On all previous 

 occasions, when I had sent him home with messages, 

 he had only at most a few miles of hill or moor to 

 traverse. But now he had to cross Balta, then cross 

 the sound — nearly half a mile in width, as I have 

 said — and still he was two miles from home. I knew 

 there were many things that might distract, deter, 

 or detain him ; and a very short detention would 

 be certain death to me. Suppose he started a 

 rabbit on the way, might he not forget his errand, 

 and pursue ? Then another terrible fear took posses- 

 sion of me. Slop always rolled and rubbed himself 

 on the grass when he came out of the water. What 

 if my handkerchief got detached, and was lost ? What 

 if my pencil-scrawl, soaked with water, became unread- 

 able ? But even should none of these things happen, 

 would Slop be noticed as soon as he reached home ? 

 It would need to be as soon. Men, I knew, could not 

 be got at a moment's notice ; they must be sent for 

 from some little distance ; and after manning the 

 nearest and handiest boat, fully four miles of sea 

 must be traversed ere help could reach me. And 

 there was now left but the slenderest margin for 

 possible delay. The flood-tide had been running for 

 an hour. In three hours at most, the Skerry 

 would be covered. What should I do ? I well 

 remember the lines kept recurring to me again and 

 again : 



