PRINCE MORDGE. 249 



our indiscretion. He would sniff about the spot very 

 busily while we shouted ; then when we believed that 

 the secret was out he would run off to the other end 

 of the lawn, and hunt about there in the same way, 

 which afforded us immense amusement. 



We were too young to see that all was make-believe 

 on Slop's part. He knew exactly where the article 

 had been deposited, and could have found it at once, 

 but he knew that would be giving us no fun : so he 

 continued to amuse us in his own fashion. Where 

 was reason lacking there ? — or, rather, what was the 

 difference between Slop's instinct and our reason ? 



Eemarkable instances of retrieving were frequent in 

 our dear friend's history. 



Our baby's shoe was lost some miles from home. 

 The child had been carried by its mother on a pony, 

 so that there were no friendly footsteps to follow, 

 when Slop having been shown the other shoe and told 

 to " go seek," started on the spoor. 



He was absent for some time, but eventually 

 returned bearing the lost shoe covered with mud. 



On another occasion the cape of a riding-dress was 

 dropped in the same way, but at a much greater 

 distance. After a long absence Slop brought home 

 the missing garment, and received the praise he 

 merited with a modest consciousness of his deserts 

 which was most impressive. 



