254 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



the same class of objects — birds' nests, running brooks, 

 morsels of sticks and stone, rabbit tracks, stray ponies, 

 fishing-boats; but though Slop enjoyed such rambles 

 as much as we did, he never forgot, like us, how time 

 Hies. When he believed that it was time to go home 

 he would look up at us, and say, by means of eyes 

 and tail, " No more asides, please ; " and if that did not 

 elicit prompt obedience, he would pull our skirts, then 

 trot ahead, and look back to make sure he was followed. 

 He was obliged more than once to use the extreme 

 measure of showing his teeth, and he soon had us in 

 such good order that we never disobeyed beyond that, 

 and seldom to such an extent. I have since wondered 

 what Slop would have done if we had dared hira 

 beyond that limit. 



Our peregrinations were many and varied, and 

 earned for us the title of The Pilgrims. On one 

 occasion we went to visit an old nurse, and as she 

 kept a big black dog with whom Slop could never 

 agree, it was deemed best to leave him at home. 

 Our expedition was not likely to be a dangerous 

 one. No rocks or water by the way. No biting 

 grice or wild bull. We had leave to stay for some 

 time if Mam Willa was agreeable, and no hour was 

 fixed for our return, but we knew that we were ex- 

 pected to be at home before nine. But how could we 

 tell the time ? I do not think that question was per- 

 mitted sufficient weight afterwards. 



We left Mam Willa about five o'clock, but in 

 passing through a hamlet we were invited to join 



