94 PODGERS' POINTER 



ceeded to thrust and buffet beneath the seat where 

 Albatross lay concealed. The dog uttered no sound, 

 gave no sign. 



" There ain't no dog there at all," panted the 

 guard, whose exertions rendered him nearly apo- 

 plectic, proceeding to explore the recesses of the 

 carriage — " there ain't no dog here." 



A shout of terror, and the guard flung himself 

 out of the carriage, the dog hanging on not only to 

 his coat-tails, but to a portion of the garment which 

 their drapery concealed. " Take off your dog — 

 take off your dog. I'll be destroyed. Police ! 

 police ! I'll have the law of you ! " he yelled, in 

 an extremity of the utmost terror. 



Podgers, who was now nearly driven to his wits' 

 end, caught Albatross by the neck, and, bestowing 

 a series of well-directed kicks upon the devoted 

 animal, sent him howling off the platform, but 

 right under the train. 



The cry of " The dog will be killed ! " was raised 

 by a chorus of voices both from the carriages and 

 the platform. Happily, however, the now wary 

 Albatross lay flat upon the ground, and the train 

 went puffing on its way ; not, however, until the 

 guard had taken Podgers' name and address, with 

 a view to future proceedings through the medium 

 of the law. 



