NO MAN'S LAND. 179 



No man, woman, or child is to be seen — not even 

 a dog — though we doubt not keen eyes are watching 

 us as we pass along, for a strange face is a note- 

 ' worthy object here. As a rule, I never go to the 

 door of one of these lonely cottages unless I am 

 actually compelled to ask my way. For one thing, 

 there is certain to be a dog about somewhere, and 

 more likely than not he is loose. You may get up 

 to the door without the brute's appearing to notice 

 you in the least, but you will not go out of the gate 

 again in the same state of security. If you knock — 

 I speak from experience — no answer will you get. 

 Some of the inmates, however, will be deliberately 

 taking stock of you from some crack or cranny 

 of the place. You turn at last to go, and find that 

 the dog has come out upon you from some hole or 

 corner, and is close behind you, giving you very 

 plainly to understand that you will not go out at 

 that gate until he knows what you have come in 

 for. There is no mistaking him ; if you appear to 

 do so, he is fully prepared to settle the matter in 

 his own way. 



I feel there is no use in trying to shuffle ; so I 

 gently shift my hold on a trusty ash staff, my in- 



