sportsman, but this morning his countenance was
troubled. His clothes were covered with dust, and he looked generally
dishevelled.

"Hallo, Jim," said Richard cheerily. "How goes it? You look as if you'd
been out all night."

"I have," said Hammond grimly. "So have several other men."

"Why? What's up?"

"Outbreak of rabies at Barker's farm. He shot one of the dogs, but the
other got away. There must have been some damned mismanagement. A lot of
us have been out trying to find the brute all night."

"But, by Jove, this is most awfully serious. Can't I help? I'm ready to
start now if you like."

"Thanks, but I found the dog five minutes ago--dead in a ditch not
twenty yards from your gate. He's there still."

"Who shot him?"

"Nobody. That's the trouble. He had been killed by another dog, as
you'll see when you look at his windpipe. The chances are the other dog
got bitten or scratched, and he'll carry on the infection. It's the
other dog we've got to hunt."

"Could it be--" Richard paused.

"I'm afraid so," said Hammond. "Not many dogs would tackle a mad
retriever, but your bulldog would. And it was close to your gate that
the retriever was killed."

"If you'll wait half a minute, I'll see where Zero is."

But the dog was not to be found. Nobody had seen him that morning. In
truth, Richard had not expected to find him. He left word that if the
dog came back he was to be shut up in an empty stable. And then he and
Hammond went out together.

"You've got a revolver, I suppose," said Richard.

"I don't hunt mad dogs without one. This is most awfully hard lines on
you, Richard. He was a ripping good dog, Zero was."

"He was. It's Dick I'm thinking about. The dog was a great pal of his."

They found young Barker watching by the dead retriever. He explained
gloomily that he had sent a boy for a cart. The body would be taken back
and buried in lime. "And even then, sir, we've not got the dog that
killed him."

"We're just going to get him," said Richard quietly.

They walked on in silence for a mile and then at a turn of the road they
saw Zero, apparently asleep in the sunlight in the white dust.

"I ought to do this," said Richard, "but I wish you would."

"Right, old chap. It'll be over in a moment, and he'll be dead before he
knows he's hurt. Look the other way."

"Richard turned round and waited, as it seemed to him, for a long time,
waiting for the shot. Suddenly he heard Hammond's voice behind