tah
birthday present than this trip has been. The only thing about it that has
made me unhappy for a minute is that I must leave Hero and nevah see him
again. He follows me just as well now as he does his mastah."

The Major came back from his long climb up the mountain, very tired. "It
is more than I should have undertaken the first day," he said, "but back
here in the scenes of my boyhood I find it hard to realise that I am an
old, old man. I'll be rested in the morning, however, ready for whatever
comes."

But in the morning he was still much exhausted, and came down-stairs
leaning heavily on his cane. He asked to be excused from going up on the
Rigi with them. He said that he would stay at home and sit in the sun and
rest. They offered to postpone the trip, but he insisted on their going
without him. They must be moving on to Zuerich, soon, he reminded them, and
they might not have another day of such perfect weather, for the
excursion.

Hero stood looking from the Major in his chair, to the Little Colonel,
standing with her hat and jacket on, ready to start. He could not
understand why he and his master should be left behind, and walked from
one to the other, wagging his tail and looking up questioningly into their
faces.

"Go, if you wish," said the Major, kindly patting his head. "Go and take
good care of thy little Christine. Let no harm befall her this day!" The
dog bounded away as if glad of the permission, but at the door turned
back, and seeing that the Major was not following, picked up his hat in
his mouth. Then, carrying it back to the Major, stood looking up into his
master's face, wagging his tail.

The Major took the hat and laid it on the table beside him. "No, not
to-day, good friend," he said, smiling at the dog's evident wish to have
him go also. "You may go without me, this time. Call him, Christine, if
you wish his company."

"Come Hero, come on," called Lloyd. "It's all right."

The Major waved his hand toward her, saying, "Go, Hero. Guard her well and
bring her back safely. The dear little Christine!" The name was uttered
almost in a whisper.

With a quick, short bark, Hero started after the Little Colonel, staying
so closely by her side that they entered the train together before the
guard could protest. If he could have resisted the appealing look in the
Little Colonel's eyes as she threw an arm protectingly around Hero's neck,
he could not find it in his heart to refuse the silver