not, barked incessantly at
us, wagging their tails at the same time, however, as if they had some
doubts of the correctness of their judgment in the matter. One very
small, very white, and very fluffy toy-dog, with a dove-coloured
ribbon, was--no doubt--incurably ill-tempered and inhospitable; but a
large brindled bull-dog, trying politely but vainly to hide his teeth
and tongue, wagged what the fancier had left him of a tail, and
dribbled with the pleasure of making our acquaintance, after the wont
of his benevolent and much-maligned family. I have since felt pretty
certain that Mr. Rowe gave his friend a sketch of our prospects and
intentions in the same spirit in which he had written to Mr. Johnson,
and I distinctly overheard the dog-fancier make some reply, in which
the words "hoffer a reward" were audible. But the barge-master shook
his head at suggestions probably drawn from his friend's professional
traditions, though the fancier told him some very good story about the
ill-tempered toy-dog, to which he referred with such violent jerks of
the head as threatened to throw his fur cap on to that of the brindled
gentleman who sat dripping and smiling at his feet.

When Mr. Rowe began to tell him something good in return, and in spite
of my utmost endeavours not to hear anything, the words "Linnet Flash"
became audible, I blushed to hear the fancier choking over his
shandy-gaff with laughter, and I feared at our project for settling on
the island.

The interview was now at an end, but as Mr. Rowe stepped briskly on
board, the fur cap nodded to the forehatch, where Fred and I were
sitting on coiled ropes, and the fancier said very knowingly, "The
better the breed the gamier the beast."

He patted the bull-dog as he said it, and the bull-dog kissed his
dirty hand.

"Hup to hanythink," were Mr. Rowe's parting words, as he went aft, and
the driver called to his horse.

He may have referred to the bull-dog, but I had some doubts about it,
even then.

CHAPTER X.

LOCKS--WE THINK OF GOING ON THE TRAMP--PYEBRIDGE--WE SET SAIL.

During our first day's voyage we passed two locks. There was one not
very far from home, and Fred and I had more than once been to see a
barge pass it, sitting on the bank whilst the boat gradually sank to
the level of the water below.

It was great fun being on board whilst the barge went down and down,
though I must say we did not feel anything peculiar, we sank so
gradually.