ogs sobered down and trotted beside him,
each trying to walk with its sharp-pointed muzzle thrust into one of his
hands.

"Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle," came from a great tree which sheltered one
side of the house, and the dogs looked up and barked.

"'Morning, young master," came in a harsh, cracked voice: "smart
morning. Here, you two: I'm just going to feed old Nibbler, and I'll
give you a share."

There was the rattle of a chain hard by, and a heavy bark, as a great
dog like a greyhound that had grown stout, came out of a kennel formed
of a barrel laid on its side. The great beast looked at the two collies
and growled, while the latter set up the dense frills of hair about
their necks and showed their teeth.

"None o' that, now!" cried old Samson. "You three have got to be
friends. You don't know Nibbler, Master Nicklas."

"Dominic," cried the boy.

"Ah, I allus forget. Missus has told me your name times enough, too. I
can allus recklect that there's a Nic in it. Hi, you, Nib, this here's
the young master--young master! d'yer hear?"

The dog growled, but wagged its tail.

"We calls him Nibbler, sir; but he's a biter, and no mistake, ain't yer,
old man? You ought to ha' had him with yer when them blacks come
yesterday. He don't mind spears and boomerangs, do you, Nib?"

The dog growled and showed its teeth.

"Pst, lad!--blackfellow."

The dog made a bound to the full extent of its chain, and uttered a deep
bay.

"All right, Nib. Gone!" cried Samson, showing his yellow teeth.
"Breakfast."

The dog's manner changed directly.

"Come and pat him, Master Nico-de--Dick-o-me--I say, sir, hadn't I
better keep to Nic?"

"Yes, if you like," replied the boy, approaching the great dog, but only
to be received with a low growl.

"Ah!" shouted Samson, "didn't I tell you this was young master come
home? Down!"

The dog threw itself on its side, blinked at him with one eye and raised
one paw deprecatingly, as it slowly rapped the ground with its long thin
tail.

"Now come and put your foot on his neck, sir, and pat his head. Don't
you be afraid."

"I'm not going to be," said Nic; though he felt a little nervous, and
thought of the consequences of a snap from those steel-trap jaws.

"That's right, sir. There--you'll be friends enough after this, Nibbler
knows."

But Nibbler shook his head and growled, for the collies, after
protesting, whining jealously at Nic's favours being bestowed upon a