lf-respecting hound could take exception to; with the assured,
gentle, knowledgeable touch which soothes and inspires confidence
in all animal folk. Then the four hounds must walk round once more
in single file. Then they must run to and fro, singly. And, lastly,
they must stand together to have the measuring standard applied to
their shoulders. Young Finn was the last to come under the
standard; and the Judge measured him four times over before he
would admit himself correct in pronouncing Finn full 35 1/4 inches
at the shoulder: "And I may say, sir, the biggest hound I ever
measured. Fifteen and a half months, you say? Tcha! Remarkable;
_re_-markable, sir." And this Judge knew more about Irish
Wolfhounds than any other man living.

Cormac's master was told that he could stand aside, and a murmur
went round the ring of spectators to the effect that Cormac was the
winner. Then Champion Munster was told to stand aside, and the
crowd placed him second. And then the Judge spent five reflective
minutes in pondering over Champion Dermot Asthore, the most famous
Irish Wolfhound of his day, and young Finn, his son, and the son of
beautiful Tara. The crowd wondered which of these two was to have
third prize, the celebrated old champion or the tyro.

At last the Judge drew back, saying: "That will do, thank you!"

The crowd surged round the notice-board. Excitement ran high now,
for this was the most important Wolfhound class of the whole show,
and the stewards were approaching the board to pin up the winning
numbers. The Master glanced across at the Mistress of the Kennels,
and stooped then to fondle Finn's ears, and murmur nonsense words
to him. Then he, too, pressed forward to the notice-board, and read
the awards, thus:--

1st...No. 247.
2nd...No. 248.
3rd...No. 261.
V.H.C...No. 256.
H.C...No. 259.

Not daring to be quite certain, the Master drew out the little
medal from beside Finn's collar, and read again on it Finn's
number: 247. By this single judgment, then, Finn was declared
winner of the Open class for Irish Wolfhound dogs, and that meant
that, unless a bitch could be found to beat him, Finn also won the
Challenge Shield for best Irish Wolfhound in the Show. Champion
Dermot Asthore, his sire, came second, Champion Munster third,
Cormac very highly commended, and a dog called Patrick highly
commended.

A moment later the Mistress of the Kennels was in possession of the
great news, and her arms