squeal of fear, and saw a dark
spot blotting the smoothness of the lake's frozen surface. The Sheep was
struggling helplessly in an ice-hole of his own making. Rupert gave one
loud curse, and then dashed full tilt for the shore; outside a low stable
building on the lake's edge he remembered having seen a ladder. If he
could slide it across the ice-hole before the Sheep went under the rescue
would be comparatively simple work. Other skaters were dashing up from a
distance, and, with the ladder's help, they could get him out of his
death-trap without having to trust themselves on the margin of rotten
ice. Rupert sprang on to the surface of lumpy, frozen snow, and
staggered to where the ladder lay. He had already lifted it when the
rattle of a chain and a furious outburst of growls burst on his hearing,
and he was dashed to the ground by a mass of white and tawny fur. A
sturdy young yard-dog, frantic with the pleasure of performing his first
piece of actice guardian service, was ramping and snarling over him,
rendering the task of regaining his feet or securing the ladder a matter
of considerable difficulty. When he had at last succeeded in both
efforts he was just by a hair's-breadth too late to be of any use. The
Sheep had definitely disappeared under the ice-rift.

Kathleen Athling and her husband stay the greater part of the year with
Rupert, and a small Robbie stands in some danger of being idolised by a
devoted uncle. But for twelve months of the year Rupert's most
inseparable and valued companion is a sturdy tawny and white yard-dog.

THE OVERSIGHT

"It's like a Chinese puzzle," said Lady Prowche resentfully, staring at a
scribbled list of names that spread over two or three loose sheets of
notepaper on her writing-table. Most of the names had a pencil mark
running through them.

"What is like a Chinese puzzle?" asked Lena Luddleford briskly; she
rather prided herself on being able to grapple with the minor problems of
life.

"Getting people suitably sorted together. Sir Richard likes me to have a
house party about this time of year, and gives me a free hand as to whom
I should invite; all he asks is that it should be a peaceable party, with
no friction or unpleasantness."

"That seems reasonable enough," said Lena.

"Not only reasonable, my dear, but necessary. Sir Richard has his
literary work to think of; you can't expect a man to concentrate on the
tribal disputes of Central Asian c