ly affected by a breeze or a wet jacket--
began at last to undermine the health of the stout seaman. He became
somewhat gaunt and hollow-cheeked, and his beard and moustache, which of
course he could not shave, and which, for a long time, presented the
appearance of stubble, added to the lugubriosity of his aspect.

As a climax to his distress, he one day lost his dog! When it went off,
or where it went to, he could not tell, but, on rousing up one morning
and putting out his hand almost mechanically to give it the accustomed
pat of salutation, he found that it was gone.

A thrill of alarm passed through his frame on making this discovery,
and, leaping up, he began to shout its name. But no answering bark was
heard. Again and again he shouted, but in vain. Without taking time to
put on his coat, he ran to the top of the nearest eminence, and again
shouted loud and long. Still no answer.

A feeling of desperate anxiety now took possession of the man. The bare
idea of being left in utter loneliness drove him almost distracted. For
some time he ran hither and thither, calling passionately to his dog,
until he became quite exhausted; then he sat down on a rock, and
endeavoured to calm his spirit and consider what he should do.
Indulging in his tendency to think aloud, he said--

"Come now, John, don't go for to make a downright fool of yerself.
Cuffy has only taken a longer walk than usual. He'll be home to
breakfast; but you may as well look a bit longer, there's no sayin' wot
may have happened. He may have felled over a precepiece or sprain'd his
leg. Don't you give way to despair anyhow, John Jarwin, but nail yer
colours to the mast, and never say die."

Somewhat calmed by these encouraging exhortations, the sailor rose up
and resumed his search in a more methodical way. Going down to the sea,
he walked thence up to the edge of the bush, gazing with the utmost
intensity at the ground all the way, in the hope of discovering Cuffy's
fresh footsteps; but none were to be seen.

"Come," said he, "it's clear that you haven't gone to the s'uth'ard o'
yer home; now, we'll have a look to the nor'ard."

Here he was more successful. The prints of Cuffy's small paws were
discovered on the wet sand bearing northward along shore. Jarwin
followed them up eagerly, but, coming to a place where the sand was hard
and dry, and covered with thin grass, he lost them. Turning back to
where they were distinct, he recommenc