there are fire-engines?"

"There may be very good ones now. In my time nothing could be more
futile than the trumpery one which was carried on men's shoulders.
Indeed, until the streets are much less rough, narrow, and steep, I do
not see how one could be _driven_ at any speed."

"Did the men who carried the engine run?"

"Yes, and at a good swinging pace too, their half-naked bodies streaming
with perspiration, and (I should have thought) their labours quite
doubled by yelling as they ran. Their cries are echoed by the
formidable-looking band which follows, waving long poles armed with
hooks, &c., for pulling down houses to stop the progress of the flames.
On the heels of these figures follow mounted officials, whose dignity is
in a fixed proportion to the extent of the calamity. If the fire is a
very very extensive one, the Sultan himself has to be upon the spot."

"It must be very exciting," said Fred, in a tone of relish.

"You've told us lots about Constantinople now, Cousin Peregrine," said
Maggie, who had the air of having heard quite enough on the subject;
"now tell us about why you said Ponto never was in Constantinople. Don't
the Turks keep dogs?"

"Not as we do, for pets and friends; and yet the dog population of
Constantinople is more numerous and powerful, and infinitely more noisy,
than I can easily describe to you."

"Whom do they belong to then?"

"They have no special masters or mistresses. They are more like troops
of wolves than a collection of Pontos."

"But who gives them their dinners?"

"They live on offal and the offscourings of the city, and though the
Turks freely throw all their refuse into their streets, there are so
many dogs that they are all half-starved. They are very fierce, and have
as a rule a great dislike to strangers. At night they roam about the
streets, and are said to fall upon any one who does not carry a
lantern."

"But does anybody carry a lantern--except the watchmen?"

"Everybody does. Coloured paper lanterns, like the Chinese ones, with a
bit of candle inside. With one of these in one hand and a heavy stone or
stick in the other, you may get safely through a night-walk among the
howling dogs of Stamboul."

"What horrible beasts!"

"I think you would pity them if you were there. They are half starved,
and have no friends."

"There isn't a home for lost and starving dogs in Constantinople then?"

"The whole city may be considered as the headquarters of sta