wriggling desperately round, made its teeth meet in its adversary's
shirt. At which M'Adam shook it gently and laughed. Then he set
to examining it.

Apparently some six weeks old; a tawny coat, fiery eyes, a square
head with small, cropped ears, and a comparatively immense jaw;
the whole giving promise of great strength, if little beauty. And
this effect was enhanced by the manner of its docking. For the
miserable relic of a tail, yet raw, looked little more than a red
button adhering to its wearer's stern.

M'Adam's inspection was as minute as it was apparently absorbing;
he omitted nothing from the square muzzle to the lozenge-like
scut. And every now and then he threw a quick glance at the man
at the window, who was watching the careful scrutiny a thought
uneasily.

"Ye've cut him short," he said at length, swinging round on the
drover.

"Ay; strengthens their backs," the big man answered with averted
gaze.

M'Adam's chin went up in the air; his. mouth partly opened and his
eyelids partly closed as he eyed his informant.

"Oh, ay," he said.

"Gie him back to me," ordered the drover surlily. He took the
puppy and set it on the floor; whereupon it immediately resumed