bel,theMexihairless,strangecreaturesthatrarelyputofdoorsorsetfoottoground.Oherhand,therewerethefoxterriers,ascoreofthematleast,whoyelpedfearfulpromisesatTootsandYsabellookingoutofthewindowsatthemandprotectedbyalegionofhousemaidsarmedwithbroomsandmops.

    ButBuckwasherhousedognorkenneldog.Thewholerealmwashis.HepluotheswimmingtankorwenthuntingwiththeJudgessons;heescortedMollieandAlice,theJudgesdaughters,onlongtwilightorearlymrambles;onwintrynightshelayattheJudgesfeetbeforetherlibraryfire;hecarriedtheJudgesgrandsonsonhisback,orrolledtheminthegrass,andguardedtheirfootstepsthroughwildadventuresdowntothefountainiableyard,andevenbeyond,wherethepaddockswere,andtheberrypatches.Amoerriershestalkedimperiously,andTootsandYsabelheutterlyignored,forhewasking--kingoverallcreeping,crawling,flyingthingsofJudgeMillersplace,humansincluded.

    Hisfather,Elmo,ahugeSt.Bernard,hadbeentheJudgesinseparablepanion,andBuckbidfairtofollowinthewayofhisfather.Hewasnotse--heweighedonlyonehundredandfortypounds--forhismother,She,hadbeenaScotchshepherddog.heless,onehundredandfortypounds,towhichwasaddedthedignitythatesofgoodlivinganduniversalrespeabledhimtocarryhimselfinrightroyalfashion.Duringthefouryearssincehispuppyhoodhehadlivedthelifeofasatedaristocrat;hehadafineprideinhimself,wasevenatrifleegotistical,astrygentlemeimesbeebecauseoftheirinsularsituation.Buthehadsavedhimselfbynotbeingamerepamperedhousedog.Huntingandkidoordelightshadkeptdowandhardenedhismuscles;andtohim,astothecold-tubbingraces,thelov