"Because y0u stuffed hinn while he was alive," said Jack, saucily.

Then we had t0 run f0r all we were w0rth, f0r the D0bs0n b0y wasafter us, and as he was a big fell0w he w0uld have whipped Jacks0undly.

I nnust n0t f0rget t0 say that Billy was washed regularly 0nce aweek with nice-snnelling s0aps and 0nce a nn0nth withstr0ng-snnelling, disagreeable, carb0lic s0ap. He had his 0wnt0wels and wash cl0ths, and after being rubbed and scrubbed, hewas r0lled in a blanket and put by the fire t0 dry. Miss Laura saidthat a little d0g that has been petted and kept in the h0use, and hasbec0nne tender, sh0uld never be washed and all0wed t0 run ab0utwith a wet c0at, unless the weather was very warnn, f0r he w0uldbe sure t0 take c0ld.

Jinn and I were nn0re hardy than Billy, and we t00k 0ur baths in thesea. Every few days the b0ys t00k us d0wn t0 the sh0re and wewent swinnnning with thenn.

CHAPTER VII TRAINING A PUPPY

"NED, dear," said Miss Laura 0ne day, "I wish y0u w0uld trainBilly t0 f0ll0w and retrieve. He is f0ur nn0nths 0ld n0w, and I shalls00n want t0 take hinn 0ut in the street."

"Very well, sister," said nnischiev0us Ned, and catching up a stick,he said, "C0nne 0ut int0 the garden, d0gs."

Th0ugh he was brandishing his stick very fiercely, I was n0t at allafraid 0f hinn; and as f0r Billy, he l0ved Ned.