138 A DOG OF FLANDERS.

season. The boy and the dog went
on again wearily: they asked no
more,

By slow and painful ways they
reached Antwerp as the chimes
tolled ten.

“Tf I had anything about me I
could sell to get him bread!” thought
Nello; but he had nothing except the
wisp of linen and serge that covered
him, and his pair of wooden shoes.

Patrasche understood, and nestled -
his nose -into the lad’s hand, as
though to pray him not to be dis- ©
quieted for any woe or want of his.

The winner of the drawing-prize
was to be proclaimed at noon, and to
the public building where he had left
his treasure Nello made his way.