The Dwarf Woman 169

morning came he had an idea. He had
sniffed about here, there, and everywhere, and
at last found something in the air which
was like the taste of honey-cakes. The same
thing had struck him when he smelt the
letter, and as he remembered Ju-Ju talking
about the dwarf woman and her basket, he
began to think that she might have some-
thing to do with the children’s disappearance.
He wished very much that he could explain
this to his master and mistress, and his eyes
had that wistful look in them which means
that a dog longs to say something and can’t ;
for it is only the children that can understand
beast language, and not always they. But
his mistress was sure he was sorry for them,
and she patted his head and cried.

So off he started by himself, hoping the
farm would get on in his absence, and, after
a good many doubts, felt sure that he was
well on the scent of the honey-cakes. Every
now and then he lost it, but, by sniffing and
sniffing perseveringly, found it again, and
trotted along at a good round steady pace,