He tail-wagged good-bye to Perdita, then started off briskly along the Outer Circle, looking very spirited. Missis kept pace with him; but after its last wag to Perdita, her tail went down.

After a few minutes, Pongo said, Are you warmer now, Missis?€

Yes, Pongo,€ said Missis, still shivering. And still her tail was down.

Pongo knew that if he could not cheer her up she would never be able to face the hardships that lay ahead. And he thought he could do with some cheering up himself. So he began a little speech, intended to give them both courage.

I sometimes think,€ he said, that you and I have become a bit pampered. Well, pampering does good dogs no harm, provided they don’t come to depend on it. If they do, they become old before their time. We should never lose our liking for adventure, never forget our wild ancestry.€ (They were then passing the Zoo). Oh, I know we are worried about the puppies, but the more we worry, the less we shall be able to help them. We must be brave, we must even be gay, we must know we cannot fail. Are you warmer now, Missis?€

Yes, Pongo,€ said Missis. But still she shivered and still her tail drooped.

They were now nearly at the bridge which leads from the Outer Circle towards Camden Town.

Stop for a moment,€ said Pongo. And he turned and looked back along the curve of the Circle. No car was in sight, no light was in any window. The lamp-posts were like sentinels guarding the sleeping park.

Think of the day when we come back with fifteen puppies running behind us,€ said Pongo.

Oh, Pongo, are you sure?€

Absolutely sure,€ said Pongo. Are you a little warmer now, dear Missis?

Yes, Pongo,€ said Missis, And this time it is true.

Then onwards to Suffolk!€ said Pongo.

And as they ran towards the bridge, Missis carried her tail as high as his.

Not too high, Missis dear,€ said Pongo. Let our hearts be gay, but not our tails.€ For when a Dalmatian’s tail is curled high over the back it is called a gay€ tail and is a bad fault.

Missis was still laughing at this little joke when her heart gave a wild flutter. Coming towards them was a policeman.

Instantly Pongo led the way into a back street, and they were soon safely out of the policeman’s sight. But seeing him had reminded Missis of something.

Oh, Pongo!€ she wailed. We are illegal. We are out without our collars.€

And a good thing, too,€ said Pongo, for a dog can be grabbed by the collar. But I do wish we could have brought your coat.€ He had noticed that she was shivering again though this time it was because she had been scared by the policeman.