The plan was that Lucky should bring his brothers and sisters out to the stableyard while the Badduns were watching television.

But it will be too cold for them to stay out long,€ said the Colonel, and I don’t see why you shouldn’t go back into the kitchen with them. Lucky tells me there’s no light except from the T.V. screen, so if you crunch down you should be quite safe. Even if the Badduns do see you, they’ll just think you’re two of the larger pups. But there’s hardly any chance you will be seen because Lucky tells me the Badduns stay glued to the T.V. until it ends and then roll over and go to steep they’ve got mattresses on the kitchen floor. I see no reason why you shouldn’t spend the night there. I’ll call you at dawn and you can get out before the Badduns wake.€

Pongo and Missis thought this was a wonderful idea.

Can we sleep there every night?€ asked Missis.

The Colonel said he hoped so and that it was at night that the pups would have to be drilled and trained for their march to London.

Lucky says nothing wakes the Badduns, so I plan to come into the kitchen. I shall hold classes there and drill ten pups at a time in the stableyard. But you two must spend a quiet night there first and report conditions to me.€

By now they were almost at the stableyard.

Don’t tell me any more now, Colonel,€ said Pongo. I’m too excited to take it in. Are you all right, Missis?€

For Missis was trembling. I can’t believe I’m really going to see them,€ she said.

The Colonel opened the gate to the stableyard. Missis gave a soft moan and hurled herself across the yard. She had seen Lucky. There he stood, at the back door, waiting for them.

And behind him, in the long, dark passage leading to the kitchen, were all his brothers and sisters. Who could describe what the mother and father felt during the next few minutes, as they tried to cuddle fifteen wagging, wriggling, licking puppies all at once? Everyone tried to be quiet, but there were so many whimpers of bliss, so much happy snuffling, that the Sheepdog got nervous.

Will they hear in there?€ he asked Lucky.

What, the Badduns?€ said Lucky rather indistinctly, because he had his mother’s ear in his mouth. No, they’ve got their precious television on extra loud.€

Still, the Colonel was relieved when the first joy of the meeting was over.

Quiet, now!€ said Pongo.

Quiet as mice!€ said Missis.

But they were pleasantly surprised at how quiet the pups instantly were. The only sound came from some dead leaves stirred by fifteen lashing little tails.

Now, still!€ said Lucky.

All the tails stopped wagging.