The Sheepdog looked worried not that anyone could see this, as his expressions were always hidden by hair. What was he to do, at a moment’s notice, with ninety-seven Dalmatian puppies and two full-grown Dalmatians? At last he said, Our big barn for the night, anyway. Pups can keep warm in the straw. It’s only half a mile across the heath.

Half a mile! How little to Pongo and Missis! How much, how terribly much to the tiny Cadpig! After even a few hundred yards, Pongo was in despair about the long journey to London which lay ahead.

The big pups ran along happily. The medium-sized pups did quite well. Even most of the smaller pups looked as if they were capable of a reasonably long walk. But the smallest pups of all, Pongo’s own family how were they to walk over seventy miles? Lucky, Patch, Roly Poly, and the other boys struggled along bravely, but the girls stumbled and panted and had to have many rests. As for the Cadpig, she would never have reached the farm at all if the Sheepdog had not given her a lift. He lay down, and she climbed onto his back and held on to his long hair with her teeth. Even so, she nearly slipped off twice.

She could never stay on our smooth backs,€ said Missis to Pongo. If only I could wheel her in a doll’s perambulator!

You couldn’t walk to London on your hind legs, said Pongo, even if we had a peramabulator.€

At last they reached the big barn at the back of the farm where the Colonel lived. The tired pups snuggled into the hay and straw and instantly fell asleep. Pongo, Missis, and the Colonel stood at the door, trying to make plans.

The Colonel said, I can’t keep you here long. You would be found besides, I couldn’t feed so many. We must get you to London by easy stages, just a few miles a day.

But where shall we sleep? Where shall we find food?€ said Pongo anxiously.

It will need tremendous organization,€ said the Colonel. I hope to arrange the first stage at once, by Midnight Barking. I must bark some distance from the farm, or I shall wake my pets.€

Pongo offered to bark with him, but the Sheepdog would not hear of it. You two must rest. It’s now nearly ten o’clock. If my plan goes well I shall wake you at four, when there will still be over three hours of darkness. That will be long enough to get you to the place I have in mind.€

But my smallest daughter is so weak,€ said Missis. How can she make any journey?€

The Colonel smiled not that anyone could see that. I have a plan for the little lass,€ he said. Now, sleep, sleep, both of you.€