The strange thing was that Missis felt quite calm. She tried to comfort the Setter, saying they would go to some barn.

But no arrangements are made,€ wailed the Setter. And there’s no spare food anywhere. All the village dogs brought what they could to the bakery.€

Just then came a shrill whistle.

My pet is calling me,€ said the Setter. He’s the doctor here. There’s no dog at the bakery, so I was chosen to arrange everything because I took first prize in a dog show. And now I’ve failed you.€

You have not failed,€ said Missis. No one could say the fire was act of dog. Go back to your pet and don’t worry. We shall simply go on to the next village.€

Really? said the Setter, gasping again but with relief.

Missis kissed her on the nose. Off with you, my dear, and don’t give the matter another thought. And thank you for all you did.

The whistle came again, and the Setter ran off, wildly waving her feathered tail.

Feather-brained as well as feather-tailed,€ said Pongo.

Just very young,€ said Missis gently. I doubt if she’s had a family yet. Well, on to the next village.€

Thank you for being so brave, dear Missis,€ said Pongo. But where is the next village?€

In the country there are villages in every direction,€ said Missis brightly.

Desperately worried though he was, Pongo smiled lovingly at her. Then he said, We will go to the road now.€

But what about traffic, Pongo?€

We shall not be very long on the road,€ said Pongo.

Then he told her what he had decided. Even if the next village should only be a few miles away, many of the pups were too tired and too hungry to get there some of them were already asleep on the frozen ground. And every minute it got colder.

And even if we could get to the next village, where should we sleep? Missis, what should we eat, with no plans made ahead? We must give in, my dear. Come, wake the pups! Quick march, everyone!€

The waking pups whimpered and shivered, and Missis saw that even the strongest pups were now wretchedly cold. So she helped Pongo to make them all march briskly.

Then she whispered, But how do we give in, Pongo?€

Pongo said, We must go into the village and find the police station.

Missis stared at him in horror. No, Pongo, no! The police will take the puppies from us!€

But they will feed them, Missis. And perhaps we shall be kept together until Mr. Dearly has been told about us. They will have read the papers. They will know we are the Missing Dalmatians.€

But we are not Dalmatians any more, Pongo,€ cried Missis. We are black. They will think we are ordinary stray dogs. And we are illegal ninety-nine dogs without collars. We shall be put in prison.€