"Why, you're all damp with the fog! Your master shouldn't have been so cruel as to leave you outside.

Where's Bob ?" Usually on being asked this question, Rover's invariable answer would be a short, sharp, joyous bark; but now, in place of this, the retriever put up his head and uttered a plaintive whine that was almost a howl.
It struck dismay into all their hearts; and on Sarah's opening the door at the same moment, Nell's question to the dog was now put to her.
"Where's Master Bob ?" The girl started back in astonishment.
"Law, mum!" said she, addressing her mistress, Mrs Gilmour.

"Ain't he with you, mum ?" "No," she replied, much frightened at Sarah's answer, or rather counter- question; while Mrs Strong grew as pale as death and Nellie clung to her convulsively, Rover's demeanour having roused their worst fears.
"You don't mean to say you haven't seen him ?" "No, mum, I thought he was with you," repeated the housemaid, beginning to cry as if accused of some fault.

"I've never set eyes on Master Bob since he went out to bathe before you did, mum, this morning!" "I wonder where the young rascal is ?" sang out the Captain in a jovial sort of way, to allay the alarm of the others and hide his own uneasiness.

"You'd better get inside out of the damp all of you while I go off to the coastguard-station.