Mr. Prideaux himself sponged his favourite with hot soap and water,
and, to his astonishment, he perceived wounds of a serious nature:
the dog's throat was badly torn, his back and breast were deeply
bitten, and there could be no doubt that he had been worried by a
pack of dogs. This was a strange occurrence, that Turk should be
discomfited!

He was now washed clean, and was being rubbed dry with a thick
towel while he stood upon a blanket before the kitchen fire....
"Why, Turk, old boy, what has been the matter? Tell us all about
it, poor old man!" exclaimed his master.

The dog was now thoroughly warmed, and he panted with the heat of
the kitchen fire; he opened his mouth, ... _and the guinea which
he had received in trust dropped on the kitchen floor_!...

"There is some mystery in this," said Mr. Prideaux, "which I
will endeavour to discover to-morrow.... He has been set upon by
strange dogs, and rather than lose the guinea, he has allowed
himself to be half killed without once opening his mouth in
self-defence! Poor Turk!" continued his master, "you must have lost
your way, old man, in the darkness and storm; most likely confused
after the unequal fight. What an example you have given us wretched
humans in being steadfast to a trust!"

Turk was wonderfully better after his warm bath. He lapped up a
large bowl of good thick soup mixed with bread, and in half an hour
was comfortably asleep upon his thick rug by his master's bedroom
door....