“Within a narrow limit, and concerning familiar things, the understanding of human speech by these intelligent little terriers is very truly remarkable. At mention of the wee lassie he looked behind for his rough old friend and unfailing refuge. Auld Jack’s absence discovered, Bobby promptly dropped from the seat of honour and from the cart tail, sniffed the smoke of Edinboro’s town, and faced right about. To the farmer’s peremptory call he returned the spicy repartee of a cheerful bark. It was as much as to say:
‘Dinna fash yersel’! I ken what I’m aboot.”