Minäpoika

Himself might look like an ordinary common or garden dog as he sat up there in front of Timothy the Tinker's caravan, but not a bit of it! Himself was the one and only talking dog in the whole of Ireland, or, for that matter, in all the world!

Himself could have been famous, but he and Timothy were perfectly happy just talking and travelling as they bowled along the lanes of Ireland day after day in the brown and red caravan. Not for Himself a life on show to crowds of people! He wanted to dig and run and sniff, to be free to do what he liked when he liked, so he and Timothy kept his talking a big secret just between the two of them.

But secrets cannot be kept for ever. In spring time Timothy went to visit his brother, who was a monk and needed money to look after a hundred hungry orphans. Himself's dangerous secret could be kept no longer, and that was how he fell into the hands of the cruellest, greediest kidnappers he could ever imagine, the wicked Josiah Crouch and his accomplice Von Tripp!

Would he ever see Timothy and the caravan again, or come back to Ireland to help the orphans? A lesser dog would never have managed it, but Himself was determined, resourceful and clever, and he vowed he would never give up.

Himself is a splendid hero, good hearted and full of fun, yet with plenty of common sense to match his cheeky charm.