However, what the night watchman could not do, Jack could easily accomplish, and barked practically the whole night long to guard the house from intruders. One night there was no sound of barking. It was well known that leopards stalked the hills in the night and took away dogs and sheep. A leopard – known as a ‘bageraa’– would frequently stalk the hill on which St. Andrews was situated. It was feared that it had taken Jacky away. However, Jacky’s coat lay there in good condition, which would not have been the case had the leopard attacked him. Shri Nathji’s suspicion went on a servant in the house known as Chhote Lal as well as Victor, both of whom were capable of taking the dog away and selling him.
The next day there was a “questioning” of Victor and Chhote Lal by Shri Nathji and Mateshwari, in a state of high excitement, flourishing walking sticks to make them “talk”, a drama that ended by both the attendants proclaiming their innocence to the high heavens. The children ran about with shrill cries of joy thinking a game was afoot. It was a drama that made Shri Nathji and Mateshwari laugh whenever they thought of it afterwards. Perhaps it had been enacted with the sole purpose of purging both the men of their sins with the light taps of the walking sticks! Shri Nathji was however greatly saddened by the loss of the dog Jacky. It was like losing a member of the family. But then these were the vicissitudes of life that Shri Nathji had grown to live with as a householder at Mussoorie.