Instantly, he caught the scent he was seeking;--a scent as familiar to him as that of his own piano cave; the scent of the Place's car-tires.
It had taken Harmon and the Master the best part of ten minutes to drive through the park and to the boarding kennels.

It took Lad less than half that time to reach the veranda of the Harmon house.

Circling the house and finding all doors shut, he lay down on the mat; and settled himself to sleep there in what comfort he might, until the Mistress and the Master should come down in the morning and find him.
But the Harmons were late risers.

And the sun had been up for some hours before any of the household were astir.
If Lad had been the professionally Faithful Hound, of storybooks, he would doubtless have waited on the mat until someone should come to let him in.

But, after lying there until broad daylight, he was moved to explore this new section of the world.