Part 19 (1/2)

”I see something!” cried Fred suddenly.

”Where?” asked the others in a breath.

”There--but it's gone now.”

Again they waited, and soon came a rustling on the other side of the camp, followed by the cracking of a bone which had been thrown away during the evening repast.

”There he is!”

”Shoot him!”

”No, don't shoot!” burst out Tom. ”I know what it is.”

”What?”

”Nothing but a dog.”

”Nonsense.”

”I say it is.” Tom began to whistle. ”Come here, old boy,” he went on. ”Good dog, come here.”

At this, the animal stopped crunching the bone and came forward slowly and suspiciously. It was indeed a large, black dog, with curly hair and lean sides.

”Hullo!” cried Sam. ”Come here, that's a good dog. Say, fellows, he looks half starved.”

”Are you sure it ain't no catpob?” queried Hans anxiously.

”Yes, Hans,” answered Songbird. ”He is nothing but a dog, and rather friendly at that.”

The dog came closer, wagging his tail slowly and suspiciously. d.i.c.k put out his hand and patted him, and then he waved his tail in a vigorous fas.h.i.+on.

”He is willing enough to be friends,” said the eldest Rover. ”I shouldn't be surprised if he is homeless.”

”In that case, we might adopt him,” said Tom, who loved a nice dog.

”Let us try him on something to eat,” put in Songbird. ”There is no meat left on that bone.”

Some things had been saved for breakfast, and a portion was set before the newcomer. He devoured it greedily and wagged his tail furiously.

”He feels at home now,” said d.i.c.k, and he was right. The dog leaped up, first on one and then another, and licked their hands.

”What's your name?” asked Tom, and the dog wagged his tail and gave a low, joyful bark.

”Better call him Wags,” suggested Sam. ”He seems to be death on keeping that tail going.”

”Wags it is,” announced Tom. ”How do you like it, Wags, old boy?”

And the dog barked again and leaped up and down several times in joy.

”Vell, he vos goot enough,” was Hans' comment. ”Bud I ton't see vy he couldn't introduce himselluf by der daydime alretty. I vos going to ped again,” and he rubbed his eyes sleepily.