"And I never saw Johnnie work so hard," said the hired man. "When there's wood to be carried in he's usually a mile away."
Farmer Green laughed.
"He'll quit as soon as Spot gets what he wants," he replied. "It's too bad this sort of thing doesn't happen oftener. Except for driving the cows home, this is the first time I ever knew a boy and a dog to do much besides play, when they're together."
Turkey Proudfoot, the huge gobbler, came hurrying around the corner of the barn to see what was going on. He had an idea that he ruled the farmyard.
"What's all this row about?" he gobbled at old Spot. "Have you lost something?"
"Yes!" Spot told him. "Johnnie Green's helping me to find it. We're moving part of the woodpile."
"What did you lose?" Turkey Proudfoot demanded.
Old Spot pretended not to hear him. He began barking again at Johnnie Green.
Mr. Catbird, who loved to play jokes on everybody, started mewing from his hiding place under the lilac bushes. He had noticed Spot's antics. And he hoped to fool him into thinking there was a strange cat around the place. For Spot was a famous chaser of all cats—so long as they kept running away from him and didn't turn around and try to scratch him.
To Mr. Catbird's astonishment old Spot paid no heed to his catcalls.