“Please don’t mention it,” responded the wee fellow, with wistful look. “You haven’t really a mince-pie anywhere about, have you?”
“Haven’t I though!” answered Jack, with his hoarse laugh. “Just be good enough to follow me over to yonder peak. I’ll show you.” Saying which, Jack the Rover alighted on the ground, hopping in very stately fashion towards the spot indicated, our little hero following.
Halting before the hollowed trunk of a huge tree, the bird began to scatter a mound of leaves within the cone, and lo! there came to view three lovely pies.
“Sit down, Berty, and eat,” said the jackass.
“You’ll find them very fresh and nice. I took them from the larder at the station yesterday, while your father and brothers were out hunting for you.”
“Oh, I shall be glad to get back home again, Jack.”
“That’s all right. There’s such a lot of people [[318]]out after you, but they won’t find you, Berty. Jack the Rover shall have the pleasure of guiding you home again.”
“Come here, Jack, and let me kiss you,” said the child. “Won’t you?”
“Ha-ha-ha! The idea. You can’t kiss with your mouth full of pie. Besides, what will the trees say?”
“The trees. Can they know?” cried the boy, with surprise.