"A dog!" exclaimed the other, stepping back.
"He won't hurt you," said Merle reassuringly. "He's on the other side of the hedge. Can you see him, my dear?"
Encouraged by these words, the lady, now seen by Merle to be young and dark and decidedly good looking (although plainly dressed), drew nearer to the mysterious voice and was presently searching among the leaves and branches for an explanation of this singular summons.
"I don't see anything," she said.
"Perhaps if you threw a stone, or—could you go through the hedge? You see, I am caught on this barbed wire."
"Wait! It's your coat sleeve," exclaimed the young woman. "There!" and with a quick turn of her hand she released the impaled garment.
"Thank you," he murmured. "Be careful of the dog! I'm going at him now. Hey, there! Good heaven!"
As he spoke Horatio, loosed from the restraining wire, stumbled on through the hedge, while the young woman stared apprehensively after him. There was a clank of metal, a few muttered words, and then Merle came struggling back, scratched, torn, and panting, but full of eager interest.
"What do you suppose had hold of my toe?" he burst out.
For a moment Hester (for it was she) surveyed him in silence, then she let herself go in a fit of uncontrollable laughter, while Merle looked at her in pained surprise.