Then Cho-Cho hastened to the home of the Dog. Arriving there, he rapped smartly on the door, which was opened by the Dog’s wife, who said he was just finishing his breakfast—that he would be out immediately.
In a few minutes the Dog appeared. Then Cho-Cho told him of the Lovely Bird.
“I shall be glad to help,” said the Wonderful Dog, “but how shall I find the way?”
Taking from his pocket the Blue-Gray Feather, Cho-Cho held it before the Dog’s nose. He sniffed it eagerly and then throwing up his head, laughed with glee. “Get up quickly, Cho-Cho,” he said, and Cho-Cho sprang upon his back.
The great Dog bounded through the door and out into the road, and with a sharp bark was off like wind.
The Children scurried from the roadside, and people standing in their doorways gazed with wonder as the Dog rushed by. Through villages and towns he went, and everywhere the people ran out to see Publicity pass.
They left the houses far behind, and still the great Dog did not slacken his pace, until they came to desolate fields and a countryside where no trees grew.
On all sides stretched these lonely fields, with no signs of life, except where far away to the right rose the dark outline of a house. A rough path led toward it, and following this road the Dog went forward. As they drew nearer they could see the house was of stone, and had no windows on the lower floor. Up near the roof were narrow windows set deep in the wall. Only a great door in the front, made of iron, gave entrance to the house, and this was tightly locked.
Sitting on the ground, the Dog took from his neck a stout collar made of heavy leather and brass, and opening a pocket on the inside of this collar, he took out a Golden Key.
This key fitted the lock, and entering a large room they found the Imps asleep before a fire. As the great door creaked upon its rusty hinges the Imps awakened and sprang to their feet.