The speaker was a dark-haired, dark-complexioned boy, apparently about Tom's age. He was standing within the gate, his face close to the bars, an expression of great anxiety upon his features. It was evident he feared that the dogs, who, with raised backs, were walking stiffly around each other, growling, meant to fight.
Tom gave him a glance of contempt, secretly thinking him a coward, and answered: "Easier said than done! Come out and fetch your dog in!"
The words were barely out of his mouth when the dogs closed with each other, and a moment later found them fighting in the middle of the road. Tim fought pluckily, but he was not evenly matched, his antagonist being bigger and stronger than himself, and in less than a minute the Irish terrier had got him under, and doubtless would have done him serious injury if a man had not come along and separated the animals; whereupon the Irish terrier, looking rather ashamed of himself, retreated to the side of his master, who had come out into the road and now hastened to fasten a leash to his collar.
"You should keep your dog under control!" cried Tom angrily and very unreasonably. "I never saw a more savage brute!"
"He doesn't fight unless he's interfered with," the other boy answered, his dark cheeks flushing. "But, as a rule, I have him on the lead. I was giving him a run in the garden, and he went out over the hedge. I heard your dog come up and growl at him. I hope your dog is not hurt?"
"Not much. He has a bite on one of his forelegs, I see, but that's nothing."
Tom was beginning to be ashamed of the temper he had shown. He could quite believe that Tim, who was always fierce to strange dogs, had been the first to show a hostile spirit.
"Oh, I am glad of that!" the dark boy said. "What sort of dog is he, and what is his name?"
Tom was bending over Tim, examining his injury. He looked up in surprise; then laughed rather scornfully.
"Why, he's a fox-terrier, of course!" he exclaimed; "and nearly thoroughbred, too. His name's Tim. What do you call your dog? Oh, I remember!—Bounce."