"That's our dog," Bob explained to Mr. Dottin. "I know his voice. We shut him out, but—"
The boy broke off. He was given no chance of finishing his sentence; for at that instant the air was rent by a great disturbance—blood-curdling yells, snaps, snarls, and guttural growls which sounded, as Kitty afterwards declared, worse than the most awful dog-fight she had ever heard. Then followed such piteous howls from Snip that the little girl wrung her hands in terror, and Mr. Dottin, seizing a large stick, rushed into the parlour in front of Bob, whose face was as white as death.
"Oh, Snip! He's been caught by something!" shrieked the boy. "Oh!" starting back. "How terrible! What a brute!"
"What is it? What is it?" cried Kitty, shocked beyond measure. "Oh, Snip, poor Snip! He's being killed, Bob! I can see it by your face!"
[CHAPTER XI.]
KITTY ASKS FORGIVENESS OF TIM.
IT appeared ages to Kitty before the horrifying noise in the parlour ceased; but, in reality, in about three minutes after old Jacob Dottin and Bob had left her, the piercing yells stopped, and silence followed save for the angry voice of the master of the establishment, who was scolding and threatening in a tone which made her tremble, so harsh was it.
"I'll break every bone in your body if you move from that corner, you Bimbo—ill-conditioned beast that you are! I'll give you something you won't forget easily!" Kitty heard him say; and then he proceeded, evidently addressing Bob: "Take that mongrel of yours away at once, do you hear, at once!"
"All right," Bob answered; and the next moment he appeared in the shop, bearing Snip, who had been badly injured, in his arms, and followed by the old man, who cautiously shut the parlour door behind him.
"Oh, is he much hurt?" gasped Kitty, shocked at the sight of the blood, which looked a great deal more than it really was, on Snip's white coat.