Snuffy’s bright eyes caught sight of his familiars, Snowball and Flip, seated in lonely state upon the schoolhouse steps. The little basket, which, in days gone by, had often held goodies, as he well knew, excited his curiosity. Up the steps tripped Master Snuff to sniff delicately at the refreshments, and then, to the joy of the prisoners, he saw their faces and heard their knocks and calls.
He barked furiously, and leaped up at the window. He ran to the door, scratching and whining to be let in, then back to the window where he echoed their cries for help by barkings so frantic that Grandfather, trudging leisurely along with his string of fish, wondered what Snuff had cornered on the old school porch.
Snuff was wise enough to know that something was wrong, and that Grandfather was needed to set it right.
Susan held her breath for fear he was leaving them to their fate as he galloped down the walk, but it was only to circle round Grandfather and back again to the steps, where he halted, waiting for his master to join him.
“You rascal,” called Grandfather. “I suppose you think I ought to carry those dolls up to the house for Susan. Come along with me, sir.”
But when Snuff recommenced barking and leaping at the window, Grandfather Whiting followed him up the walk, and a second later the treacherous door was flung open and Susan was in his arms.
“My own Susan, what is it? What are you doing in here?” asked Grandfather tenderly, as a very dirty little girl clasped him tight, and sent a hot shower of tears down the back of his neck.
“The door wouldn’t open, and I didn’t wake her up, and I was afraid of bears and Indians,” sobbed Susan. “But I knew you’d come, I knew you’d come! And Snuff shall have all the lunch, every bit, because he saved us.”
And breathing hard, and winking fast, and holding tight to Grandfather’s hand, Susan gladly rewarded Snuff, who devoured his treat in two bites, and then, waving his tail jauntily, ran on ahead to prepare Grandmother for their coming.
Halfway up the lane, the party met Miss Liza, homeward bound.