OH, Billy, are you hurt?” whined Pinky at his heels.
“Yes. I have a bee sting on my ear that hurts like the very mischief. And, by Jove, I believe I have another over my eye for it is fast swelling shut.”
“Come with us,” said the Red Cross dog, “over to the grove before it closes entirely and you can’t see where to walk. When we get there I’ll fix you up for I know what is good for stings.”
On the way they had to cross over a little stream with a soft, muddy bank, and the Red Cross dog stopped there and said, “Now stoop down and rub your head in the mud so it will cover your eye and get into the lid where the sting is. As soon as the mud closes over it you will find that the pain will stop almost instantly. I have seen my master rub mud on too many stings not to know it is a sure cure.”
“Gee, but I hate to get that nasty mud in my ear and all over my face!”
“Never mind the dirt! It is clean mud and will dry and fall off itself so it won’t be hard to get out of your ear or off your face. Should it be, you can just shut your eyes, hold your breath and dip your head up and down in the trough until your hair is as white as snow again.”
“Well, I’ve got to do something, dirt or no dirt, for this pain is setting me crazy. So here goes!”
Billy knelt down and rubbed and rubbed and rubbed one side of his head up and down in the soft mud until it was as brown as an African’s face. When at last he stood up all the dogs tried not to laugh, but finally they went off in a perfect howl of merriment.
“What you laughing at?” asked Billy.