“Listen! I thought I heard the sound of an automobile turning into the lane,” said Button.
“You did,” said the hound. “I just saw the flash of its lamps through the trees.”
Billy and the dogs talked for a while longer, and they were about to say good-night when they heard voices coming in their direction.
“S-s-s-sh-h-h!” said Billy. “I thought I recognized that voice! It is the old General’s chauffeur. Now what can he be wanting here at this time of the evening? I’ll just listen and find out. No, I will get Button to creep up close and listen for his black coat won’t show in the dark like my white one would.”
Button crept through the long grass until he was right near where the chauffeur and the cook stood talking. There being a tree near them, Button ran up it and sat on a limb listening to every word they spoke.
“Well, Jean,” said the cook, “what important business have you on your mind this evening, or have you come to take away some of our convalescent patients?”
“My business is most important, and I have come straight from the General.”
“Hoity-toity! You don’t say so! Whatever can it be about?”
“That blasted old Billy goat that the General sets such stores by.”
