The man took out a knife and cut a long and tolerably thick switch from the bush. Then he cut off the smaller end and began to trim away the twigs and leaves.
While doing this he looked at Harry, and said:
"I think I'll take you first."
Kate's heart almost stopped beating when she heard this, and Harry turned pale; but still the brave boy stood before his sister as stoutly as ever.
Kate tried to call for help, but she had no voice. What could she do? A boxing on the ears was nothing, she now thought; she wished she had not called out, for it was evident that Harry was going to get a terrible whipping.
She could not bear it! Her dear brother!
She trembled so much that she could not stand, and she sank down on her knees. Rob, the dog, who had been lying near by, snapping at flies, all this time, now came up to comfort her.
"Oh, Rob!" she whispered, "I wish you were a cross dog."
And Rob wagged his tail and lay down by her.
"I wonder," she thought to herself, "oh! I wonder if any one could make him bite."