The dog barked loudly now, and started away for a few yards.
“Here, here! Don’t leave your sandy bone,” cried Tom, and the dog ran back. “Here, catch hold.”
Then there was a snap made at the tempting morsel, but it was dropped again directly, for the poor brute to throw up its muzzle and give forth another piteous howl.
“Oh, I say, don’t do that,” cried Tom; and this was responded to by a burst of barking.
“Why, what’s the matter with you? Mouth sore? Toothache?”
There was another burst of barking, and the dog ran on a few yards, and looked back to bark again.
“I don’t understand your language, old chap,” cried Tom. “What do you want? Found a rabbit round here?”
Another eager bark, and the dog pricked up its ears, and looked more and more excited.
“All right, come and pick this up then. It’s too good to leave.”
The dog rushed at the bone as Tom turned it over with his foot, seized it, and ran on again, dropped it, and barked. Then, as the boy advanced, it seized the bone and ran on farther, to go through the same performance.