“No; listen,” whispered Dallas. “He would do that.”
“If he were within reach.”
“He must be within reach for the dog to know,” whispered Dallas. But as he spoke he doubted his own opinion, for it seemed possible that a half-wild dog’s sensibilities might be sufficiently keen to feel the coming of a friend.
“Here, what is it, old fellow?” he said softly. “Some one there?”
The dog whined and tore at the bar.
“It is as I say, Dal,” said Abel excitedly. “Look at him. Here, Scruff, old lad, what is it?”
The dog growled.
“That doesn’t sound as if he scented a friend, Bel.”
“He does, I tell you,” cried Abel angrily; for he was prone to be irritable as a result of his many sufferings. “Here, let’s have the door open at once.”
It was as if the dog understood his words, for he dropped on all fours and uttered a deep-toned bay.