"Aw-gowan!" exclaimed the man, pushing Tess so hard that she almost fell, and breaking her hold upon his coat.
But Tess forgot herself in her anxiety for Tom Jonah. She bravely followed him to the very step of the van.
"Give him back! Give him back!" she cried. "You must not hurt Tom Jonah. He never did you any harm. He never did anybody any harm. Give him back to us! Please!"
Her wail made no impression on the man.
"Drive on, Harry," he said. "These kids give me a pain."
The green van moved on. Tom Jonah's gray muzzle appeared at the screened door at the back. He howled mournfully as the van headed toward Main Street.
"Oh, what shall we do? What shall we do?" cried Tess, wringing her hands.
"Let's run tell Ruthie," gasped Dot.
"I wish Neale O'Neil was here," growled Sammy.
But Tess was the bravest of the three. She had no intention of losing sight of poor Tom Jonah, whose mournful cries seemed to show that he knew the fate in store for him.