"What under the canopy are we going to do?" he demanded.
"Save Tom Jonah!" declared Agnes, her cheeks blazing.
"The kids are going to do that," chuckled Neale in spite of his shortness of breath. "Guess we'd better save Aunt Sarah, hadn't we?"
"Goodness, Neale!" giggled Agnes, "they won't try to shut her up in the pound I should hope."
They did not overtake the determined woman before she was in sight of the dog refuge. The van had driven into the yard. Before the gate could be shut Tess, followed closely by the trembling Dot and by the more or less valiant Sammy, pushed through likewise and faced the superintendent of the lost dog department.
"What do you little folks want?" asked this kindly man, smiling down upon the trio.
"We want Tom Jonah," said Tess, her voice quivering but her manner still brave.
"You've just got to give us Tom Jonah," Dot added, gulping down a sob.
"You bet you have!" said Sammy, clenching his fists.
"'Tom Jonah'?" repeated the man. "Is that a dog?"