"I wouldn't worry over any lessons!" boasted Rodney.
"Nor I," said Nat. "School's no fun! But I guess we'll have to go."
"Yes," sighed his chum, and slowly they got to their feet. Thump took this as a sign they were going to throw stones for him, or, at least, play in some way, so he leaped joyfully about and barked.
But a moment later Thump's happy bark stopped, his wagging tail drooped between his legs and he looked sad as Rodney cried:
"Go home, Thump! Go back home!"
"Poor dog!" murmured Grandma Harden. Thump looked up on hearing a friendly voice, and wagged his tail again. "He would so love to come with you!" said the dear, old lady.
"I'd like to have him," admitted Rodney, "but if I let Mm come part way it's harder to make him go home."
"The other day he walked right into school after us!" said Addie with a laugh. "And the teacher made Rod come out with Thump."
"Oh, say!" eagerly exclaimed Nat, "let's take him along now, and if he comes in school I'll ask teacher if I can't help you lead him out, and we could be a long while at it and not go back, maybe until school was almost out! Hey! How about that?"
"Nothing at all about that!" laughed Grandma, until her body was shaking like a big bowl of jelly—Oh, Grandma Harden was very fat—there was no getting away from that! "Don't try any such tricks!" she went on, playfully shaking her fingers at the boys. "It wouldn't be right to use a dog like that!"