“We called to ask about a dog,” went on Uncle Ben. “I see you have a number of dogs here.”
“Yes, we have dogs,” answered the Gypsy. That was true enough, for there were many dogs and horses scattered here and there about the camp, some behind the tents and red wagons. “We have dogs and horses. Want to buy some?”
“No, we don’t exactly want to buy a dog,” answered Uncle Ben.
“Well, we don’t give dogs away,” said the Gypsy, who spoke the same language as did Uncle Ben, though perhaps the dark-skinned man could talk in his own special language, too. “We sell dogs. What kind do you want to buy?”
Eagerly Ted and Jan listened for what Uncle Ben would answer, and he replied:
“We’d like to get that little black dog you took into the tent just as we came along. That’s the dog we want.”
“That dog is not to be sold!” cried the Gypsy, and this was more than Ted could stand.
“That’s our dog!” exclaimed the little boy. “That’s our dog Skyrocket, and we want him back! He got lost from our house. He climbed out the woodshed window, and we want him.”
“Yes, we want Skyrocket!” added Janet. “He didn’t ever sleep on his new piece of carpet that Teddy put in his box. Please, Mr. Gypsy man, give us back our dog!”
The Gypsy with the gold rings in his ears scowled as he answered: