“Oh, you have so!” cried Jan.
“I saw you take a black dog into the tent. That was Skyrocket!” added Ted.
“No! No!” cried the Gypsy, getting angry again.
All the other Gypsies, men and women, boys and girls, were now gathered in the middle of the camp, around Uncle Ben, the children, the farmer and storekeeper.
“Look here,” put in Uncle Ben. “It’s easy to settle this matter. Let us have a look at that black dog, and then we can tell for sure if he belongs to the Curlytops. Bring out the little black dog.”
“He is mine I tell you!” exclaimed the Gypsy. “I’ve had him a long time.”
“Well, Skyrocket has been gone a long time,” said Janet.
“Bring out the dog,” ordered Mr. Addison, and he showed the shiny, nickel badge he wore on his vest, to prove that he was a deputy sheriff; a man who can arrest people.
“I show you that not your dog!” said the Gypsy. “I show you!”
Quickly he went into the tent, and in a moment he came out with a little black dog in his arms. It was a dog much smaller than Skyrocket, and of a different breed.