She threw the question back in a reproachful tone to Mr. Scott.
He laughed a little as he answered, "If you will try to pick him up now and hold him, you will understand why."
Even as he spoke, the nurse was making an attempt to capture and silence the noisy little fellow. She might as well have tried to pick up a ball of quicksilver. Tag slipped through her fingers like an eel, scurrying from one end of the cot to the other, and barking excitedly all the time.
"Can't you stop him, Theodore?" exclaimed Mr. Scott, as he reached the corner where the boy lay.
"Here, Tag, lie down and be still," cried the boy, and with one last defiant yap at the nurse, Tag nosed aside the bedclothes and snuggled down beside his master with a sigh of glad content.
"Well, if ever I let a dog into my ward again!" exclaimed the nurse, in a tone of stern determination.
"I'm sorry he made such a noise, ma'am. It was only because he was so glad to find me," said Theodore, quickly.
The nurse turned away in offended silence, and Mr. Scott sat down by the bed and began to talk with the boy.
He listened with a grave face to Theo's story. When it was ended, he asked, "Did you recognise either of the boys?"
"Yes, sir; one, certainly, and I think I know one of the others."