Never was such a piteous plight seen!
Her face was scratched by the thorns, her clothes torn, and her hat had fallen off like that of the Captain, who had, by the way, in the flurry forgotten to replace his on his head, the venerable article remaining in a sadly battered condition where it had fallen.
On being released, however, from her predicament, Nellie treated the matter much more lightly than might have been expected.
She was a very courageous little girl now that she knew she was in safety.
But she was also, it should be said, blest, too, with great amiability.
“Oh, never mind the scratches,” she replied, in answer to the Captain’s inquiries. “I’m not at all hurt, thank you.”
“How about those wild animals?” asked the old sailor smiling, “eh, missy?”
Nellie coloured up, but could not help laughing at the Captain’s quizzical face, as he took up his hat gingerly and put it on.
“I—I made a mistake,” she stammered. “I was frightened!”
At that moment, however, very opportunely, Master Rover, who had darted back into the thicket after reclaiming his young mistress, saved her all further explanation as to the unknown beasts that had caused her such alarm by appearing now in full pursuit of an unfortunate rabbit which, putting forth its best speed, escaped him in the very nick of time by diving into a hole on the other side of the knoll, contemptuously kicking up its heels as it did so, almost into his open mouth.