But Tiger was so delighted at having succeeded in finding his young mistress, that he did not cease indulging in his various uncouth gambols, until Dolly, stamping her foot and assuming an air of great severity, bade him be quiet, or she would send him immediately home. Tiger seemed to understand the threat, for he stopped barking and instantly darted several hundred feet in advance of the party.
"He does that so that I cannot make him go back," cried Dolly, laughing at the sagacity of her favorite; "I never tell him I will send him home, but that he runs ahead so as to make it impossible for me to do as I say."
They continued their wanderings for some distance further, but with very poor success.
"I'll tell you what we can do," said Martin, with a laugh, as exclamations of vexation and disappointment were heard from the girls; "let's turn our nutting into a fishing excursion. Wouldn't it be nice if we should each go home with a string of fish?"
"Fish!" cried Nelly, "what do you mean, Martin?"
"I never heard of anybody catchin' fish in the woods!" said Dolly. "There isn't a drop of water nearer than the pond the other side of Morrison's hill."
"Well," said Martin, "I know there is not, but that is not so very far off. I was just thinking of the shortest way to get there."
"I know every inch of the country," said Dolly, firmly, "and I'm sure Morrison's pond is at least a good two mile from here."
"Oh, we can't walk that, Martin," cried Bessie; "we should all be tired, and get home after dark besides."