“It won’t do to leave him so,” thought Tom; “when he revives he’ll be as dangerous as before.”
He dealt the prostrate animal two more blows, which settled his fate. The furious brute would no longer do any one harm.
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Temple!” said Mary Somers fervently, a trace of color returning to her cheeks. “I was terribly frightened.”
“I don’t wonder,” said Tom. “The brute was dangerous.”
“How brave you are!” exclaimed the young lady, in admiration.
“It doesn’t take much courage to hit a dog on the head with a stick,” said Tom modestly.
“Many boys would have run,” said Mary.
“What, and left you unprotected?” said Tom indignantly. “None but a coward would have done that.”
“My cousin James run away,” said Mary.
“Did he see the dog chasing you?”