"Majesty, woman!" said the fat man, sleepily.
"My dog Duo got to quarrelling—"
"Bring us the dog, varlets, churls, and vassals!" screeched the kinglet, in his shrill voice.
The guards stumbled over each other to obey; and presently they returned leading such a curious animal that John Dough stared at it in amazement.
It was a dog, without doubt; or rather, it was a dog's body with a head and two legs at either end of it. So that when one end walked forward the other end had to walk backward, and that made the back end growl angrily. But the same end was not always the back end of the dog; for first one head, and then the other, would prove strongest, and drag the curious animal forward.
When this double dog, which was named Duo, was brought in, both heads were snarling and barking in a very noisy manner. But however much enraged they were, they could never get together to do one another mischief.
"Be silent!" yelled the kinglet, annoyed at the clamor.
But the dog's heads paid no attention to the command.
"Very well," said his Majesty; "I'll put a stop to your noise for good and all! Here, you guards, fetch me the Royal Executioner!"