“We’ll make believe that’s the school bell and that Patter rings it to show us school is to start,” suggested Charlie.
“That will be a good trick for the show,” said Bunny.
It seemed to be all settled that Patter would take part in a show and be the main actor, though nothing was yet settled about where the show would be held or what would be done with the money that was taken in—if any was.
“But we have all summer,” said Bunny, for this was only the beginning of the summer vacation.
Another trick that George Watson wanted Patter to do was to climb a ladder, stand on a little platform at the top, and jump off into a blanket held by four boys, one at each corner.
They tried their trick first by putting Patter up on the fence, pretending it was a ladder, and then Bunny called to the dog to jump off. Patter did it all right, landing in the blanket and so not getting hurt in the least.
But when they put the dog on top of the woodshed, George explaining that the ladder would be higher than this, then Patter seemed to be afraid. He cried, crouched down, and would not jump off.
“He’s afraid,” said Charlie.
“Then he isn’t going to jump!” decided Bunny. “Lift him down off the shed. I’m not going to have my dog afraid!”
And the boys, being kind-hearted, did not make Patter jump from the roof of the high woodshed. The dog did not mind leaping from the fence, but the shed was too high for him, it seemed.