“Yes, I am going to take the Sawdust Doll home to my kennel, so my little puppies will have something to gnaw and to play with,” went on the big dog.
“Oh, just fancy!” exclaimed the poor Doll. “Oh, I don’t want to be gnawed and played with by any puppies! They may bite holes in me, and all my sawdust will run out I Oh dear!”
“Don’t be afraid,” replied the Bold Tin Soldier. “This dog shall not take you away.”
“Bow wow! You just watch me!” barked the bad dog. He ran at the Sawdust Doll with wide-open mouth, but before he could pick her up to carry her away the Bold Tin Soldier thrust his sword at the dog and pricked him on the paw.
“Ouch! Oh, dear! I must have run a thorn into my foot!” howled the dog.
“No, it was not a thorn. It was my sword that pricked you,” said the Bold Tin Soldier. “I only stuck you a little bit this first time, but if you keep on teasing my friend, Miss Sawdust Doll, I shall have to do something worse. You had better run away!”
“Yes, I think I had,” howled the dog. “I didn’t know your sword was so sharp. Ouch, my paw hurts!”
“Well, I am sorry I had to hurt you,” said the Captain. “But if you had behaved yourself it would not have happened.”
“I’ll put a grass poultice on it,” said the Sawdust Doll. “I know something about nursing, for once in a while Dorothy pretends I am in a hospital. I’ll bind some grass on your foot, Mr. Dog, if you will promise to let me alone.”
“Yes, I’ll do that,” was the barking answer. “And I am sorry I was so unkind to you. Please forgive me!”