The dog faced the audience and bowed politely to them. A general laugh rewarded him. Then Uncle Ben said:
“Now, Crummie, call for your master to take charge.”
The dog turned and looked at the Band and barked again and again, but no result followed.
“Crummie, go over and escort your master to the Ring.”
Then the dog ran directly to Bill and pulled at his feet. Bill laughingly arose, and the dog immediately took hold of his hand with his teeth and led him out. This brought a loud clapping from the visitors.
Then Bill put Crummie through his letter-writing trick, through his prayers, his dancing on hind legs, his lately acquired trick of playing fireman (taught him by the Fire Brigade) and the other things he could do. The audience thoroughly appreciated it all and thought the performance was over when they saw Crummie run back of the curtain.
But he soon returned rolling a small drum before him. He left it just before his master and ran away again. This time he returned with the two drum sticks in his mouth. He held them until Bill took them from him, and Uncle Ben said:
“Crummie has just joined the Brass Band and has only been taking lessons in playing the drum for a week. If he does not keep good time, or hold the sticks according to the book, you must overlook the fact.”
Bill placed a drum-stick in the dog’s mouth and Crummie sat upon his haunches before the drum and began to rat-tat rat-tat-tat! rat-tat, rat-tat-tat! r-r-r-at-tat-tat! r-r-r-tat-tat! Er-r-r-r-r-rat! er-r-r-r-r-tat! er-r-r-r-r-rat-tattat-tattoo.
This syncopated playing he kept up until Bill laughingly clapped his hands, then Crummie dropped the stick and pranced about his master, showing how thoroughly he enjoyed music. The clapping was prolonged until the audience found Crummie had still another form of music to render for them.