Then they heard the little girl cry excitedly: “Here Crummie! Here Crummie!”
“See her over there, Crummie? Fetch her out! Fetch her out, I say! Go get it—get it—good doggie!” coaxed Bill.
And Crummie, sniffing over the water, saw the approaching boat and heard the child’s cry for help. Instantly the yellow dog understood what was required of him and in he went, dragging the long line of rope after him.
The boys on shore held their breath so the dog would not be confused, and Prunel kept on calling, “Here Crummie! Here Crummie! Good dog—come to me, Crummie!”
And the dog swam as fast as he could in a direct line for the object he saw on the surface of the lake. He came within five feet of it when it swept past him in the current now running fast to the mill-race.
Groans and cries on shore showed that more than one anxious group were watching the efforts of the brave dog. But Crummie was of the nature that resents failure or trickery. He was of the dogged kind that will fight harder in spite of all obstacles, and perseverance and persistence always win out!
Crummie kept on swimming after the boat while Prunel continued calling and pleading, and the boys on the bank kept on anxiously letting the rope out and wondering if it was long enough to reach.
“Gee, Jinks, it’s the end!” gasped Bill.
And just as Jinks was about to give up in despair, one of the other boys yelled: “By golly! Crummie’s got hold of the rope that dragged after the boat!”
Everyone strained their eyes to see, and sure enough the dog had caught hold of the rope that had tied the boat to the bank and was swimming back the way he came against the current.