"If Mr. Hamilton could only see and hear you now, he would rather lose his dollars than disappoint you," laughed Elena.
Bill's face showed in the dark of the woods just then, and the girls halted their play to ask what was said about the pup.
"Mr. Hamilton swore at first, saying he never could keep this pup home. He was always getting lost. Then he said, "Bill, I promised the doctor a pup of the next good strain we raised here, didn't I, in return for saving the prize collie's life last year. S'posing I give that pup to the girl—if she wants him, and my debt will be paid!"
"I says t' him, Miss Zan will be much obleeged, I'm sure."
"He says, 'All right, tell her the deal is closed—the dog's hers.'"
Bill looked blinkingly at Zan and Miss Miller, and Zan gave a shout as she fell down on the grass and threw her arms about Wickee. So, that's the manner of Wickee joining the camp.
CHAPTER TEN
THE LETTER THAT SAVED NITA
Soon after breakfast on Saturday morning, Bill signalled for Miss Miller's attention. She went to the edge of the Bluff and he called up through a paper megaphone (a device of the Guide's) that the butcher wagon was waiting in front of his house.