“Spotty!” chorused the children. “You dear, darling old Spotty! Where did you come from?”
Spotty was apparently as glad to see them, and in his way tried to tell them so. He jumped up and down, barked excitedly and licked their hands and faces over and over.
“Say, I’ll bet you Spotty knows the way home!” Bobby jumped to his feet as this thought came to him. “Spotty, show us the way home, that’s a good dog. Home, Spotty!”
Spotty wagged his tail heartily and barked once. Then he rushed a little way ahead and turned to look at the children.
“Come on,” he seemed to say.
“He does know,” agreed Meg excitedly. 93 “Put your shoes on, Dot. All take hold of hands and hurry!”
They were in such haste they put the left shoe on Dot’s right foot and the right one on her left, but she never even noticed it. Taking hold of hands, the four little Blossoms scurried through the dark woods, for it was pitch dark now, after Spotty. The dog kept just a little way ahead, and now and then he barked as if to tell them that everything was all right.
It was not easy walking in the dark, and they tripped and stumbled over tree roots and unsuspected stones. But at last they came out into the open. The stars were shining overhead, and it was night.
“Where are we?” asked Meg in wonder. “This isn’t the brook pasture.”
“I see the gate light!” cried Bobby suddenly.