"Ran down and gave Lady Annabella some milk and petted her, but come on—Guardie and Girlie are trotting up to the barn to put their pigs to bed."
"Where are the other kids?" asked Dallas as he and Cassowary loped along after the two collies, who were in a great hurry.
"I don't know—Oh! there they are down at the crib. The fire warden must be there, I see his red canoe."
"Is he the man to prevent forest fires?"
"Yes for this district. Then the government has a lovely big hydroplane. You'll see it soaring overhead. Big Wig calls it the fire-bird."
"And when there's a blaze anywhere in the forest the plane reports it?" asked Dallas.
"Sure—Canada doesn't want her splendid settlers burnt up. And Dad says trees are so valuable now that all the governments in the world are protecting them."
"Do the pigs sleep under the barn?" asked Dallas as he looked ahead and saw the Tamworth procession filing in under the big barn, which was painted green like the house.
"Yes, in the cellar, though it's as airy as the barn floor. It's fun to see them make their beds. Hurry up. You're a slow boy."