Now Tike was reassured. He clutched me closer, stepped out in quite a steady manner, but he did not get far—the milkman, grinning in a most alarming way, raised his bottles, jerked their contents in Tike’s face, wetting me more than my captor, and in no wise discommoding me, for my body was on fire.
Tike, in his astonishment, struck out at the milkman, and I was slipping to the ground, when the milkman caught me and stood jeering at the confounded Tike who went staggering into the arms of two policemen who had sprung from the waggon.
Dud was inside with handcuffs on. The policemen had got the milkman to bring them to the cottage. They didn’t want any shooting, and when they drew Dud into the back part of the waggon, he, to curry favour with them, called his companion.
Well, that was the last of my two enemies for me. I never expect to see them again. They were never accused of stealing me. It was found that they belonged to a gang that had swindled big New York concerns, and they will probably serve a long term in prison for their previous crimes.
My dear master was asked to interfere on their behalf, but he said, “They will be with a good warden. Years ago, I might have done something. Now it is too late for any mild measures. They have sinned deeply, and they need the discipline of punishment.”
CHAPTER XXVIII
THE HAPPIEST TIME OF MY LIFE
The milkman laid me back on Mrs. Gorman’s bed, and in a very short time, the best physician in the neighbourhood was bending over me.
He didn’t think it beneath his dignity to be of service to a dog. He put some cool dressing on my wounded paws, bound them up, and told Mrs. Gorman not to disturb them. Then he went away, and said he would call later in the day.