'What is it?' demanded James irritably.
'Oh, sir! Oh, sir! Oh, sir!'
'Yes, and then what?'
'The little dog, sir! He's in the river!'
'Well, whistle him to come out.'
'Oh, sir, do come quick! He'll be drowned!'
James followed her through the bushes, taking off his coat as he went. He was saying to himself, 'I will not rescue this dog. I do not like the dog. It is high time he had a bath, and in any case it would be much simpler to stand on the bank and fish for him with a rake. Only an ass out of a Leila J. Pinckney book would dive into a beastly river to save—'
At this point he dived. Toto, alarmed by the splash, swam rapidly for the bank, but James was too quick for him. Grasping him firmly by the neck, he scrambled ashore and ran for the house, followed by the housekeeper.
The girl was seated on the porch. Over her there bent the tall soldierly figure of a man with keen eyes and greying hair. The housekeeper raced up.
'Oh, miss! Toto! In the river! He saved him! He plunged in and saved him!'