“Well, come on, fellows; it’s getting late,” said Bob, “and we’re only a little more than halfway to Meadowville.”
“Now you run along home, Mr. Dog,” said Dan, shaking his finger at the terrier. The terrier seemed to understand, for his manner became at once sorrowful and dejected. He watched them go off without a wag of his tail. Presently Dan stole a backward glance. The terrier was stealing along behind them some twenty yards back. Dan said nothing. A few minutes later Bob and Nelson became aware of something trotting along in the rear. They turned. The terrier stopped with one foot in the air. His tail wagged conciliatingly.
“Go home!” said Bob sternly.
The dog dropped his head and began to sniff at the ground as though the last thing in his mind was following them. Nelson and Tom laughed.
“Oh, let him come,” muttered Dan.
“It wouldn’t be fair,” said Bob firmly. “He must belong to some one and they’d probably feel bad if they lost him.”
“All right,” said Dan. “You get along home, doggie.”
But doggie was busy now following an imaginary scent along the side of the road.
“Throw a stone at him,” said Tom.
“You do it if you want to,” said Bob.