The door of the smoke-house was opened cautiously and the barrel put out, the open end near the door. Then Dick hastily crawled into it, head first. Billy leaned out of the door and turned the barrel so that it would roll toward Ring. Aleck had learned that something was going on, and was coming to find out if he could take any part in it.
"Here you go!" shouted Billy, giving the barrel a vigorous push, and then shutting the door to keep Aleck out.
DICK'S TRAVELS ASSISTED BY ALECK.
The sheep, however, was giving his attention to the barrel. He evidently suspected a trick, and he also saw Dick's feet, which persisted in sticking out at the open end, for the barrel was a small one. He rushed toward it, striking it with his head so as to cause it to move faster, but in a different direction. When at last it came to a standstill, it was against the fence at one side of the yard, at about the point where the boys had escaped from the sheep.
Dick was pretty badly scared, knowing that something had happened. But when he felt the barrel stop, he started to crawl out backward.
"Stay in! stay in!" shouted Billy, frantically. "Aleck's right there! You're not close to Ring at all!"
"Get 'im away, Billy!" entreated Dick, from the depths of the barrel. "Get him away somehow!"
"I can't!" answered Billy, helplessly.