Whatever it might be that Spot wanted to get under the woodpile in theyard, Johnnie hoped it wouldn't escape through the crevices between thesticks.
"I don't want to get myself all tired out for nothing," Johnnie said tohimself. "I was going fishing this afternoon."
While Johnnie hurried back and forth between the woodpile and the shedSpot clawed away at the edge of the pile. He thrust his nose beneathloose sticks and pushed them about. He uttered pitiful sounds.
"I never saw that dog take on so," Farmer Green remarked.
"And I never saw Johnnie work so hard," said the hired man. "Whenthere's wood to be carried in he's usually a mile away."
Farmer Green laughed.
"He'll quit as soon as Spot gets what he wants," he replied. "It's toobad this sort of thing doesn't happen oftener. Except for driving thecows home, this is the first time I ever knew a boy and a dog to do muchbesides play, when they're together."
Turkey Proudfoot, the huge gobbler, came hurrying around the corner ofthe barn to see what was going on. He had an idea that he ruled thefarmyard.
"What's all this row about?" he gobbled at old Spot. "Have you lostsomething?"
"Yes!" Spot told him. "Johnnie Green's helping me to find it. We'removing part of the woodpile."
"What did you lose?" Turkey Proudfoot demanded.
Old Spot pretended not to hear him. He began barking again at JohnnieGreen.
Mr. Catbird, who loved to play jokes on everybody, started mewing fromhis hiding place under the lilac bushes. He had noticed Spot's antics.And he hoped to fool him into thinking there was a strange cat aroundthe place. For Spot was a famous chaser of all cats--so long as theykept running away from him and didn't turn around and try to scratchhim.
To Mr. Catbird's astonishment old Spot paid no heed to his catcalls.
"This is queer," Mr. Catbird muttered. "Whenever I've mewed before hehas always come a-running. There must be something uncommonlyinteresting under that woodpile."
VI
BURIED TREASURE
Henrietta Hen, who was one of the busiest busybodies on the farm, camealong and stood and watched old dog Spot while he dug and scratched andhowled about the woodpile.
"What on earth is the matter with you?" she asked him. "I don't makehalf that fuss when I've just laid an egg and really have something tocackle about."
"I've no time to talk with you now," Spot told Henrietta Hen. "Can't yousee that Johnnie Green and I are moving the woodpile?"
"Why are you doing that?" Henrietta inquired.
"There's something beneath it that I want," he said hurriedly.
Henrietta Hen gave a sudden start.
"I wonder if it's a weasel!" she exclaimed. And since he didn't reply,and she had learned to be mortally afraid of weasels, she ran offsquawking, to hide high up in the haymow in the barn.
Johnnie Green hadn't carried away much more of the woodpile when old dogSpot began to dig furiously in the dirt. And in a few seconds' time heunearthed a big bone.
It was a choice bone. He had buried it several days before. And when hecame back from the woods and found a woodpile on top of the place wherehe had hidden it, it was no wonder that he made such a howdy-do.
Johnnie Green looked much upset as he stood stock still and saw Spottrot away with the bone in his mouth.
"So _that_ was what he was after all the time!" he cried at last. "Ihoped it was a muskrat."
His father and the hired man laughed and laughed.
"I don't see any joke," Johnnie grumbled. "Here I've piled up woodenough in the shed to last a month. And I might have been fishing allthe time."
"Well," said his father, "whose fault is it?"
"Old Spot's, I should think!" Johnnie replied.
"I don't see how you can blame him," said Farmer Green. "Suppose you hadburied a piece of strawberry shortcake here, expecting to eat it foryour dinner. And suppose there wasn't another piece as good--or asbig--to be had anywhere. And suppose you had come back from a tramp inthe woods, hungry as--well, hungry as you were this noon. Wouldn't youwant that piece of shortcake? If you could get old Spot to move the woodoff it, wouldn't you be glad to have him do it?"
"Maybe!" Johnnie admitted. "Maybe! But Spot wasn't after a piece ofstrawberry shortcake. He was after an old bone. And he fooled me."
"I should say that you fooled yourself," his father retorted. "Anyhow,we're going to have strawberry shortcake for supper to-night. I heardyour mother say so. And she made a special cake for you."
That news made Johnnie Green look a good deal less gloomy. In fact healmost smiled.
"I _was_ going to give you that old fishing rod of mine if you'd helpcarry in the wood," Farmer Greene went on. "And you _could_ take it nowand go fishing, if you thought you could be home in time for supper."
"Hurrah!" Johnnie Green suddenly jumped up and down. "Hurrah!" he cried."And thank you very much!"
And when, an hour later, old Spot came swimming across the creek andjoined Johnnie on the further bank, and shook drops of water all overhis young master, Johnnie Green only patted him and called him a "goodold fellow."
VII
SWIMMING
Old dog Spot liked boys. Somehow they always managed to have a livelytime; and usually they seemed glad to have him join them in theirsports.
He never could understand why Johnnie Green and the neighbors' boysdidn't want him to play baseball with them. Spot loved to chase a ball.And sometimes when he was watching a game and somebody hit a slowgrounder he would rush out and grab the ball and run with it.
Then all the boys would run after him and try to catch him. That alwayspleased Spot mightily. And the longer the chase lasted the happier hewas. But it was different with the boys. The harder they had to runafter Spot before they got the ball away from him the more out ofpatience they became.
Whenever Spot took part in a ball game like that Johnnie Green usuallyput an end to his fun, for the time being, by tying him to something orother--perhaps a fence or a tree. But even that was better--so Spotthought--than being sent home in disgrace.
Luckily there were other sports in which Spot could romp with the boysas much as he pleased, without anybody's objecting. Nutting in the woodsin the fall; skating on the mill pond or coasting down the long hillpast Farmer Green's house in the winter; berrying in the summer--andswimming! Those were only a few of the jolly times that Spot and theboys enjoyed together.
Perhaps, of them all, both Spot and the boys liked swimming the most. Asfor Spot, he didn't care _where_ he swam, so long as the water was wet.Broad Brook, Swift River, Black Creek, or the mill pond--any one ofthose places suited him as well as another. The boys, however, preferredthe mill pond. It was deep enough, by the dam, to suit the bestswimmers; and it was shallow enough at the upper end for those that werejust learning.
All the boys thought it great fun when a wagon clattered over thebridge, which crossed right above the dam. Then they ducked into thewater, with only their heads out, and shouted more or less politely atwhoever was passing.
At such times Spot barked, because that seemed to him the gentlemanlything to do. But he never could see any sense in jumping into the waterif he happened to be out on the bank when a wagon came along.
The boys threw sticks about the pond for Spot to fetch back to them.They raced with him. They upset him when he was sunning himself on thebig rock near the dam, and they laughed to see the splash he made whenhe struck the water.
No matter what tricks the boys played on him, Spot never lost histemper. He took everything good-naturedly. And one day, when JohnnieGreen and his friends were swimming in the mill pond he even took abundle of clothes from beneath a big hickory on the bank. Yes! Spotcaught up somebody's clothes in his mouth and started along the roadwith them.
He was surprised to hear a terrible outcry from the water.
VIII
WHAT RED DID
Old dog Spot was trotting down the road from the mill pond, carrying abundle of somebody's
clothes in his mouth. When he heard frantic shoutsfrom the water, where Johnnie Green and his friends were swimming, hequickened his pace.
One of the swimmers was known as "Red." And it was a favorite trick ofhis to tie hard knots in other boys' garments while the owners of themwere in the pond. Usually he wet the knots, because wetting them madethem harder to untie.
On this day somebody had turned the tables on Red. Somebody had creptup behind the big old hickory tree on the bank and had knotted Red'sclothes tightly. That was why old Spot found a bundle under the tree,all tied up and ready to carry off.
It was no wonder that the boys began to yell when they saw Spot pick upthose clothes and calmly trot away with them. It was no wonder that theyswam to the bank and scrambled up to the big hickory to find out whoseclothes were missing.
When they saw that Red was the unlucky one, everybody else began towhoop and laugh.
But not Red! He let out a frightened scream and started to follow olddog Spot.
To the great delight of his companions, the rattle of a wagon and thethud of a horse's feet sounded from up the road. And since some one mustsoon drive over the bridge, which crossed right above the dam, Redscurried back again and dived into the pond, into which Johnnie Greenand the others had already plunged.
Red rose to the surface spluttering. And finding that he could touchbottom with his feet, he stood with his carroty head out of water,watching for the wagon.
It soon came into view, out of the woods, and the horse that drew itthundered upon the bridge. The horse was old Ebenezer; and Farmer Greenwas driving him.
"Hi!" Red shouted. "Stop! Wait a minute!"
Johnnie Green's father pulled Ebenezer to a halt.
"What's going on here?" he inquired.
"Spot took my clothes," Red explained. "He's run down the road withthem. Get them for me--please!"
Hoots and catcalls from the other boys followed Red's speech, which wasa wonderfully polite one--for him.
Farmer Green couldn't help laughing.
"I'm going to the village," he said. "If I find any clothes along theroad I'll pick them up and put them in the wagon. And if you're herewhen I come back I'll give them to you."
"He'll be here!" Johnnie Green shouted. "Red'll wait for you."
"If you hurry, maybe you can catch Spot," Red called to Farmer Green ashe drove off. "I can't stay here all day."
"You'll have to," the boys jeered.
"Maybe you'll have to wait here till dark," Johnnie Green suggested.
"I won't!" Red replied, as he swam towards the bank. "Your dog took myclothes," he cried as he ran up to the big hickory. "And I'm going totake yours."
Spot Started After Frisky Squirrel.
(_Page 42_)]
It was Johnnie's turn to yell then. He was on the further side of themill pond. And long before he could cross it Red had snatched upJohnnie's clothes from the shade of the hickory and dodged into thebushes with them.
IX
A BUNDLE OF CLOTHES
Old dog Spot was trotting down the road with the bundle of clothes inhis mouth--the clothes which belonged to Johnnie Green's friend Red, whowas one of the swimming party in the mill pond.
Somewhat to Spot's surprise the boys had not come tearing down the roadafter him.
"It's queer," he said to himself. "I wonder why they don't follow me.This would be fun if they'd only chase me."
Just then he happened to spy a squirrel on a stone wall. Spot promptlymade for this gentleman. Keeping a firm hold on his bundle, he plungedthrough a tangle of blackberry bushes that grew beside the road.
The thorny brambles caught at Spot's bundle and held it fast.
"_G-r-r-r!_" he growled. "I don't want to lose sight of that fat fellow.Unless I'm mistaken, it was Frisky Squirrel. And I've had an eye out forhim for a longtime."
After a few frantic tugs he let go of the bundle of clothes and dashedafter the squirrel.
It was Frisky Squirrel. He ran up a tree while Spot was struggling inthe blackberry thicket. And he scampered from one tree top to anotherwhile Spot followed beneath him, barking furiously.
At last Frisky stopped and sat on a limb, to chatter and scold at olddog Spot.
"What are you doing so far from home?" he demanded after a while.
"I've been swimming in the mill pond with the boys," said old dog Spot.
"Then you'd better go back there at once, unless you want a punishinglater," Frisky Squirrel told him. "I can hear them whistling for you."
It wasn't far from the mill pond--that place where they were talking,for Spot's chase of Frisky Squirrel had led him back up the hill again.Now Spot cocked his ear in the direction of the pond and listened. Sureenough! he could hear Johnnie Green's whistle.
"I'll see you again," he told Frisky Squirrel.
"Not if I see you first!" Frisky muttered as old Spot started throughthe woods for the mill pond.
"Come here!" Johnnie Green greeted him sternly when, a few minuteslater, he appeared on the bank. "Where are those clothes that youtook?"
Spot wagged his tail. He acted very, very friendly. Nobody would havesupposed, from his looks, that he had stolen anyone's clothes.
"This is no joke," Johnnie Green declared. "I haven't anything to wear.Get those clothes and bring them back here!"
"I don't know what's the matter with Johnnie," Spot thought. "I didn'ttouch his things. I don't see why he's so angry."
"Good old Spot!" Johnnie coaxed. "Find the clothes! There's a goodfellow!"
He waded toward the bank and snapped his fingers at Spot.
The old dog edged away. Johnnie _talked_ pleasantly enough. But he hada queer look in his eye. Spot thought it safer to keep out of hisclutches.
Just then the miller came driving up the hill on a load of corn. When hesaw the boys in the pond he stopped his horses.
"Anybody here lost any clothes?" he asked, holding a bundle up in hishand. "I found these by the side of the road. I noticed them hanging ona blackberry bush."
"I'll take 'em!" Johnnie Green cried. "They belong to Red. But you canleave them with me."
The miller tossed the bundle to him.
The boy Red, wearing Johnnie's clothes, was watching everything thatwent on, from behind a tree. He waited until Johnnie had untied thehard, wet knots in the clothes. Then he stepped out from his hidingplace.
"Let's swap!" he said. And while they were swapping, old dog Spot took aswim in the mill pond. Somehow he felt that all was well again.
X
DROPPING HINTS
On the table in the kitchen of the farmhouse was a leg of mutton. FarmerGreen had left it there and gone away. And Mrs. Green had stepped out ofthe kitchen--nobody knew for how long.
At least old dog Spot and Miss Kitty Cat didn't know. They were leftthere in the kitchen alone--alone with the leg of mutton.
"Ahem!" said Miss Kitty Cat to old dog Spot. "Don't you think you'dbetter go and see what's become of Farmer Green?"
She was unusually pleasant, for her. As a rule she had little to say toSpot, except to scold at him.
"I'm comfortable here, thank you," Spot answered. "Farmer Green must beout of sight by this time. So I won't bother to chase after him."
"You could smell out his track, couldn't you?" Miss Kitty Cat suggested.
"Perhaps!" said Spot. "Perhaps! But as I said, I'm comfortable here. I'mgoing to stay right here in the kitchen." Out of the corner of his eyehe looked at Miss Kitty Cat. He could see that she was somewhatdispleased by something or other. Her tail was beginning to swellslightly. And that was a sure sign that she was losing her temper. Butwhen she spoke again her voice was as sweet as honey.
"What a beautiful day to go hunting!" she remarked as she sprang into achair beside the window and looked out. "The woods must be full ofbirds."
"No doubt!" said Spot dryly. "I went hunting early this morning; andthere was plenty of game then."
"Ha!" Miss Kitty exclaimed suddenly. "Do I hear the cows in thecornfie
ld?"
Now, Spot loved to drive the cows out of the corn. But for a wonder, henever even moved an ear.
"I hope the sheep haven't scrambled over the stone wall," Miss Kitty Catmewed. "If they have, Farmer Green would want you to get them back intothe pasture for him."
"Yes!" said Spot with a yawn. "I'm sure he would. And if he needs me heknows where he can find me."
Miss Kitty Cat's tail was growing bigger every moment. And the fur onher back was beginning to stand on end. Still she managed to speak inher very softest voice.
"Did you know--" she inquired--"did you know that Johnnie Green had goneswimming in the mill pond?"
"No!" said Spot. "Has he? I hope he'll have a good time. I had a fineswim yesterday in Black Creek. And I almost caught a muskrat there."
As he spoke he rose and walked across the big, square kitchen andstretched himself out on the floor right in front of the table where theleg of mutton lay.
At that Miss Kitty Cat gave a terrible cry of rage.
"I know why you won't leave the kitchen!" she yowled. "You think I'mgoing to eat some of that mutton. And that's why you've lain downalongside it."
XI
MRS. GREEN'S MISTAKE
Old dog Spot never moved from the place where he was lying in front ofthe kitchen table. Although Miss Kitty Cat had told him angrily that hethought she was going to enjoy a luncheon on the leg of mutton that wason the kitchen table, he didn't lose his temper.