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diff --git a/old/67802-0.txt b/old/67802-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2499e75..0000000 --- a/old/67802-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2183 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Little Dog Ready, by Mabel F. Stryker - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Little Dog Ready - How He Lost Himself in the Big World - -Author: Mabel F. Stryker - -Illustrator: Hugh Spencer - -Release Date: April 8, 2022 [eBook #67802] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Charlene Taylor, Larkspur and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was - produced from images generously made available by The - Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE DOG READY *** - - - - - -[Illustration: Out ran the chipmunks] - - - - -LITTLE DOG READY - -_How He Lost Himself in the Big World_ - -_by_ MABEL F. STRYKER - -With Illustrations _by_ HUGH SPENCER - -[Illustration] - - NEW YORK - HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY - 1923 - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1923 - BY - HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY - _September, 1923_ - - PRINTED IN - UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - - - - - TO ALL CHILDREN - AND GROWN-UPS - WHO LOVE DOGS - - - - -CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER I - HOW READY LOST HIS HEAD 1 - - CHAPTER II - READY A PRISONER 11 - - CHAPTER III - FREEDOM 18 - - CHAPTER IV - READY AT THE GREAT GATHERING 32 - - CHAPTER V - BAD NEWS 50 - - CHAPTER VI - WITH THE CHIPMUNKS 70 - - CHAPTER VII - THE JOURNEY WITH THE SWALLOWS 81 - - CHAPTER VIII - A DREADFUL VISITOR 95 - - CHAPTER IX - THE JOURNEY WITH THE SANDPIPER 99 - - CHAPTER X - THE END OF THE LONELY ROAD 117 - - - - -LITTLE DOG READY - - - - -CHAPTER I - -HOW READY LOST HIS HEAD - - -He was a little black and white dog with a shaggy coat and a waggy -tail. He had very polite eyes which were always watching people to find -out what they would like to have him do. Whenever people were kind -enough to tell him what they wanted, he would always do it for them if -he possibly could, and that is why he was named “Ready.” - -Ready loved his little master Dick more than any one in the world, and -Dick never wanted Ready out of his sight; and that is how this story -came about. - -It was a very sad day for Dick and Ready when Dick fell from the apple -tree and broke his arm. Have you ever broken your arm? If you have, you -know how much it hurts, and how still you have to be. Even then the -pain won’t go away. Of course Dick wanted Ready with him every single -minute of the day and night. - -But in the middle of the second night Ready felt that he really must -stretch his legs while Dick was asleep. He would not have thought of -letting his master know that he was in great need of a little run, but -now that Dick was asleep--and he put his nose against Dick’s good arm -to be quite sure that he was--Ready stepped out of the open window into -the big world. - -[Illustration: All would have gone well if Ready had not met Big Yellow -Dog] - -I suppose all would have gone well if Ready had not met Big Yellow Dog. -Big Yellow Dog had always snubbed Ready frightfully, but even Big -Yellow Dogs have their good moments, and this must have been one of -them. - -Big Yellow Dog said, “Good evening,” and almost stopped. - -This turned Ready’s head. It would have turned any dog’s head. Did you -ever have your head turned? You will some day, and when it happens, try -hard to look where you are going, for you are _always going wrong_. - -Of course Ready did not know this, and when Big Yellow Dog said -pleasantly, “Come along,” Ready went. Faster and faster ran Big Yellow -Dog. Faster and faster ran Ready, although he felt that his legs were -getting shorter and shorter. - -Suddenly Ready lost sight of Big Yellow Dog altogether, and then he -felt very tired. He sat right down on the pavement, for he knew now -that his head had been turned. Of course he tried to turn it back -again, but he was so tired that he only made it worse. - -[Illustration: Faster and faster ran Ready] - -Then he tried to run home, but of course he ran in the wrong direction, -and when you run home in the wrong direction, a most unpleasant thing -happens--_you don’t get there at all_. - -Ready ran on and on until he came to a house which he thought was his. -You see he was quite sleepy by this time, and when you have a sleepy -turned head you may as well give up. - -He wondered why the windows were all closed, but even before he had -finished saying, “How queer that the windows are not----” he was fast -asleep on the doormat. He did not wake up until he heard some one -talking. - -“Oh, see this darling little dog!” said a young lady, looking down at -him. - -Then all the family came to look down at him and to say, “How cute!” -and “What a dear!” - -Now Ready, as you remember, was a very polite little dog; so of course -he wagged his waggy tail and said in his best dog language, “How do -you do?” - -[Illustration: “How do you do?”] - -This seemed to delight everybody, and they gave him breakfast at once. -Ready greatly enjoyed his breakfast, and he thought there would be no -harm in staying a few minutes with such very pleasant people. But that -is where he made his second bad mistake, as you will see. - -He really should have run away from them as fast as his little legs -could carry him, for all at once the young lady said, “I am going to -keep this little dog _forever_.” - -“But you can see by his collar,” said her mother, “that he belongs to -some one else.” - -I had forgotten to tell you that Ready wore a nice little silver collar -and on it was written: - - “HIS NAME IS READY BECAUSE HE ALWAYS IS SO.” - -“It does not say _where_ he belongs,” said the young lady with a pout, -“and I _want_ him.” - -“He will not want to stay,” said the mother. - -“Then I will tie him up and _make_ him stay,” said the young lady, -quite crossly. - -Now any one could see with half an eye that the young lady was going -to have her own way. Even Ready felt that without understanding -young-lady language. If he had known what dreadful things she was -saying, of course he would have run right out of the door. - -But he did not know; so he only wagged his tail, hoping that would -make her feel a little better. He thought that he must do something in -return for his good breakfast. - -The young lady grew crosser and crosser and finally stamped her foot. -This made Ready decide to leave at once, for there is no knowing what -may happen to dogs or dishes when any one begins to stamp a foot! - -Ready stood up and said his prettiest good-bye, which was three little -barks and then one long one, with tail wagging all the time, of course. - -In a second he would have been out of the house, but the young lady -caught him by the collar and held him. - -Then--I cannot tell you how it hurts me to say this--_they tied him_. -Yes, they did! They tied him to an old hook and kept him there for -nearly a week! They took him out for a breath of air for a few minutes -each day and then put him back in his stuffy prison. - -[Illustration: They tied him] - - - - -CHAPTER II - -READY A PRISONER - - -Of course if Ready had been a dog of the world, he might have found -ways to escape. He might have snapped at people or howled all night. -Then the father of the family would surely have let him out, for -fathers hate to be disturbed at night. - -But Ready had always been taught that snapping and growling are very -wicked; so he only moaned a little and shed a few dog tears when no one -was looking. You see it is a disgrace to a dog’s doghood to be found in -tears. - -Of course he was not the least bit hungry. How could any dog be hungry -shut up all day in a stuffy old room? And then nothing takes away a -dog’s appetite so quickly as sad thoughts. - -[Illustration: Shed a few dog tears when no one was looking] - -At first he did not eat anything, and then he began to have a very -queer feeling in his legs. They were such wobbly and uncertain legs -that they frightened Ready. He remembered going once to a dog lecture -where the speaker had said: - -“Fellow dogs, beware of unreliable legs! There is nothing left in life -for a dog if his legs go back on him.” - -Ready remembered that this great dog doctor had given him a number of -prescriptions. This was one of them: - - FOR RAPID RUNNING LEGS - - Eat carefully, exercise regularly, and don’t ever be cast down. - -When Ready thought of these words, he began to eat a little each day -and to run around the room for exercise after each meal. Then he tried -very hard to cast out his sad thoughts. He would put himself to sleep -saying over and over, “I think to-morrow I will get out. To-morrow I am -going to be free.” - -Whenever the young lady talked to him, Ready tried in all kinds of -ways to tell her that he must get to his little master as soon as -possible. - -First he would lie down at her feet and look up beseechingly in her -eyes. After that he would run to the door, wagging his tail all the -time. Then he would come back and beg. _Oh, how hard he would beg her -to let him go!_ - -[Illustration: “Please let me go back to my little master”] - -But she never once understood him--never once noticed he was saying, -“Oh, dear young lady, please let me go back to my little master. He is -very ill and needs me. Don’t you see that I belong to him? I will do -anything in the world for you that an honorable little dog can do, if -you will _only let me go_.” - -Perhaps the saddest of all his prison days was the time he really -thought she was going to release him. He had wagged his tail especially -hard that morning at the door. She had put on her hat saying, “Come on, -then.” - -Oh, how happy he was and how hard he tried to thank her! Then came the -dreadful minute when she _fastened a silver chain to his collar_. - -At first he broke down completely and moaned and moaned. Then he -thought: “Perhaps if I walk by her side very nicely it will soften -her heart; and then there is always a chance when out in the great -beautiful open world.” - -So he walked quite contentedly by her side and waited patiently while -she stopped to chat with some other young ladies. But when she said -boastingly, “Do you see my beautiful new dog?” he simply could not -stand it. Do you know what he did? He growled, and his growl had a bit -of a snap in it, too. This made the young lady very cross, and she -decided to take Ready home at once. - -When they reached the door, Ready’s eyes would have melted a heart of -stone. He knelt to her, he moaned to her, he begged so prettily on his -hind legs, but the young lady would have none of it. She pushed him -rudely into the dark room and slammed the door. - -I think that was the saddest moment of Ready’s prison life. But in -spite of everything, Ready never once gave up the hope of getting his -chance to escape, and that is why it came. - -[Illustration: The saddest moment of Ready’s prison life] - - - - -CHAPTER III - -FREEDOM - - -It happened this way. One evening the young lady and her mother had -gone to one of those long-lasting parties which do not begin until -nearly every one in the world has gone to sleep. The maid was out too, -probably to another party. The fat old cook was so sleepy that she -forgot to fasten Ready to the hook and cord after she had opened the -window. Wasn’t that lucky? - -Ready pretended to be asleep until he heard her slow step on the -stairs. Then, quick as a wink, he was out of the window and in the -yard. - -The shortest cut to the street was a dash through the flower bed, and -Ready started to go that way. Then he remembered that really nice dogs -were always polite to flowers. Now the only way a dog can be really -polite to flowers is to keep away from them; so Ready turned and ran -around the path. - -[Illustration: Quick as a wink he was out of the window] - -But in spite of this long way around, Ready was soon on the main road. -He must make no mistake now. He must never let his head get turned -again. Which was the right direction? The road looked so strange, so -dark and lonely, that it was hard for a dog to tell anything about it. - -Ready felt that he must not wait a moment; so he started. But he soon -heard an owl hooting from a tree near by, “No, no, no!” - -Then Ready turned and ran in the other direction. From some very -far-away place he heard, “Quite right, Bob White,” and so he knew that -all was well. Now he would soon come to his dear little master’s house. - -On and on he ran, along the cool dark village street, until suddenly he -saw in the distance the queer-shaped old oak tree that stood by the -gray church at the corner. Ready was very happy, for he knew the way -perfectly now. Many a race had he taken to this place with his Master -Dick. Many a frolic they had had together under that old tree. - -It took about three minutes more of hard dog running to bring him to -the dear green house. He noticed that it looked very dark and lonely. -Perhaps all the grown-ups had gone to the party too. He gave three -crisp little joy barks which always meant to Master Dick, “Ready’s -here.” - -There was no answer at all. So Ready, with a heavy heart, decided to -lie right down by the door and wait until morning. - -You may be sure that he woke up very early indeed, in order to be up -before Master Dick. He gave his three joy barks again and again, but -no answer came. - -Just then old Rover appeared. He was the oldest dog about that part of -the town, and he knew everything. - -[Illustration: Just then old Rover appeared] - -“Well, well, well,” he said to Ready. “They have been looking -everywhere for you, but _now you are too late_!” - -“Too late?” said Ready. - -“Yes, too late,” said Rover severely. “The little master was so sick -that they took him to the seashore yesterday.” - -Then Ready was the saddest little dog in the world, and he looked so. - -“It’s your own fault,” said Rover. “Why did you run away?” - -At this Ready broke down altogether, tail and all, and sobbed out the -whole story. - -“Come, come,” said Rover at last, “be a dog and keep up your courage. -Try wagging your tail a little, that always helps.” - -So Ready wagged his tail and it did help a little speck. Then Rover -gave him some breakfast and that helped a great deal. - -After breakfast was over, Rover gave Ready letters of introduction -to several traveling dog friends of his in the hope that they might -happen to know Master Dick’s seashore home. But when night came a -very tired and discouraged little Ready returned to the lonely house. -You see, most of the traveling dogs had already left the city and the -others had sent down word, “Too busy,” or “Not at home.” - -It was the darkest hour of Ready’s life. Indeed, I do not know what -would have happened next if a happy Robin had not been still awake, -singing, “Cheer up.” When he saw sad little Ready, as quick as a wink -he made this other verse to his evening song: - - “Chance, chance, chance, - Everybody has a chance; - Cheer up, be Ready and wagging, - Cheer up, cheer up.” - -[Illustration: Listening to Robin’s song of cheer] - -I cannot tell you how much this helped Ready. He wagged his tail at -once and decided he would take a little run in the moonlight, so as to -be on the lookout for chances. - -As he ran along, he noticed a great many dogs going by. Dogs he had -never seen, dogs old, dogs young, dogs middle-aged, all in a great -hurry. He asked several of them where they were going, but few had time -to answer him. - -One said, “Aren’t you going?” and several mumbled something that he -could not make out. - -At last one very fat and panting dog stopped to rest a minute. - -[Illustration] - -“Won’t you please tell me where you are going?” asked Ready. - -“Why, don’t you _know_?” was the answer. “This is the 21st of June!” - -Just then another dog came along. “Hurry up, you two, or you’ll be -late,” he called out. - -“Come on,” said the panting, fat dog. - -Now Ready had had so much bad luck running about with strange dogs that -he only shook his head and said, “I don’t know anything about it.” - -[Illustration] - -“Don’t know anything about it? By my tail, you must be a stranger -here,” said the panting, fat one. Ready afterwards called him “Paf” -for short--“P” standing for panting and “F” for fat, you see. - -“At midnight on the 21st of June, if it is moonlight, a wonderful thing -happens. All the beasts, birds and flowers in this part of the world -meet in an open space near the woods. They have music, dancing and -refreshments. Then the Eagle, who is the king of the birds, grants a -wish to any animal who has a clear record. - -“The Eagle gives the wish to the beasts, instead of the birds and -flowers, because nobody ever has anything against the flowers anyway, -and they don’t care for new experiences. As for the birds, they have -so many chances to travel and do interesting things that His Majesty, -the Eagle, decided to go outside of his own family and give the wish to -the four-footers. You see, they get around very little as they have no -wings. - -[Illustration: “Come on,” said the panting, fat dog] - -“The animals are not what they once were,” Paf went on, as they hurried -along. “Last year no one could get it, and the year before only one had -a chance even to try.” - -“Do many want to try?” asked Ready. - -“Not so many as there were in my young days,” said Paf. “It’s -unpleasant being refused, you see, and having all the little things you -have done and forgotten thrown in your face. I’d try myself to-night, -but I had a bad time a few days ago with an old alley cat. It was all -her fault of course, but I know she will be here to-night to complain -of me if I should come forward. - -“It is hard, these days,” Paf went on, “to get a clear record, since -they allow all kinds of cats to vote, and even flowering vines and -chickens can speak against us. So what is an animal to do? It used -to be that an English sparrow’s vote counted nothing, but now these -worthless creatures have as much to say as we do. Why, no cat has a -chance because the mice are all invited. Times are sadly changed.” And -poor Paf sighed. - -[Illustration: They allow all kinds of cats to vote] - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -READY AT THE GREAT GATHERING - - -At last they reached the place, and it was a wonderful sight. All the -four-footed animals sat on the ground in front. The birds were perched -on the trees, and the flowers massed themselves around the Eagle’s -throne. - -Suddenly the birds all began to sing a beautiful song, and the flowers -commenced to dance a soft swaying dance. Then the thrushes sang: - - “Give place, give place to our noble king, - Whom we all do love and fear. - Bow low, bow low, every single thing, - And then set up a cheer.” - -[Illustration: The Great Gathering] - -At this the flowers bowed their heads, the beasts all knelt, and the -birds flew out to meet His Royal Majesty, the Eagle. Then the birds -made themselves into two lines and the great Eagle flew between them. - -[Illustration: He was a savage-looking bird indeed] - -He was a savage-looking bird indeed. He wore for the occasion a large -crown of red feathers, and carried in one of his claws an enormous -stick covered with rabbit’s fur, which had five large dog teeth at the -end of it. - -Everything and everybody clapped and bowed and cheered. Dogs wagged -tails, chickens cackled, roosters crowed, birds sang, and flowers waved -themselves. - -The Eagle looked about fiercely, bowed slightly, and seated himself on -his throne, which was on a little hill. - -The entertainment began with a duet given by a wood thrush and a song -sparrow. It was very pretty indeed. This was followed by a Virginia -Reel given by the daisies and buttercups. - -[Illustration: The orchestra was made up of thrushes, whippoorwills and -woodpeckers] - -Then the Eagle rapped loudly with his terrible rod and said, “Every one -may dance.” And every one did. - -The orchestra was made up of thrushes, whippoorwills and woodpeckers. -The woodpeckers beat time on the bark of the trees. Sometimes the -robins and song sparrows joined. It all sounded very well indeed until -some blue jays and roosters started in. Then an old crow commenced -keeping time with his “caw, caw, caw.” - -This was too much for the Eagle, who beat angrily on the oak tree with -his rod and stopped the dance immediately. “Too much like a jazz band,” -he shrieked. “We want real music here. Jays, roosters and crows be -silent, or leave the dance hall. No cackling and cawing in my orchestra -while I am King of Birds.” - -You should have seen the dancing. The flowers kept pretty much to -themselves and almost always waltzed. - -The birds danced a two-step, flapping their wings to beat time and -splitting their dances for a bit of a fly now and then. - -Most of the four-footers “toddled.” Some did the old-time polka, -because it used all of their legs evenly, beating four time, you see. - -[Illustration: The birds danced a two-step] - -Ready saw that Paf wanted dreadfully to dance and was without a -partner, so he asked him. They managed somehow to get about. In fact, -many thought Paf’s quite awkward out-of-time step was something new, -and several young chickens tried to copy it. - -Then the Eagle raised his rod, and immediately the dancing and music -stopped. - -“Refreshments are coming next,” whispered Paf breathlessly. - -Ready was glad to hear this, as he had had nothing to eat since -breakfast, but Paf was mistaken this time. When all was quiet the Eagle -said fiercely: - -“Four-footers asking for wishes will now come forward. We may as well -get this part of the program over at once, for from what I hear of the -beasts this year, it will take a very short time.” - -Then he tapped his rod three times and said, “Ready!” - -Little Ready started to his feet. This was certainly his great chance, -but he wished, oh so much, that refreshments had come first, as his -knees were weak from hunger and from pulling around Paf. - -A rather handsome black dog arose and a large white cat. There was a -terrible silence as they walked slowly around the Eagle’s throne. All -eyes were turned upon them. The near-sighted ones put on glasses which -they had brought for the occasion. The white cat, being the only lady -of the party, was called first to the throne. - -[Illustration: She had eaten their father, mother, and aunt all in one -day] - -After asking her name, age, address and telephone number, the Eagle -said, “This cat is before you. Has any one anything against her?” - -Immediately a dozen English sparrows flew down to the throne and told a -dreadful tale about her. They said that she had caught and eaten their -mother, father and aunt all in one day. - -A grape vine also bent forward with leaves outstretched, but the Eagle -waved it back, saying in a terrible voice: “We have had evidence -enough. White Cat, withdraw.” And White Cat scudded away. - -Then the Eagle called the black dog, but an old hen stepped up at once -and indignantly said, “Black Dog killed my fluffiest child when she was -scarcely out of the shell.” - -At this the Eagle took his rod and struck the black dog, saying in his -great and dreadful voice, “How did you _dare_ to come before me?” - -Of course that was the end of the black dog, who ran away with his tail -between his legs. - -Then Ready knew that his time had come. If only his little legs would -not give out! When the Eagle said sternly, “Next”, he arose and stood -before him. - -“Your name,” said the Eagle, pointing the dreadful rod directly at him. - -“Ready,” he answered huskily. - -Then he heard the blue jays laughing and the mocking birds saying -“Ready” quite scornfully. - -“Of course you are ready if you are ever going to be,” shrieked the -Eagle. “Give your name at _once_, or withdraw immediately.” - -[Illustration: “But my name _is_ Ready. You can see it on my collar.”] - -“But my name _is_ Ready. You can see it on my collar,” said Ready, and -the excitement made his legs feel stronger. - -“Look at his collar,” commanded the Eagle, and everyone did. - -“It is true, Your Royal Highness,” said the Owl. - -“Extraordinary!” said the Eagle. - -“Extraordinary!” said all the animals, one after the other, and even -the hens cackled, “extraordinary!” - -“Your age,” said the Eagle. - -“Eleven months, Your Majesty,” Ready answered bravely. - -But when it came to address and telephone number, Ready gathered up all -his courage and plunged at once into his sad little story. - -Everyone was much interested. Several times the Eagle leaned forward -and said, “Louder.” Then all the hens cackled, “Louder.” - -Ready was much excited, though it hurt his throat to pitch his voice so -high. You see he was not at all used to public speaking. - -However, if you had been there, you would have known that he was -making a good impression. It was noticed by many of the animals that -the Eagle once put his handkerchief to his eyes. - -There was a great silence when Ready finished speaking. Then the Eagle -rose upon his throne, flapped his wings, and spoke in a strangely -gentle voice. - -He said, “_The wish of this dog shall be granted at once._” - -Everybody cheered wildly. - -But the Owl, standing up and bowing low to the Eagle, said, “Your -Majesty, I beg of you not to allow your feelings to carry you too far. -Remember the rules of our great gathering here. Let us see if any one -has anything against this animal.” - -Now the Eagle had always a great respect for the Owl. Indeed, the time -he had been obliged to go to Washington to have his picture taken for -the new American dollar, the owl had taken his place at this meeting. -So the Eagle said: “Very well, Ready is before you. Who speaks against -him?” - -It was very still for a minute. Ready’s heart beat fast as he feared he -might have offended a chicken, a cat or something without knowing it, -but no one answered and the cheering began. - -Then again the Owl stepped forward. “I hate to seem so particular,” he -apologized, “but I have just been re-reading the rules of our great -gathering. It says: - - All animals who are strangers in the neighborhood must be properly - introduced and vouched for before any wishes can be granted them. - -“Now, Ready was introduced by Paf, but he must be vouched for by some -one else. By that I mean,” explained the Owl, “that some one must speak -a good word for him.” - -[Illustration: “I will speak for him”] - -At this Ready’s heart sank. Who indeed would speak for him? Who knew -him here? Then he heard a voice saying, “I will speak for him. When he -jumped out of the window the other night, he was in a great hurry. The -shortest way would have been to step upon my lame shoulder, but he went -the long way instead.” - -Now Ready knew that the largest geranium in the flower bed was speaking. - -“I am an old flower,” she continued, “but it is the first time a dog -has shown me any consideration.” - -“Wonderful,” said the Eagle, waving his rod, “when he had so much -provocation, too.” - -“So much provocation,” sang the birds. - -“Much provocation,” crowed the roosters, and cackled the hens. - -“Much provocation,” barked the dogs. - -Ready wondered what the large word meant, but felt it must be a -friendly word because the Eagle looked so kindly at him. - -“Enough,” commanded the King of Birds. “Ready, state your wish.” - -By this time Ready’s legs had grown very weak. For one minute he felt -that he must say, “I wish for food.” Then he remembered that this was -his one great chance to get back to his Master Dick. - -“I want to find my Master Dick’s seashore home,” he said in quite a -loud voice. - -Then his little legs gave right out and he fell fainting at the Eagle’s -feet! - -[Illustration: “Much provocation,” crowed the roosters] - - - - -CHAPTER V - -BAD NEWS - - -When Ready opened his eyes, he found himself in the loveliest little -bed in the world. The animals by digging, gnawing, and scratching had -made a large hollow place in the ground, and the birds had lined it -with feathers. Even the flowers had given some of their leaves for the -pillow. - -You have no idea how comfortable it was. The Eagle’s trained nurse was -giving Ready a teaspoonful of medicine every other minute. A special -dog doctor was taking his pulse, and hundreds of birds were standing by -waiting for orders. Ready really felt very comfortable. - -[Illustration: A special dog doctor was taking his pulse] - -“He is better,” said the dog doctor, “but not yet on his feet.” Of -course that was quite true, was it not? - -“Is there anything you would like?” asked the trained nurse. - -Ready raised his head and said anxiously, “May I still have my first -wish granted, if I ask for anything else?” - -“Certainly,” said the Eagle. - -“Certainly,” said all the others. - -“I very much want something to eat,” said Ready, falling back upon the -pillows. - -Such a commotion as there was then! Twenty blue-birds at once brought -in a tray of liver. A course of bones followed, and a large dish of -milk was served for dessert. Ready was a very happy dog indeed. - -Then the Eagle said, “We will all have recess and refreshments.” - -[Illustration: Twenty blue birds brought in a tray of liver] - -Now there was much moving about, eating, and talking. Every one came -up to Ready and spoke to him. Many begged him to make week-end visits. -Some asked him to house parties, and all the young dogs wanted his -photograph. - -At last the Eagle raised his rod and every one came to order. “We will -now,” he said in a businesslike manner, “try to find Master Dick’s -home at the seashore.” - -Ready then told him all he knew about it, which, of course, was very -little. It was a red house near the sea with a pine tree in front of it. - -“That is quite enough,” said the Eagle, “I will send out my messengers -to find it.” - -The Eagle now called together his trusty messengers. There were five of -them. A Blue Heron for watchfulness; a Crow for good judgment; a Swift -for rapid flight; a Night Hawk for keen eyesight; and a little Sparrow -for running the errands. - -The Eagle talked to them all in a low tone for a few minutes, giving -them directions and money for the journey. - -Then the dance began, and who do you think was Ready’s partner this -time? Why, the Eagle of course! It is a splendid thing to dance with -the King of Birds, and a rare thing for a dog. - -It seemed to be dog night, for the Owl, who had not danced for years, -stepped out with a dog. The Owl knew only one dance, an old-fashioned -hop waltz. The dog knew no dance at all. He jostled about on his hind -legs. - -They really looked so ridiculous that some gay young cat-birds laughed -aloud, and called out, “Toddle, toddle, don’t just waddle.” - -[Illustration: They were immediately cuffed by their elders] - -They were immediately cuffed by their elders for such bad manners, and -made to sit out a whole dance in the dressing room, which was curtained -off from the rest of the place by a row of young pine trees. - -[Illustration: Telegram for the Eagle] - -Suddenly the dance was interrupted by the entrance of the young -Sparrow, who had returned with a telegram for the Eagle. - -Everything stopped at once and the Eagle’s grandson immediately flew -to the top of the great oak tree, where his honored grandfather’s -spectacles had been placed in an oriole’s nest for safe-keeping. - -He returned in twenty seconds and found everybody waiting breathlessly. - -The Eagle looked troubled after he had read the telegram. Then he and -the Owl whispered silently together. - -“Bad news,” cawed the crows. - -“Bad news,” shrieked the blue jays. - -“Bad news,” squeaked the field mice. - -The noise was terrific, and the Eagle waved his rod angrily, crying, -“Silence!” - -“We are having trouble with the moths, butterflies and bats,” he -continued sternly, hitting at a restless young pullet. - -“You remember, that once we asked them to join our gathering, but the -bats behaved so badly by bumping into everything that it broke up the -dancing. - -[Illustration: “Bad news,” cawed the crows and shrieked the blue jays] - -“The moths also were too silly for words. They almost stopped the -orchestra by hitting them all the time. As for the butterflies, they -went to bed as usual without even taking the trouble to send regrets.” - -“Shameful, shameful!” hissed everybody. - -“And so,” continued the Eagle, “we have never given them another -invitation.” - -“Why should we?” sang a king bird shrilly. - -“Why should we?” squeaked and piped, barked and crowed, chirped and -croaked, the whole company. - -“But,” the Eagle went on, waving his rod for silence, “the bats did -not like being left out, and now they refuse to carry my messages over -their telegraph wires. They have formed a union against us, and I can -get nothing through to the Sandpiper because it is over a wire which -they control. The telegram reads: - - “REFUSE TO SEND SANDPIPER MESSAGE UNLESS ADMITTED TO MEETING TO-NIGHT.” - -Of course no one understood a word of this message except the Owl, who -kept a Book of Knowledge in his nest and always brought it with him -in case it should be needed. He now explained that the message meant -that they would not be able to get Ready back to Master Dick unless the -moths and bats were allowed to come to the meeting that night. - -[Illustration: The Owl kept a Book of Knowledge] - -He also explained that this telegram had been written by the oldest Bat -in the world, who, for several years, had made his home in the attic -of one of the offices of the Western Union Telegraph Company. That is -where he had learned all the big words to put in telegrams, and also -that no self-respecting telegram could have more than ten words in it. - -The Owl explained this very clearly to everyone. He even pointed out -the words in the telegram and they all counted them aloud: “1, 2, 3, 4, -5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.” - -“Your Majesty, I think there is but one thing to do,” said the Owl at -last in a firm voice, “and that is to grant them admittance to-night.” - -“We will put it to a vote,” said the Eagle, stepping up to his throne -and rapping loudly for order. Then he shouted, “All in favor of getting -Ready home by admitting these bats, moths and butterflies, say ‘Aye.’” - -“Aye,” shouted everybody and everything. - -Ready felt that he ought not to vote on such a delicate matter, but he -could not help wagging his tail. - -“Contrary ‘No,’” shrieked the Eagle. - -Silence from everybody, for they were quite used to public meetings -now, and the wiser birds and beasts always watched the foolish ones and -cuffed them if they made a sound. - -“The motion is carried,” said the Eagle. “The Owl will now send a -telegram to admit them. The message will reach the Sandpiper and all -will be right in ten minutes.” - -The Owl, being a wise old bird, had the telegram prepared beforehand. -It said: - - ACCEPT TERMS. SEND MESSAGE TO SANDPIPER AND COME AT ONCE. - -If you will count, you will see that this telegram has exactly ten -words. Wasn’t that very clever of the Owl? - -The ten minutes passed very quickly, as everybody was talking in little -groups about telegrams. Many tried to write them. You could hear a -group of young crows counting the words, “Caw, caw, caw.” - -[Illustration: The oldest Bat in the world appeared] - -Suddenly, without a word of warning, the oldest Bat in the world -appeared with four or five foolish moth millers. Of course no -butterflies came. - -The Bat flew immediately toward the Eagle and almost knocked off his -glasses. Then, after running into the Owl, he batted about the dance -hall. The millers followed, trying hard to imitate him. - -The Bat next sat for a few moments on a rooster’s back and then hit a -swallow who was flying across the floor. Finally, without a word of -good-bye he was off again, with the millers flopping feebly after him. - -Everybody was much relieved to have it all over. Indeed, most of the -lady birds and beasts had been so frightened that they put their -handkerchiefs over their heads. - -The warblers started a song at once and soon everybody joined in. - - “Zee, Zee, Zee, - Happy are we. - Gone are the Bats, - So remove your hats.” - -The Eagle almost smiled as he announced: “Now the plans are made for -Ready’s departure.” He did not even need to rap for silence, for -everybody was so interested. - -“My trusty messengers have just telephoned me that everything is all -right,” the Eagle continued. “They have stopped for refreshments and -rest at the Night Hawk’s house and will return shortly. - -“You must start at once with the Chipmunks,” he said, looking most -kindly at Ready, who came and knelt before him. “Good running will -bring you to the end of the woods by dawn. I have telegraphed ahead -to have your breakfast waiting for you under the last oak tree in the -woods. - -“It is to be guarded by the Red Headed Woodpecker, who has kindly -consented to give his services. Rest here a half hour, but no longer. - -“Then the Swallows will show you the way to the beach. They have -promised to fly low so that you will not lose them. - -“About noon, you will meet a Field Mouse. If she says, ‘Ready,’ you -will follow her to a place where your dinner will be hidden. There you -will meet the Sandpiper, who will take you along the beach until you -come to an inlet. - -“You must go the rest of the way alone, as the Heron, who was to take -you, has appendicitis. The road, however is straight ahead and will -take you to your master’s home.” - -[Illustration: The Chipmunks were putting on their overcoats] - -Ready bowed low before the Eagle, barking his thanks again and again, -while the Chipmunks were putting on their overcoats for the journey. - -Some one called out “Speech, speech,” but the Eagle put a stop to that -by saying that Ready needed to save his strength for the journey. - -[Illustration: An old Frog gave Ready the queerest thing] - -Just then an old Frog hopped up and gave Ready the queerest thing. You -could never guess what it was--_a hot-water bag_! - -She said in a croaking voice, “I have never really been warm in my -life, but a hot water bag has been a great comfort to me, and has kept -me next door to warm.” - -There was nothing for Ready to do without hurting this old Frog’s -feelings, but to accept the bag with thanks. Yet he wondered how he -could ever carry such an awkward thing. However, the trained nurse -kindly fastened it to his collar and then he started off with the -Chipmunks. - -They heard the animals cheering and calling “Good luck to Ready!” long -after they were out of sight. - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -WITH THE CHIPMUNKS - - -It was a little hard to follow the Chipmunks at first, as they were -so very much smaller and could of course run like lightning along the -woody road. However, they would always stop and wait for Ready very -politely, and several times when they found some nuts under a hickory -tree he had to wait for them. - -Everything went on pretty well until they reached a funny little cabin -in the wood. Here a dark little creature jumped off the roof and -whispered “Peanut Butter!” Then he was off again as quick as a wink. - -“Peanut Butter! Peanut Butter!” chattered all the Chipmunks, and ran -after the darting little figure. Up they jumped on the roof and in a -moment were out of sight. - -[Illustration: He knew that chipmunks love peanut butter] - -What was poor little Ready to do? This delay might upset all his -plans. Perhaps they would forget to come back altogether. He knew that -Chipmunks love peanut butter, because he had heard a Chipmunk that very -evening boasting between dances of stealing into a Boy Scout’s tent and -prying open the lid of a peanut butter jar. - -Ready thought and thought, and finally decided to go around to the -cabin door and give quite politely three little barks. They would mean, -of course, “Ready, Ready, Ready.” - -At first there was no answer to his call. Then he barked again a little -louder. This time he said, “Please, _please_, come.” - -At this, somebody in the house jumped out of bed, and stamping to the -window called out, “Get away, little beast of a dog!” - -Then Ready heard the peanut butter can fall to the floor with a bang; -and suddenly out ran the Chipmunks, their coats flying behind them. - -[Illustration: Out ran the chipmunks] - -So fast did they run that they did not see Ready at all until they were -about one hundred yards away from the house. As soon as they really -came to themselves and saw Ready, they cocked their little heads on -one side and pointed their paws towards a little figure vanishing in -the distance. - -“He made us do it,” they chattered. - -“It was only a few minutes,” one of them apologized. - -“You needed a little rest,” another remarked. - -Ready did feel a little put out by the delay, but he remembered that -after all they had offered to be his escorts and had only lost their -heads for a few minutes. Had not he too once lost his head? - -So he only wagged politely when he might have said, “If it were not for -my barking, you would still be eating that peanut butter.” - -Then they all started on again. To tell the truth, the Chipmunks -really felt ashamed of themselves and thought that Ready was behaving -splendidly. You would know this by the little things they tried to do -for him. - -[Illustration: “He made us do it,” they chattered] - -Chippy, the oldest, actually kept waiting for him and once admired the -spots on his coat. Snippy, the youngest, offered to show him a place -where they all had some nuts stored for winter. Of course that was a -foolish offer to make to a dog, but Ready knew it was meant to be a -great attention, so he said at once, “I thank you very much, but think -I will not stop to-night, as it is growing quite late.” - -They were getting near the end of the woods now and all was going -beautifully when a sudden flash of lightning was followed quickly by a -clap of thunder. Then came a downpour of rain, drenching everybody in -about two seconds. - -There was nothing to do but take refuge in a hollow log near by. -That is to say, the Chipmunks went in, while Ready curled up under a -rhododendron bush which kindly acted as an umbrella. - -At first the Chipmunks seemed to fuss a good deal, and complain about -being crowded. Ready remembered how much they loved to chatter, so he -barked, “Speech, speech, everyone make a speech!” - -These words acted like magic. Such a jabbering never before was heard -from a hollow log. - -Chippy recited a poem he had written about himself. Snippy told of an -adventure he had had with a gray squirrel, and as for Clippy, he just -squeaked and thrashed around, saying, “Here, here, nuts, nuts!” - -It was all rather mixed up as you can guess, and sounded something like -this: - - “I am great big Chippy, - My brother’s name is Snippy.” - - “Here, here, nuts, nuts!” - - “And the old gray squirrel put his tail in my face.” - - “When something is the matter, - I’m always sure to chatter.” - - “Nuts, nuts, here, here!” - - “Then I jumped on the gray squirrel’s back, - Giving him a tremendous whack.” - -By this time the rain had stopped and a tiny streak of light was coming -in the East. The Chipmunks suddenly ceased chattering. Ready pricked up -his ears. Everything in the world was very still. Far, far away in the -distance you could hear the birds beginning to wake up. - -“Dawn is coming,” whispered Chippy, “and we are not yet out of the -woods.” - -Without another word they were all scampering along the road. Ready had -never gone so fast in his life. On and on they went. It was a race with -the coming dawn. - -Five minutes of wonderful animal running brought Ready to the edge of -the wood, and just as they reached the last oak tree, the beautiful -rose-colored light had come behind the purple hills. - -[Illustration: Five minutes of wonderful animal running brought Ready -to the edge of the wood] - -Ready whispered a “thank you” to the Chipmunks, and an invitation to -visit him for a week-end as soon as he found his master’s home. The -Chipmunks put their little heads to one side and then curtsied. They -are really quite polite little creatures when they remember to be. - -They were gone before you could say “Jack Robinson,” and Ready was -left alone, waiting for his breakfast under the last oak tree in the -forest. - -[Illustration: Waiting under the last oak tree] - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -THE JOURNEY WITH THE SWALLOWS - - -Ready had scarcely been there a moment before a Red Headed Woodpecker -came out of his hole and rather sleepily rang a breakfast bell. - -It sounded like this: “Punk, penk, pink,” and it meant, “Come to -breakfast.” - -Ready answered at once with three of his most cheerful barks, “Ready, -ready, ready.” - -Then the Woodpecker saluted him and flew down to a little mound covered -with fresh leaves. Under this was a delicious dog breakfast. - -After a pleasant little chat, the Woodpecker told Ready that he would -have time for a fifteen minute nap, and promised to call him. You -remember the Eagle had told him that he might be able to manage a half -hour’s rest at this place. - -[Illustration: A Red Headed Woodpecker rang the breakfast bell] - -So after his good breakfast, Ready was very glad to stretch himself out -on the ground. He was sound asleep in three seconds and oh, how he did -hate to get up when the Woodpecker first tapped! He was very tired -and his feet ached dreadfully, but after the third “punk, penk, pink,” -Ready remembered what it was all about and was on his feet at once. - -“The Swallows should be here by this time,” said the Woodpecker, in -a troubled voice. “I think I must telephone to find out what is the -matter.” - -After he had hung up the receiver, which was hidden in a curled-up -oak leaf, the Woodpecker said: “Bad news, indeed. One of the mother -swallows has a frightful pain and cannot be left alone.” - -Then Ready knew why he had carried the Frog’s hot-water bag all this -time. He had wanted very much to drop it on the way as it had been so -warm and heavy. Moreover, some large bats had called out as he passed, -“What is it? What is it?” - -He now went at once to Mother Swallow’s house, which was in the hollow -of a tree near by, and put the hot-water bag on her pain. You have -no idea of the relief it gave her. Wasn’t it good that Ready had not -thrown it away? - -Mother Swallow was then quite willing to have Father Swallow and the -children go on with Ready. Even Fluffy Forked Tail, the youngest in the -family, went along. - -Ready and the Swallows soon made up for lost time. The Swallows were -very polite, always waiting for Ready and flying low to show him the -way. - -Everything seemed to be going very well indeed, and Ready’s heart was -full of hope. The sun was getting higher and higher and he knew that -it would soon be noon. - -The Swallows had stopped a few minutes to rest on a telephone wire and -Ready was panting a little on the ground below, when suddenly a splash -was heard in a pond near by. This was followed by a great sputtering -and twittering and a call for help. Father Swallow looked quickly about -and saw that his youngest child was missing. - -“Oh, why did I ever let him come?” moaned Father Swallow, as he flew to -the rescue. “He has only just learned to fly, and I fear his wings have -given out.” - -In a moment they were all around the pond, and sure enough, there was -Fluffy Forked Tail in the water. Fortunately he had managed to climb -up on a big lily leaf, or he would have been drowned before any help -arrived. - -Ready swam in at once and let poor Fluffy get on his back. In a few -moments both were safe on the shore, with all the other swallows -twittering about them. - -[Illustration: Ready swam in and let poor Fluffy get on his back] - -There was a family consultation at once, and then Father Swallow said -to Ready: “My child is suffering from nervous exhaustion, and I fear -we must consult a physician at once. I have heard that there is a -good doctor among the Barn Swallows about half a mile from here. I am -sending my two oldest sons over there to try to find him. The other two -children are making a bed for poor little Fluffy, and I must stay by -his side and fan him until the doctor comes. - -“This is a most unfortunate delay for you, Ready, but I fear that it -would be impossible for you to find your way alone.” - -Ready felt very much disheartened, for this delay might spoil -everything. The Field Mouse might grow tired of waiting. The Sandpiper -might fly home again, and then how could he ever get to his dear -master’s home? Indeed, he almost broke down, so great was his -disappointment. - -But as he looked into Father Swallow’s worried and anxious face, he -decided that he was quite selfish to be so full of his own affairs. -He arose, and pulling himself together said, “Surely, there must be -something that I can do to help.” - -Indeed, there was much to do, and Ready soon found his heart getting -lighter as he helped the Swallows carry feathers and twigs to make the -little bed by the pond. - -Of course, this carrying of twigs and feathers was not a dog’s work, -and once a little Spaniel, from a field near by, barked “Baby! Baby!” -It was hard indeed not to run after him and give him a good whipping, -but this time Ready kept his head by saying to himself in a low tone, -over and over again: - -“My Master Dick is waiting, waiting, my dear, dear Master Dick.” This -helped wonderfully. - -In a few minutes the little bed was made. It was a lovely soft one, -beautifully lined with feathers brought from a chicken yard near by. - -[Illustration: Dr. Barn Swallow] - -Fluffy Forked Tail felt better immediately, and when two of the -swallows, who had been watching on the telephone wire, twittered -excitedly, “They are coming!” he roused himself and chirped “Good, -good!” - -Dr. Barn Swallow, who looked very handsome in his beautiful buff vest, -turned out to be a very good physician. He took Fluffy’s pulse and gave -him a tablet at once. Then he said, “He will be better in a few hours, -but must have a good sleep now. After that he must go home and remain -in bed the rest of the day.” - -Ready’s heart sank at these words, but he again pulled himself together. - -Father Swallow told the doctor about Ready, and the doctor listened -with great interest, saying, every now and then, “Certainly,” and “Of -course.” - -When Father Swallow had finished, the Doctor threw away the cigar he -had been smoking, and was silent for a moment. Then he said: - -“I think it will be quite safe for you to go on with Ready and leave -the children here to take care of the patient. He must sleep, anyway, -and only needs some one about to see that he is not disturbed. You will -be back in time to take him home.” - -Oh, how Ready loved Dr. Barn Swallow for those words! Even to this -day he never passes a barn swallow without saluting most politely and -asking if he can be of any service. - -And so it was all settled. Soon the good-byes and thank-yous were said, -the Doctor’s fee was paid, and Ready and Father Swallow were speeding -along the meadow road. - -Ready was afraid that it was too late for the Field Mouse to appear. He -felt that it must be long past noon. So he was greatly excited when he -saw one scudding along the road, and was about to run after it and say, -“I am Ready. Are you waiting for me?” - -But Father Swallow laid a detaining wing on his shoulder, saying, “The -Eagle’s directions are to wait until the Field Mouse says ‘Ready.’ -There are some bad little fellows about here that might lead you astray -and then pick your pockets.” - -So Ready had to content himself with going quietly along, but his eyes -were eagerly watching both sides of the road. Several field mice passed -him and stared quite rudely, but none of them said a word to him. - -Just as they came to a turn in the road, Ready stopped short, for -there, lying under a toad-stool, was a Field Mouse, fast asleep. Ready -gave a tiny bark. At least he thought there would be no harm in that. -The Field Mouse awakened immediately, blinked, and then squeaked: -“Ready?” - -[Illustration: There, lying under a toad-stool, was a Field Mouse, fast -asleep] - -Oh, how happy our little dog felt! His heart grew so light that he did -not feel it at all. Father Swallow patted him on the back and said -“Good-bye” at once, promising to send him a postal as soon as his son -was better. - -The Field Mouse apologized for having fallen asleep, and guided Ready -to a dinner of nice meaty bones in an old pan near a barn. - -“You were so late coming,” she said, “and the sun was so warm, that I -somehow lost myself for a few moments. It is just as well you are late, -as the Sandpiper telephoned that his wife had a seamstress this morning -and so he could not get here on time. You must wait here until you hear -him calling you from the beach.” - -With these words the Field Mouse said “Good-bye,” and scudded off -through the long grass. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -A DREADFUL VISITOR - - -Ready finished his dinner slowly, stretched himself out in the grass, -and waited for the Sandpiper to appear. He was quite near the beach -now and knew, of course, that the Sandpiper would take him along the -water’s edge. - -How he hoped he would not have a long wait! Life lately had been so -full of waiting, waiting, nothing but waiting! - -He began to feel very sleepy, and then suddenly he heard something -laugh. It was not a pleasant laugh--it was low and harsh, and -disagreeable. - -Ready started up and found the queerest creature gazing down at him. -It looked something like a bird, something like a bat, and not unlike -a rooster. It had dreadful colors on it, reds and greens and queer -purples which somehow reminded you of all the unpleasant things you -had ever seen. When the creature laughed, it reminded you of all the -unpleasant things you had ever heard. - -[Illustration: “Nonsense,” snarled the creature] - -“The Sandpiper won’t come,” it said hoarsely. “The bats never sent him -the message. I’m a relative, and I guess I know.” - -“But he promised,” said Ready. - -“Nonsense,” snarled the creature. “What’s a bat’s promise worth? The -Sandpiper will never come, and as for you, you will go on and on _and -never get anywhere_!” - -“Oh, oh, oh!” said Ready, and then something went crack, whack, thack! - -He jumped up and looked about. Not a thing was there. His bones ached, -his tail felt bent and queer, and his eyes were heavy. - -“Why, I do believe I have been asleep,” he said. “It’s all a dream, a -kind of nightmare. Although the sun is shining so brightly, I suppose -it should be called a _daymare_.” - -He arose, blinked, stretched his legs, and shook himself to keep his -heart from getting too heavy. “The Sandpiper will come. The Sandpiper -will come,” he said. - -Then he looked down the beach, and away off in the distance he saw a -little dark, moving object. Then he heard a low, sweet call: “Peet -weet, peet weet.” - -“That,” said Ready, with a joyful bark, “is the Sandpiper.” And it was. - -[Illustration: “That,” said Ready, “is the Sandpiper”] - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -THE JOURNEY WITH THE SANDPIPER - - -The Sandpiper arrived in about one more minute. He made many apologies -for being late. - -“You see, my wife has a seamstress to-day,” he said. “They have been -very busy making over the children’s summer suits, and I have had to do -all the housework. The children play so much in the little pool that -they wear out their clothes very quickly.” - -Mr. Sandpiper was a very pleasant traveling companion, although it must -be said that he had some queer habits. He would run along the beach -very rapidly and then stop for a few minutes and teeter while talking -to Ready. His voice was very sweet and low. - -Ready greatly admired his neat and slender body, his very neat and -slender legs, and his particularly neat and long slender bill. - -[Illustration: Mr. Sandpiper] - -By this time Ready, having had so much experience with so many -different birds and beasts, knew very well how to entertain them. He -asked Mr. Sandpiper quite naturally if he had a comfortable home this -year. - -“Very comfortable indeed, thank you,” was the reply. “It has the best -lining we have ever had.” - -And then Mr. Sandpiper was off for a drink in a pool near by. He flew -above Ready in a rather jerky fashion and at last alighted on a little -rock and commenced teetering again. - -“Our nest is a little farther from the water than usual,” he continued, -and then was off again for another drink. Indeed it was quite difficult -to follow him, either in movements or conversation. - -Things were going along pretty well, however, when Mr. Sandpiper -stopped short right in the middle of a sentence and a teeter. - -“What’s that?” he said anxiously. - -Ready listened but heard nothing. - -“There’s trouble at home. That’s my wife’s danger call,” Mr. Sandpiper -exclaimed. And then Ready did hear a low, frightened, far-away little -peep. - -Away flew Mr. Sandpiper in his queer jerky fashion, while Ready -followed him as rapidly as he could. And then quite suddenly there -appeared the strangest sight that Ready had ever seen. - -Two boys were walking along the beach, and in front of them on the sand -lay Mrs. Sandpiper, flopping about on one wing in a very pitiful way. -She would wait until the boys had almost caught her before she would -raise herself and fly a little farther away from them. Then she would -flop again. - -“She is not really hurt, you know,” whispered Mr. Sandpiper, “but -those dreadful boys want to rob us of our home, and she is trying to -lead them away from it. I must fly over and look after the children, -who have probably been told to hide under some leaves.” - -He was off without another word and disappeared behind a tall rock. - -At first the boys thought it was great fun to try to catch the -Sandpiper, but after failing to do it several times, they began to grow -tired. - -“Oh, let’s go away,” said one. “I believe she is just trying to fool -us. I have heard that they do that sometimes.” - -“I am sure the nest is near by,” said the other boy. “I heard something -over there.” - -So the boys turned away from Mrs. Sandpiper and went over toward the -little rock. - -Ready knew that something must be done, or they would surely find the -nest. Mrs. Sandpiper gave a frightened little peep which said, “Oh, -please, please, somebody do something to save my home and children.” - -It took all Ready’s courage, but it must be done. It was against his -bringing up, against his highest principles, against good taste in -dogs’ circles, but it _must be done_. He ran barking at the two boys. -He did not wait for them to protect themselves with sticks and stones, -but growling and showing his teeth, he made a spring towards them. The -boys ran off, with Ready close upon them. He must finish up the work -now and get them really out of the way. - -On and on ran the boys, on and on went Ready, growling and barking -savagely all the time. You would have thought he was the most snappy, -vicious little dog in the world if you had heard and seen him then, but -all the time he was running, his heart was growing heavier and heavier. - -Something seemed to be saying to him, “You will lose the way, _go back, -go back_.” - -And then something else seemed to be answering, “_But every dog must do -his duty._” - -[Illustration: On and on ran the boys, and on and on went Ready] - -At last they came to a rather rocky part of the beach. There was one -very high queerly shaped rock, and the boys quickly climbed over it and -tried to hide behind it. - -“Here is a good place to turn around,” Ready decided. “I’ll pretend to -have lost them and run back now.” - -But just as he turned and started on the backward stretch, he felt a -sharp stinging pain in one of his legs. A horrid little sharp stone had -hit him, and then came another, almost touching him. - -The boys were now taking their revenge. - -In spite of the sharp pain, Ready knew that he must not linger here or -let them see that he had been hurt, so he ran bravely along, holding -his head proudly, never once letting those mean, cowardly boys know -that anything was the matter. - -The pain began to grow very bad, and Ready felt that he must stop -somewhere soon. But there was no sheltered spot in sight. The sunny -beach stretched out before him for miles and miles. - -At last he saw another Sandpiper taking a drink in a tiny pool in one -of the rocks. Ready limped up to him and asked if he knew any shady -spot where he could rest for a few minutes. You see, he knew Sandpiper -language very well by this time. - -The Sandpiper, after jerking himself about, remembered a nice little -place behind a rock about a quarter of a mile away. He guided -poor limping Ready to it, and then Ready told him all about his -difficulties. The Sandpiper was very much interested. - -“I think I know your guide quite well,” he said, “and I will fly back -and tell him where you are. He is a neighbor of mine. Hasn’t he a -particularly large black spot right in the middle of his white shirt -front?” - -Wasn’t it splendid that Ready remembered this very spot? He had noticed -it during Mr. Sandpiper’s first teeter. As you see, Ready was really a -very observant little dog. - -After the Sandpiper had gone, and Ready was left all alone with the -pain, it felt very bad indeed. Life seemed pretty hard. There was -always something unpleasant happening to him. - -He wondered if he would ever really reach his journey’s end. Perhaps -his leg would grow worse and worse. He had heard of legs that did do -that. Perhaps--but just then from right around the corner _a big shaggy -brown dog appeared_! - -Ready was a great judge of dogs. Indeed, he had been brought up with -them, and one look in this dog’s face told him that he had found a -friend. He was such a kind-eyed dog, with understanding ears and tail. -Ready knew at once that this dog was years older than he, and that he -would know all about lame legs. - -“You are suffering,” gently barked Shaggy Dog. - -At this Ready gave up and moaned out his story. Shaggy Dog’s eyes grew -kinder and kinder. In a moment he had looked at the poor leg and had -made it much more comfortable by a little licking. Then he had Ready -bathe it in a pool near by, and gave him the best medicine in the -world. Do you know what it was? He gave him back his _courage_. - -“Your leg will feel much better in a half hour,” he said, “and you will -be able to go along easily. Your Sandpiper friend will soon be here, -and I will stay with you until he does come. - -“You have made a wonderful journey and from what you tell me, I know -you must be nearly there. Be thankful that the very last part of your -journey you can take alone, for then you need have no interruptions.” - -[Illustration: “You are suffering,” gently barked Shaggy Dog] - -Ready was much comforted, and his leg began to feel a great deal -better. Shaggy Dog told Ready that he would gladly go with him to -the end of his journey, but his business, as the oldest dog in the -neighborhood, was to carry dog messages and to look after things -generally all along the beach. - -[Illustration: Mr. and Mrs. Sandpiper and three of their children] - -This afternoon he was taking a special delivery to a young collie some -distance away. It was a message from his grandfather to say that he was -coming that night to spend the week-end. The young collie must know -about it this afternoon in order to get some special food ready for -his grandfather, whose teeth and digestion were very poor. - -Then Shaggy Dog, seeing that Ready was still a little nervous, recited -some dog poetry he had made. It went something like this: - - “If you have a lame leg, - You won’t have to beg. - Forget the old stone, - And think of a bone. - Instead of a moan, - Say, ‘Soon I’ll be home.’” - -Do you know what happened? Ready was asleep in a few minutes. When -he awakened, Shaggy Dog was smiling down at him and Mr. and Mrs. -Sandpiper, with three of the children, were twittering above his head. - -As soon as they saw that Ready was awake, they flew toward him. Then -Mother Sandpiper, in a pretty little song, thanked him for saving all -the family from destruction. Father Sandpiper joined in the last two -lines, and at a signal from their mother, the little Sandpipers joined -in the chorus. - -It sounded to Ready something like this: - - “Peet-weet, peet-weet, - You deserve much meat. - Peet-weet, peet-weet, - You’ll soon be on your feet.” - -After all the hand-shaking and good-byes were over, Ready found out -that his leg was about well, and Mr. Sandpiper and he started off again. - -He hated to leave old Shaggy Dog, but had to be satisfied with the -promise of a visit from him on the very first day of his vacation. - -As they went along, Mr. Sandpiper explained that he would have -followed Ready immediately if he had not found Mrs. Sandpiper in -hysterics, and it had taken some time to quiet her. He said he was -quite proud of the children, who had stood motionless under some tall -weeds during the terrible danger. - -At last Ready and Mr. Sandpiper came to a place where a long straight -road lay before them. This was the place where the Sandpiper had to -leave him. He carefully explained how easy it was to follow the road. - -He said, “You remember that the Heron was to go with you and show you a -short cut through the marshes. Perhaps it is just as well for you that -he had appendicitis, as he always stops a long time to get his evening -meal. Then if he is startled he flies at once to a tree. Moreover, -he is rather apt to pick a quarrel. It is thought by some of the best -authorities in Birdland that his appendicitis came from eating too -heartily one night and quarreling violently afterwards.” - -It was after twilight when the Sandpiper finally said good-bye and left -Ready alone on the long dark road. - -[Illustration: Alone on the long, dark road] - - - - -CHAPTER X - -THE END OF THE LONELY ROAD - - -There had been no arrangement made for Ready’s supper, as the Eagle had -expected him to be home by dark. At first Ready was so relieved to be -alone and have no one to delay him, that he gave no thought at all to -supper. - -It was wonderful to be free, to have no animal or bird to entertain, to -be able to go on and on rapidly along a straight road. - -But after a time, this going on and on grew a little difficult. -Thoughts of supper would keep coming. Little side roads kept beckoning -to him and whispering, “This way for food.” Then he commenced to feel -the pain in his leg, but did not dare to stop and rest for fear he -would be too lame to get up again. - -So on through the darkness little Ready ran, keeping his eyes straight -before him, never stopping a moment, so great was his fear of losing -his head or falling asleep. - -“I must try to keep the courage that dear old Shaggy Dog has given me,” -he said to himself. - -Then there came to him these lines: - -“Instead of a moan, say ‘Soon I’ll be home’.” Much to his surprise he -found himself adding: - - “I shall keep on the run - Till the journey is done. - I shall not once stop - Until I just drop - On Master Dick’s bed - In the small cottage red.” - -Ready felt wonderfully proud of himself to have made up this verse, -and decided to have it published some day in the _Dog Biscuit Weekly_, -which was considered the very best dog magazine. - -Suddenly there was a rustle in the bushes, and _an enormous black dog -appeared_. He was not a pleasant dog to look at or talk to. Any dog of -good standing could feel that at once. - -He went up to Ready and said, “Come with me, and your fortune is made.” - -Ready did not even slow up as he answered coldly, “I have no time to -make my fortune. I must get to my Master Dick to-night.” - -The black dog came nearer. - -“Do not let such a chance go by,” he whispered. “It means bones for -months and liver as long as you live.” - -“Oh, why did he mention liver?” thought Ready. He was so hungry and it -was his favorite food! - -But something sang to Ready, - - “I shall keep on the run - Till my journey is done.” - -So he turned sharply toward the black dog, saying, as he ran: - -“Go away at once. Do you suppose I would let you keep me from seeing my -master to-night?” - -“Suppose I _make you come_?” said Black Dog, in an ugly voice. - -Ready looked at the Black Dog. He looked at him from head to foot, and -then, with a growl, he made a step towards him. - -[Illustration: In spite of his large size he was a coward] - -Do you know what happened? The Black Dog turned and ran away as fast as -he could. You see that in spite of his large size and big voice, he was -a coward. Many large-sized big-voiced things are. - -It was growing late now. Even the stars were getting sleepy, and Ready -was the weariest little dog in all the world. - -He had come now to a village, and he began to look anxiously for the -red cottage with the pine tree in front of it. - -On and on he went, past brown houses, white houses, green houses, past -everything. Oh, where was it? _Now there were no houses left._ - -Ready felt the tears coming to his eyes. He had been looking so long -and so eagerly; his legs ached terribly. How could he keep on? Then -something sang to him, - - “Instead of a moan, - Bark, soon I’ll be home.” - -There was a sudden turn in the road and there, right before him, it -stood-- - - THE RED HOUSE AND THE BIG PINE TREE! - -And yes, oh yes, there was a light in the window! He had reached his -journey’s end! - -They were home! Ready suddenly felt very strong and happy, and not at -all tired. He came softly up to the lighted window. There sat Master -Dick’s father and mother. - -The father was saying, “How’s the little fellow to-night?” - -The mother answered, “He’s trying very hard to be brave, but he can’t -forget little Ready. Do you know, he insists upon having the window -nearest the bed _always_ open? Poor little fellow, I fear that he cries -himself to sleep after I leave the room.” - -Ready didn’t wait to hear another word, but ran at once to that open -window. In the dark room lay a little boy with wet eyes. - -“I’m not being a soldier,” he was whispering to himself, “but I can’t -help it. Oh, Ready, Ready, if I could just have you for a minute!” - -Then there were three little barks, and a waggy tail was on Master -Dick’s nose. - -There was a cry of joy from a little boy and a bark of delight from a -little dog. - -Then a happy child’s voice was heard all over the house calling, -“_Mother, father, everybody, READY’S COME BACK!_” - -[Illustration] - - - - -Transcriber’s Note: - -Spellings have been standardized. - -Known changes have been made as follows: - - Page 59 - TONIGHT changed to - TO-NIGHT - - Page 76 - tonight changed to - to-night - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE DOG READY *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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