She
had seen Daddy Dan shoot and kill, and now she ran screaming between Bart
and danger.
"Munner!" she cried. "You bad, bad men. I won't let you hurt Bart."
"They won't hurt you, Bart," explained Joan, taming much mollified to the
great wolf-dog. "They're just playin'. Now we'll go."
And she started toward the door, with Bart slinking in front and keeping a
watchful lookout from a corner of his eye.
"Are you going to leave the poor little puppy, Joan?" said the mother,
keeping her voice steady, for all the force of the two men could not help
her now. It rested with her wit.
"I'll take him with me," answered Joan, and caught up the howling puppy
from the floor. His wails died out against her breast.
"But you mustn't do that, honey. He'd die in this cold night wind long
before you got there."
"Oh!" sighed Joan, and considered her mother with great eyes. Black Bart
turned and uneasily tugged at her dress.
"Will you take good care of him, munner? Till I come back?"
"But I don't know how to take care of him, dear. If you go he'll cry and
cry and cry until he dies.
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