42 STORIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



his lovely little face to show deep scratches on 

 his nose. 



" You poor dear ! " moaned Tommy-Anne, hug- 

 ging him. " I'm sorry for your nose ; but the next 

 time you won't steal ham and have to hide it in 

 an out-of-the-way place for Tiger's benefit, will 

 you? 



" Think," said she ; " I have heard part of a 

 secret since you have been away, and I can't 

 know the whole of it until to-morrow. Tchin, 

 the Jay, said, ' Be in the meadow between the 

 river and the woods very early S 



" Remember, Waddles ! very early ! Oh, what 

 if it should rain ! " 



Boom ! boom ! sounded the dinner gong down at 

 the house. Waddles brightened up and cocked 

 his ears so suddenly that Tommy-Anne laughed 

 outright, and said mockingly: "So you wish 

 some dinner ; I thought that perhaps you would 

 rather stay here and wait for Tiger to bring the 

 ham bone back. 



" No, you would rather come with me ? Then 

 wash your face and make yourself a bit tidy." 



The dog began obediently to lick his paw and 

 make a sponge of it to clean his smutty nose. 



Boom ! bang ! but this time the sound was 

 followed by a clear, melodious whistle. 



