WHAT THE MORNING BROUGHT.
It was a very shaken, tremulous trio which stood and faced each other
in the tiny kitchen, after they had locked and bolted the door.
Dick trembled with excitement and eagerness only, but Mrs. Perry was
really frightened.
"But what of my poor hens!" she gasped, as Huldah poured out the
adventures of the night. "Will the thieves come back again?
What can I do? There's twelve of them; I can't bring them all
indoors, and yet--oh, poor dears, and they so tame, and knowing me so
well. I'd sooner see them all dead than in the hands of such men;
and they'll be so frightened."
"They're all safe enough, ma'am," said Huldah, consolingly.
"The thieves didn't as much as open the door before Dick was on them,
and they won't be coming back here again in a hurry; they'll never
feel sure but what Dick's under the wall waiting for them."
Mrs. Perry bent down, and patted Dick's head gratefully. It was the
first time she had actually touched him. "Good dog," she said,
warmly. "Oh, you good doggie, to protect a strange old woman and her
belongings!" and Dick was overcome with pride and gratitude for her
condescension.
"Oh, I am glad it has all ended so well," she exclaimed, with a deep
sigh of thankfulness. "What with the shouting and the barking and
confusion, I couldn't make out anything, or hear what you said, and I
thought for certain they'd got away with the poor things;" and she
patted Dick's head again, to his great delight and Huldah's.
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