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Rh mounted the boulders and peered in through the crack in the fence, he made out his own missing canine among a motley group of over forty dogs.

Slam! came an instantaneous bound against the fence that made it quiver and creak. Slam—slam! right up to the spot where Frank had uttered the name, Christmas sprang repeatedly. He was mad with joy and excitement at recognizing his young master's voice.

Frank was now quite as much stirred up as his youthful companion. He had to call to Christmas to reassure and quiet the animal. The dog was tearing at the fence harried in such a frenzied manner that Frank feared he would severely injure himself.

"How did Christmas ever get this far away from home?" he reflected, getting off the boulders and onto the ground again. "Say, if that Stoggs has gone deliberately out of his territory and caught him at Greenville, I'll get the boys to come here and tar and leather him. Easy, old fellow," called Frank to Christmas, who, yelping frantically, could still be heard throwing himself against the boards of the fence.

"My goodness!" shouted Frank's companion, suddenly. "Look at that, now."

His eyes goggled as a great snap sounded out.