“Oh, that part’s all right, my dear,” the teacher said kindly.  “But how did your dog get here?”

“I—­I don’t know,” answered Flossie, while Freddie kept on petting Snap.

Just then the door of the other school room, in which Nan and Bert studied, opened, and the teacher from there came in.  She was a new one.

“Is that dog here?” she asked.  Then she could see that Snap was there.  The children in Flossie’s room were laughing now.  Some of the pupils from the other room were standing in the doorway behind the teacher, looking in.

“Whose dog is that?” the new teacher asked.

“He’s ours, if you please,” said Bert.

“Did you bring him to school?”

“No, ma’am.  He must have got loose,” answered Nan.  “He was chained up when we left for school this morning, and he must have got lonesome and come to find us.”

“Well, he found you all right,” said Flossie’s teacher with a laugh.  “The doors are open, because it is so warm,” she said to the new teacher, “so Snap had no trouble in getting in.  He never came to school before, though.”

“He’s like Mary’s little lamb, isn’t he?” asked Freddie.

“Well, he must be put out,” said the new teacher, smiling.  “Of course it wasn’t the fault of you children that he came in.  But you had better take him home I think, Bert.  And see that he is well chained.  I’ll excuse you from class long enough to take your dog home.  Now, children, go back to your seats.”

“Say, Bert,” whispered Ned Barton, “I’ll help you take Snap home if you want me to.”

“No, indeed!” laughed the new teacher.  “One boy is enough to have out of the class at a time.  I think Bert can manage the dog alone.”

“Yes ma’am, I can,” said Bert.  “Come on, Snap!”

Snap barked and wagged his tail again.  He was happy as long as he was with one of the children.

“Our dog can do tricks,” said Freddie.  “Make him do a trick, Bert, before you take him home.  Snap used to be in a circus,” Freddie told the teacher, “and he can turn somersaults.  Don’t you want to see him do a trick, teacher?”

“Oh, yes, please let him,” begged Flossie.

The other children looked eager, and the teacher smiled.  The new teacher had gone back to her classroom with her pupils, except Bert, who had stayed to look after Snap.

“Well, as it is almost time for recess, I don’t mind if Bert makes Snap do one or two tricks,” Flossie’s teacher said, smiling.  “But only two.  School isn’t just the place for dogs.”

“Ready Snap!” called Bert.  “March like a soldier!”

“You may take my blackboard pointer for a gun,” the teacher said.

Snap stood up on his hind legs, and in one paw he held the long pointer.  Then he marched around the room as nearly like a soldier as a dog can march.  The children laughed and clapped their hands.

“Now turn a somersault!” ordered Bert.  This Snap did, too.  This was one of his best tricks.  Over and over he went around the school room, outside the rows of desks.  This made the children laugh more than before.