Suddenly Polly gave a little scream of fright.  Johnny Chuck looked up to see a dog almost upon her.  Johnny’s first thought was to run to the old stone wall.  He was nearer to it than Polly was.  Then he saw that that dreadful dog would catch Polly before she could reach the stone wall.

A great rage filled Johnny’s heart, just as it had when he had fought the old gray Chuck.  Every hair stood on end, not with fear, but with anger, and he sprang in front of Polly.

“Run, Polly, run!” he cried, and Polly ran.

But Johnny didn’t run.  Oh, my, no!  Johnny didn’t run.  He drew himself together ready to spring.  He showed all his sharp teeth and ground them savagely.  Little sparks of fire seemed to snap out of his eyes.  There was no sign of fear in Johnny Chuck then, not the least little bit.  Just in front of him the dog stopped and barked.  He was a little dog, a young and foolish dog, and he was terribly excited.  He barked until he almost lost his breath.  He didn’t like the looks of Johnny Chuck’s sharp teeth.  So he circled around Johnny, trying to get behind him.  But Johnny turned as the dog circled, and always the little dog found those sharp teeth directly in front of him.  He barked and barked, until it seemed as if he would bark his head off.

Finally the little dog, who was young and foolish, grew tired of just dancing around and barking.  “Pooh!” said he to himself.  “He’s nothing but a Chuck!” Then he stopped barking and sprang straight at Johnny with an ugly growl.

Johnny Chuck was ready for him and he was quicker than the little dog.  His sharp teeth closed on one of the little dog’s ears, and he held on while with his stout claws he scratched and tore.

The little dog, who was young and foolish and hadn’t yet learned how to fight, couldn’t get hold of Johnny Chuck anywhere.  Then he tried to shake Johnny Chuck off, but he couldn’t, because Johnny held on to that ear with his sharp teeth.

“Kiyi-yi-yi-yi!” yelled the little dog, for those teeth hurt dreadfully.  “Kiyi-yi-yi-yi!”

Over and over they rolled and tumbled, the little dog trying to get away, and Johnny Chuck holding on to the little dog’s ear.  Finally Johnny had to let go to get his breath.  The little dog sprang to his feet and started for home across the Green Meadows as fast as he could run.

Johnny Chuck shook himself and grinned, as he heard the little dog’s “Kiyi-yi-yi” grow fainter and fainter.  “I’m glad it wasn’t Bowser the Hound,” muttered Johnny Chuck, as he started towards the old stone wall.  There he found Polly Chuck peeping out at him, and all of a tremble with fright.

“My, how brave you are!” said Polly Chuck.

“Pooh, that’s nothing!” replied Johnny Chuck.

XIII

POLLY AND JOHNNY CHUCK GO HOUSE HUNTING

Johnny Chuck was happy.  Yes, Sir, Johnny Chuck was happy—­so happy that he felt like doing foolish things.  You see Johnny Chuck loved Polly Chuck and he knew now that Polly Chuck loved him.  He had known it ever since he had fought with the foolish little dog who had dared to frighten Polly Chuck.