That one eye, extra keen and fierce, caught sight of Young Grumpy,
and probably mistook him for an immense rat, thief of eggs and murderer
of goslings. With a harsh hiss and neck outstretched till it was like a
snake, the great bird darted at him.
"Young Grumpy hesitated. After the manner of his kind, he sat upon his
haunches to hesitate. The gander seemed to him very queer, and perhaps
dangerous.
"At this critical moment the white dog interfered. In his eyes Young
Grumpy belonged to the Boy, and was therefore valuable property. He ran
at the gander. The gander, recognizing his authority, withdrew, haughty
and protesting. Young Grumpy followed with a triumphant rush, and, of
course, took all the credit to himself.
"This led him into the farmyard. Here he promptly forgot both the dog
and the gander. It was such a strange place, and full of such strange
smells. He was about to turn back into the more familiar clover when, as
luck would have it, he stumbled upon a half-eaten carrot which had been
dropped by one of the horses. How good it smelled! And then, how good
it tasted! Oh, no! the place where such things were to be found was not
a place for him to leave in a hurry!
"As he was feasting greedily on the carrot the Boy appeared, with the
white dog at his heels.
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