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“I didn’t set him on,” said the child in a high treble, “he set himself on you.”

“I guess you’re right,” answered the girl, “but don’t let go of him again. Go over there and pick up that package and bring it to me.”

She pointed to the package of bread and meat which had been flung wide in the recent trouble, and the child obeyed, dragging the Collie along, who went unwillingly, his distrustful and baffled eyes turned back across his shoulder to keep her in sight.

The child, too, was wary, reaching far out, stretching his small body to the utmost between her hand and his hold on the dog’s ear.

Quickly Nance unrolled the cloth. She counted on the aroma which now arose on the clear air.

“I’m hungry,” she said nonchalantly, “are you?”

The boy nodded.

“And your dog, too?”

“I ’spect so,” he answered gravely.

She broke the food into sections and handed a portion over.

The dirty little hand reached eagerly this time.

“Feed him some,” she said, indicating the dog, but already the child was dividing as best he could without releasing his hold.