The two boys tried in vain by coaxing and commanding to make the dog jump from the window. It was only about eight feet to the surface of the water, and although he seemed to know just what they wanted, he could not muster spunk for the leap. He barked and whined, and crouched and stretched, one end willing but the other end afraid; and on the very brink he always balked.
"Well," remarked Hal, finally, "I don't see what we can do--we can't get up there, and you won't come down here. So we'll have to leave you. I hope somebody will come after you pretty soon."
"It's a great big shame, that's what it is!" declared Ned. "We'll bring you over some meat, won't we, Hal!"
"Yes, indeed," answered Hal, seizing upon the idea.
"One thing is sure--he won't die from thirst!" said Ned, looking back regretfully, as they slowly sculled off.
The dog, seeing them go, lifted his nose and howled as if his heart was breaking.
"Pshaw!" exclaimed Hal. "He thinks we're leaving him for good."
"He's going to jump! He's going to jump!" cried Ned, suddenly. "Whistle!"
Yes, the dog was nerving himself to the feat. In desperation he fidgeted from side to side of the doorway, craning, running back and forth, and acting like a dog possessed.
The combined whistle of the boys was too much!
With a last howl he was in mid-air, his legs outspread; and in a twinkling he had disappeared, amid a mighty splash, beneath the water.
"My--that must have hurt his stomach like sixty!" laughed Hal.
But the dog seemed not hurt a particle. In a moment, above the surface popped his head, and shaking it vigorously to clear his eyes and ears of water, yapping with eagerness and excitement he lined a course straight for the boat.
"Come on, come on, old fellow!" urged the boys.
And come he did, as fast as his legs and paws could send him, his chest cleaving the ripples, and a bubbly wake extending far behind him.
Speedily he had gained the boat, and Ned had pulled him in. Convinced that now he was saved, the dog went into perfect transports of happiness. He barked, he yelped, he whined, he snickered, he twisted his body into knots; he talked to one boy, and then to the other, and then to the two at once, telling them all about it; he flicked water over them with his whipping tail, and shaking himself doused them again until they were well-nigh as wet as he. And how he grinned!