by W. W. Jacobs
in a voice that might ha' been heard amile away. 'HELP!'
”'Why don't you keep quiet?' ses Bob. 'You're on'y frightening the poreanimal and making things worse. Joseph, leave go and I'll see whetherthere's a biskit in my pocket. Why don't you leave go?'
”'Pull him off. Hit 'im,' ses Mr. Bunnett, shouting.
”'Wot?' ses Bob Pretty, with a start. 'Hit a poor, dumb animal wot don'tknow no better! Why, you'd never forgive me, sir, and I should lose thegold watch besides.'
”'No, you won't,' ses Mr. Bunnett, speaking very fast. 'You'll 'ave asmuch chance of it as ever you had. Hit 'im! Quick!'
”'It 'ud break my 'art,' ses Bob. 'He'd never forgive me; but if you'lltake the responserbility, and then go straight 'ome and give me the goldwatch now for kindness to animals, I will.'
”He shook his 'ead with sorrow and made that sucking noise agin.'
”'All right, you shall 'ave it,' ses Mr. Bunnett, shouting. 'You shall'ave it.'
”'For kindness to animals?' ses Bob. 'Honour bright?'
”'Yes,' ses Mr. Bunnett.
”Bob Pretty lifted 'is foot and caught Joseph one behindthat surprised 'im.”]
”Bob Pretty lifted 'is foot and caught Joseph one behind that surprised'im. Then he 'elped Mr. Bunnett look at 'is leg, and arter pointing outthat the skin wasn't hardly broken, and saying that Joseph 'ad got thebest mouth of any dog in Claybury, 'e walked 'ome with the old gen'lemanand got the watch. He said Mr. Bunnett made a little speech when 'e gaveit to 'im wot he couldn't remember, and wot he wouldn't repeat if 'ecould.
”He came up to this 'ere Cauliflower public-'ouse the same night for themoney 'e had won, and Bill Chambers made another speech, but, as Smiththe landlord put' in outside for it, it didn't do Bob Pretty the good itought to ha' done.”