quick ! '' Away they went , Bab racing straight on , and bewildered Betty turning obediently round to trot in the opposite direction as fast as she could , with the water splashing all over her as she ran , for she had forgotten to put down her pail . Round the house they went , and met with a crash at the back door , but no sign of the thief appeared . `` In the lane ! '' shouted Bab . `` Down by the spring ! '' panted Betty ; and off they went again , one to scramble up a pile of stones and look over the wall into the avenue , the other to scamper to the spot they had just left . Still , nothing appeared but the dandelions ' innocent faces looking up at Bab , and a brown bird scared from his bath in the spring by Betty 's hasty approach . Back they rushed , but only to meet a new scare , which made them both cry `` Ow ! '' and fly into the porch for refuge . A strange dog was sitting calmly among the ruins of the feast , licking his lips after basely eating up the last poor bits of bun , when he had bolted the cake , basket , and all , apparently . `` Oh , the horrid thing ! '' cried Bab , longing to give battle , but afraid , for the dog was a peculiar as well as a dishonest animal . `` He looks like our China poodle , does n't he ? '' whispered Betty , making herself as small as possible behind her more valiant sister . He certainly did ; for , though much larger and dirtier than the well-washed China dog , this live one had the same tassel at the end of his tail , ruffles of hair round his ankles , and a body shaven behind and curly before . His eyes , however , were yellow , instead of glassy black , like the other 's ; his red nose worked as he cocked it up , as if smelling for more cakes , in the most impudent manner ; and never , during the three years he had stood on the parlor mantel-piece , had the China poodle done the surprising feats with which this mysterious dog now proceeded to astonish the little girls almost out of their wits . First he sat up , put his forepaws together , and begged prettily ; then he suddenly flung his hind-legs into the air , and walked about with great ease . Hardly had they recovered from this shock , when the hind-legs came down , the fore-legs went up , and he paraded in a soldierly manner to and fro , like a sentinel on guard . But the crowning performance was when he took his tail in his mouth and waltzed down the walk , over the prostrate dolls , to the gate and back again , barely escaping a general upset of the ravaged table .
Bab and XXXXX could only hold each other tight and squeal with delight , for never had they seen any thing so funny ; but , when the gymnastics ended , and the dizzy dog came and stood on the step before them barking loudly , with that pink nose of his sniffing at their feet , and his queer eyes fixed sharply upon them , their amusement turned to fear again , and they dared not stir .
Bab Betty Ow dandelions fro hind-legs left mantel-piece tassel years