Bab enjoyed their funny little frisks so much that she tied the wearisome strap to a post, and crept under the rope to pet the tiny mouse-colored one who came and talked to her with baby whinnies and confiding glances of its soft, dark eyes.
"Oh, luckless Bab! why did you turn your back?
Oh, too accomplished Sancho! why did you neatly untie that knot and trot away to confer with the disreputable bull-dog who stood in the entrance beckoning with friendly wavings of an abbreviated tail?
Oh, much afflicted Ben! why did you delay till it was too late to save your pet from the rough man who set his foot upon the trailing strap, and led poor Sanch quickly out of sight among the crowd?
"It was Bascum, but he didn't know any thing.

Why, where's Sanch ?" said Ben, returning.

A breathless voice made Bab turn to see Ben looking about him with as much alarm in his hot face as if the dog had been a two years' child.
"I tied him--he's here somewhere--with the ponies," stammered Bab, in sudden dismay, for no sign of a dog appeared as her eyes roved wildly to and fro.
Ben whistled, called and searched in vain, till one of the lounging men said, lazily, "If you are looking after the big poodle you'd better go outside; I saw him trotting off with another dog." Away rushed Ben, with Bab following, regardless of the rain, for both felt that a great misfortune had befallen them.

But, long before this, Sancho had vanished, and no one minded his indignant howls as he was driven off in a covered cart.
"If he is lost I'll never forgive you; never, never, never!" and Ben found it impossible to resist giving Bab several hard shakes, which made her yellow braids fly up and down like pump handles.
"I'm dreadful sorry.

He'll come back--you said he always did," pleaded Bab, quite crushed by her own afflictions, and rather scared to see Ben look so fierce, for he seldom lost his temper or was rough with the little girls.
"If he doesn't come back, don't you speak to me for a year.