I began to gnaw it and play with it, and when Ned called out, "Fetch it," I dropped it and ran toward him.

I was not obstinate, but I was stupid.
Ned pointed to the place where it was, and spread out his empty hands.
That helped me, and I ran quickly and got it.

He made me get it for him several times.

Sometimes I could not find it, and sometimes I dropped it; but he never stirred.

He sat still till I brought it to him.
After a while he tried Billy, but it soon got dark, and we could not see, so he took Billy and went into the house.
I stayed out with Jim for a while, and he asked me if I knew why Ned had thrown a strap for us, instead of a bone or something hard.
Of course I did not know, so Jim told me it was on his account.