164 The Iron Dog.

Then—in a minute —his tail began to move—
s-l-o-w-l-y, s-l-o-w-l-y wagging from side to side.
Next he gave himself a tremendous shake, and
then—then—he jumped from the pedestal—a “v-
wg Dog!! And just then the bell stopped ringing.
Arnold screamed in his astonishment and fright,
but the Dog looking back at him with friendly
eyes, said:

‘Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you. I suppose
you thought I was a common, every-day iron
dog?”

“T always thought you a very beautiful dog,”
said Arnold. At this the animal looked pleased.

‘Tam very glad, Arnold,” he said, “that you
happened to come out to-night. On every other
night, I am as other iron dogs, but on the first
night of every month from ten to twelve, I am
alive, and ¢/zs is my night.”

“Oh, Iam so glad then,” said the little boy,
‘that I came, for I should otherwise have known
nothing about it.”

“T will take you about with me,” said the Dog,
“Dut first I must have some words with you.