"We'll tell you all about that later, Neale," said Ruth, more gravely. "At least, we'll tell you all we know about the dear old dog. Isn't he a splendid fellow to catch this man at my hens?"
"And the fellow had some in this bag!" exclaimed Neale, finding a bag of flopping poultry at the corner of the hen-run.
"Tak' away dog!" begged the man on the roof again.
"That's all he's afraid of," said Agnes. "I bet he has a knife. Isn't he a wicked looking fellow?"
"Regular brigand," agreed Neale. "What we going to do with him?"
"Give him to a policeman," suggested Agnes.
"Do you suppose the policeman would _want_ him?" chuckled Neale. "To awaken a Milton officer at this hour of the night would be almost sacrilege, wouldn't it?"
Ruth had been thinking more sensibly for a few moments. Now she spoke up decisively:
"The man did not manage to do any harm. Put the poultry back in the house, Neale. If he ever comes again he will know what to expect. He thought we had no dog; but he sees we have--and a savage one. Let him go."
"Had we better do that, sister?" whispered Agnes. "Oughtn't he to be punished?"
"I expect so," Ruth said, grimly. "But for once I am going to shirk my duty. We'll take away the dog and let him go."
"Who'll take him away?" demanded Agnes, suddenly.
Neale had taken the sack in which the fowl struggled, to the door of the henhouse, opened it, and dumped the fowl out. Tom Jonah evidently recognized him for a friend, for he wagged his tail, but still kept his eye on the man upon the roof.
"I declare!" said Ruth. "I hadn't thought. Whom will he mind?"
"Come here, Tom Jonah!" said Neale, snapping his fingers.
Tom Jonah still wagged his tail, but he remained ready to receive the Gypsy (if such the fellow was) in his jaws, if he descended.
"Come away, Tom!" exclaimed Agnes, confidently. "Come on back to the house."
The man on the roof moved and Tom Jonah stiffened. He refused to budge.
"Guess you'll have to call a cop after all," said Neale, doubtfully.
"Here, sir!" commanded Ruth. "Come away. You have done enough----"
But the dog did not think so. He held his place and growled.
"I guess you're bound to stay up there, till daylight--or a policeman--doth appear, my friend," called up Neale to the besieged.