CHAPTER XTHE END OF THE LONELY ROAD
Therehad been no arrangement made for Ready’s supper, as the Eagle had expected him to be home by dark. At first Ready was so relieved to be alone and have no one to delay him, that he gave no thought at all to supper.
It was wonderful to be free, to have no animal or bird to entertain, to be able to go on and on rapidly along a straight road.
But after a time, this going on and on grew a little difficult. Thoughts of supper would keep coming. Little side roads kept beckoning to him and whispering, “This way forfood.” Then he commenced to feel the pain in his leg, but did not dare to stop and rest for fear he would be too lame to get up again.
So on through the darkness little Ready ran, keeping his eyes straight before him, never stopping a moment, so great was his fear of losing his head or falling asleep.
“I must try to keep the courage that dear old Shaggy Dog has given me,” he said to himself.
Then there came to him these lines:
“Instead of a moan, say ‘Soon I’ll be home’.” Much to his surprise he found himself adding:
“I shall keep on the runTill the journey is done.I shall not once stopUntil I just dropOn Master Dick’s bedIn the small cottage red.”
“I shall keep on the runTill the journey is done.I shall not once stopUntil I just dropOn Master Dick’s bedIn the small cottage red.”
“I shall keep on the runTill the journey is done.I shall not once stopUntil I just dropOn Master Dick’s bedIn the small cottage red.”
“I shall keep on the run
Till the journey is done.
I shall not once stop
Until I just drop
On Master Dick’s bed
In the small cottage red.”
Ready felt wonderfully proud of himself to have made up this verse, and decided to have it published some day in theDog Biscuit Weekly, which was considered the very best dog magazine.
Suddenly there was a rustle in the bushes, andan enormous black dog appeared. He was not a pleasant dog to look at or talk to. Any dog of good standing could feel that at once.
He went up to Ready and said, “Come with me, and your fortune is made.”
Ready did not even slow up as he answered coldly, “I have no time to make my fortune. I must get to my Master Dick to-night.”
The black dog came nearer.
“Do not let such a chance go by,” he whispered. “It means bones for months and liver as long as you live.”
“Oh, why did he mention liver?” thought Ready. He was so hungry and it was his favorite food!
But something sang to Ready,
“I shall keep on the runTill my journey is done.”
“I shall keep on the runTill my journey is done.”
“I shall keep on the runTill my journey is done.”
“I shall keep on the run
Till my journey is done.”
So he turned sharply toward the black dog, saying, as he ran:
“Go away at once. Do you suppose I would let you keep me from seeing my master to-night?”
“Suppose Imake you come?” said Black Dog, in an ugly voice.
Ready looked at the Black Dog. He looked at him from head to foot, and then, with a growl, he made a step towards him.
In spite of his large size he was a coward
In spite of his large size he was a coward
Do you know what happened? The Black Dog turned and ran away as fast as he could. You see that in spite of his large size and big voice, he was a coward. Many large-sized big-voiced things are.
It was growing late now. Even the starswere getting sleepy, and Ready was the weariest little dog in all the world.
He had come now to a village, and he began to look anxiously for the red cottage with the pine tree in front of it.
On and on he went, past brown houses, white houses, green houses, past everything. Oh, where was it?Now there were no houses left.
Ready felt the tears coming to his eyes. He had been looking so long and so eagerly; his legs ached terribly. How could he keep on? Then something sang to him,
“Instead of a moan,Bark, soon I’ll be home.”
“Instead of a moan,Bark, soon I’ll be home.”
“Instead of a moan,Bark, soon I’ll be home.”
“Instead of a moan,
Bark, soon I’ll be home.”
There was a sudden turn in the road and there, right before him, it stood—
THE RED HOUSE AND THE BIG PINE TREE!
THE RED HOUSE AND THE BIG PINE TREE!
And yes, oh yes, there was a light in the window! He had reached his journey’s end!
They were home! Ready suddenly felt very strong and happy, and not at all tired. He came softly up to the lighted window. There sat Master Dick’s father and mother.
The father was saying, “How’s the little fellow to-night?”
The mother answered, “He’s trying very hard to be brave, but he can’t forget little Ready. Do you know, he insists upon having the window nearest the bedalwaysopen? Poor little fellow, I fear that he cries himself to sleep after I leave the room.”
Ready didn’t wait to hear another word, but ran at once to that open window. In the dark room lay a little boy with wet eyes.
“I’m not being a soldier,” he was whispering to himself, “but I can’t help it. Oh, Ready, Ready, if I could just have you for a minute!”
Then there were three little barks, and a waggy tail was on Master Dick’s nose.
There was a cry of joy from a little boy and a bark of delight from a little dog.
Then a happy child’s voice was heard all over the house calling, “Mother, father, everybody, READY’S COME BACK!”
Illustration of Ready's home
Endpaper illustration of Ready and chipmunks