Chapter XXVII: The Big Sheep-Dog

At last, at a time when they had not looked well ahead, they heard a loud bark, and saw a great sheep-dog racing after them, as if he would break his neck.

"Oh!" cried Bow-Wow.

"Oh--h!" cried Mew-Mew.

They did not know what to do.

"We must run up a tree," said the cat.

"But I cannot run up a tree," said the dog.

"I am sure I cannot help you," cried Mew-Mew, and she ran with all her might.

There was a large tree close by; Mew-Mew flew up it, and was quite safe.

What would poor Bow-Wow do?

The great dog came up. He did not give Bow-Wow time to speak, but fell on him, and began to roll him over and over on the hard ground.

"Oh, Mew-Mew! Mew-Mew!" cried he, calling upon the only friend he had.

"What do you mean by 'Mew-Mew'?" said the big dog.

And he laid hold of Bow-Wow's neck, and gave him such a shake, as if he would shake his life out of him.

Mew-Mew, up in the tree, you may be sure, sat as still as a mouse.

"Oh! let me go! and I will never--never--" cried Bow-Wow, with his voice getting fainter at each word.

The big dog had such a hold of Bow-Wow, that he was not able to say what it was that he would never do.

"It is all over with me," he said to himself; and he shut his eyes and gave himself up for lost.