CHAPTER VIII.
TRACKED DOWN.
"I tell you that there's my dog! He was stolen from me, and I'm going to 'ave the law of whoever's got 'im." Tom Smith went blustering back into the public-house, almost speechless with anger.

To have been so near Dick and then to have missed him, was almost more than he could bear.

If he had known he had missed Huldah too, he would have been even more angry.
"You can't have the law of people for taking in a stray," remarked one man, quietly.

They none of them liked Tom Smith, and most of them wished he would go on his way and leave them to their quiet gossip.
"Perhaps he ran away," suggested another, drily.
Tom Smith glowered at him sullenly.

"What should he run away for ?" he asked, sharply.
"Well, that's more'n I can say," answered the man, calmly.
"It seems to be his way, by the look of him just now.