Twice the blacksmith came to the smithy door, and a large, slow grin spread painfully over his bovine face.
Tinker continued to pet Blazer till the surprised and mollified dog sat down between his feet, and put his head on his knee.

Then Tinker began to apply that power of concentration in which he had been trained by his father to the discovery of a method of final escape.

Presently Alloway went to the gate, and, climbing onto it, sat waiting for his triumph in a stubborn doggedness.
After a while Tinker said gently, "That's a good horse you ride, Mr.
Alloway." The farmer said nothing.
"He's young, isn't he ?" said Tinker.
An acute and scornful expression of "You don't get round me!" filled all of the farmer's face that was not covered with whiskers.
"Did you think to tie him up before you ran after me ?" said Tinker earnestly.
Alloway sprang from the gate as though a very sharp nail had of a sudden sprouted up immediately beneath him, slapped his thigh, and stood shaking his whip at Tinker with expressive, but starting eyes.
"I dare say he's out of the county by now," said Tinker thoughtfully.
"You young blackguard!" said Alloway, and stepped towards the kennel.
Blazer shot out to the length of his chain; and Alloway, in his fury, cut him savagely with his whip.

Blazer roared rather than barked; the noise stimulated Tinker's wits; and he saw his way.
Alloway recovered himself sufficiently to say with choking emphasis, "Horse, or no horse, you don't get me to leave here!" and went back to the gate.
Tinker let him climb on it, and then he said gently, "Have you ever played at being a runaway slave hunted by bloodhounds, Mr.Alloway ?" Alloway scowled at him most malignantly.
"I should think it would be quite an exciting game.

It doesn't really matter that Blazer's only a bull terrier; we can call him a bloodhound, you know," Tinker went on, looking at the dog a little regretfully.
Alloway, coddling his fury, scarcely heard him.
"I'll be the slave-owner," said Tinker, fumbling with the chain.
It came out of the staple; and Alloway roared, "What are you doing, you young rascal ?" "Oh, it's all right," said Tinker.