And at the same moment the superintendent appeared over the ridge of the hill, on his way to the orchard.

The Slav picked up a filled basket and shoved it at Sonya.
"Jump!" he ordered.

"Keep moving.

Be back here in one minute!" With a sigh of enormous relief and a pat of furtive gratitude to Lad, the child set forth on her errand.

Yet, even at risk of a sharper rebuke, she accommodated her pace to Lad's stately slow steps.
Hitherto she had loved the dog for no special reason except that her heart somehow went out to him.