y is right."

"I did not mean to hurt him," explained Professor Montelli, smiling, but
his smile was not a kind one. He seemed to be a cruel man, but he seemed
to know that he must not be cruel to his dogs in public. "Come, Emperor!"
he called more gently. "Walk on your hind legs!"

This time the black poodle did so, walking around the stage. Again Janet
leaned over and whispered to her brother:

"Top used to do that same trick!"

"Yes," agreed Teddy. "That's right."

And then a strange thing happened. All at once the two poodles put their
noses together, as though talking, which they may have been doing in dog
language. And then the one the man had called Emperor suddenly jumped on
top of the back of the dog called King, and King began walking around the
stage, giving the other a ride!

The people clapped at this trick, and the two Curlytops grew strangely
excited. Ted and Janet looked at each other, standing up in their seats.

"Ted, do you know what I think?" said his sister. "I think those two dogs
are really Tip and Top--our poodles! That's exactly the same trick they
did in Uncle Toby's house."

"But how could they be Tip and Top when they're black, and Tip and Top
were white?" asked Teddy.

"I don't know," Janet answered. "But I'm sure they are our dogs. Maybe
they've been in the coal bin and got all black. And, oh, Ted! Look!"

Something else happening on the platform of the dog show tent. The black
poodle called King began walking around in a little circle in the middle
of the stage. And, while thus moving, the other poodle began to jump over
its companion's back. First this way and then that one poodle jumped
over the other poodle's back.

"Why! Why!" cried Teddy. "That's the other trick we saw them do, Janet!
That's the trick Mrs. Watson said Uncle Toby taught them--I mean taught
Tip and Top."

"Yes," agreed Janet. "And I know these dogs are our poodles--I don't care
if they are black!" Then, before Ted could stop her, she called: "Here,
Tip! Here, Top! Come on!"

Instantly the two black poodles jumped down off the stage, and with barks
of joy, and mad waggings of their little tails, ran to the Curlytops.

"Oh, Top!" cried Janet, as she patted his head, "I'm so glad we found
you! I'd know you anywhere, even if you are black!"

Both dogs knew the children, though of course Top, having been with them
longer, knew them best. Tip had been taken away soon after being removed
from Uncle Toby's hou