attacking another until he had driven them
howling two or three blocks from where they started. When he saw he
had gotten the boys so far away, he stopped chasing them and went back
to see what Billy and Button were doing. But when he reached the old
spot neither Billy nor Button was anywhere in sight. All he could see
was a black object on a rock sticking out of the water. It looked like
some one's wet muff or old coat. He did not know that that same wet
muff was his own beloved Button.

Button was meowing as loudly as he could for Stubby to swim out and
rescue him, but the wind was in the wrong direction to carry his voice
to Stubby. Stubby looked around and even set up a howl, trying to find
out where Billy and Button had gone, but no answering call came back.
He sniffed around but could get no scent of them. Then all of a sudden
he saw a boy come out of the lake and run up the shore. He started
after him on a dead run, thinking that perhaps he would lead him to
some boys who might have captured Billy. He was running with his head
down when all of a sudden he pitched headlong into a dry well. What
was his surprise on opening his eyes after the shock to find himself
staring into Billy Whiskers' eyes!

"How in green gooseberries did _you_ get here?" he asked.

"Same way you did! I took a header and here I am! I have baaed my head
nearly off calling to you and Button to come to my rescue, but not a
sound could I hear. Somehow or other my voice did not seem to carry."

"We certainly are in a pretty pickle! Lost in an abandoned well on a
lake shore with no habitation within a quarter of a mile. This will be
our tomb unless some one chances to pass this way soon. And the
chances are that no one will pass this way for weeks."

"Where can that cat be?" asked Billy. "It sounds to me as if he too
was in a hole or shut up somewhere and cannot get out."

"Yes, where can he be?" echoed Stubby. "First we hear his voice, then
we don't hear it. It sounds a good way off at that. Say, Billy, I
think I see a way out. You stand up on your hind legs and I will run
up your back and see if I can't jump out of this well. It isn't more
than eight feet deep and when you stand up you must be about six or
seven feet tall."

"Yes, I should think I would measure that. But how are you to get room
to get a running start?"

"I can't do that. I shall just have to climb up your leg by pulling
myself, holding onto your hair and digging my cla