The barks became a howl of rage and there sounded the rattle of a chain.
"Grit! Grit!" cried Dick, running toward the stable.
There was the noise of a chain snapping. Then came frightened shouts. An instant later Simon, followed by a ragged man and a youth, dashed from the barn with the bulldog in close pursuit. Out of the hotel yard they raced, with Grit growling and barking and making fierce leaps for them.
"Grit!" called Dick, but, for once, Grit refused to obey his master's voice. His heart was too full of revenge for the insults he had suffered.
Out into the highway ran Simon and the two others, with the dog gaining at every leap.
"Help! Save me!" cried Simon, as Dick ran out to see what the end would be. He was fearful that Grit would get one of the fleeing ones down and set his teeth into his throat.
"Grit! Grit!" he called, frantically, but the bulldog never heeded.
Simon turned, hoping to get out of the path of the maddened beast, but he did not reckon on Grit's quickness. The dog made a grab for Simon's trousers and caught them at the seat. There was a ripping sound, a frantic yell from Simon, and he fell, rolling over and over in a cloud of dust.
"Grit! Don't bite him!" shouted Dick, fearful of what might happen.
