by A. Vimar
Clown escapes]
3
CLOWN ESCAPES
It was not long before Clown's absence was noticed in his old home.The whole household was alarmed. They searched the house from top tobottom, whistling, calling to him, weeping. The servants ran to andfro; nobody could understand how the dog had got away. Huddled in anarm-chair, Bertha sobbed, with hardly the heart or strength to move.In vain they searched all Paris. The police were informed, the poundvisited, the description and photograph of Clown scattered broadcast.A large reward was offered to anyone finding him or giving informationabout him. In spite of all this, the day and night passed without newsof the dog.
Clown at the dog market]
On the advice of the Chief of Police, Bertha went next morning to thedog-market, accompanied by Marie and the footman. No sooner was shethere than Clown, without seeing her, even, sniffed her from afar.He pulled so hard on his chain that he nearly broke it. Alas, wherehe was, Bertha could not see him. The thief understood at once thatsomething was the matter. He seized the unhappy dog before he knew whatwas happening, flung him into a box near at hand and banged down thelid.
Clown is sold]
'Twas thus that poor Clown, at the moment when his rescue seemedcertain, learned to his cost that there are times in this life when itis wise to hide one's feelings.
Anyhow, his young mistress was looking for him everywhere. This wasenough to make him feel much more cheerful.
Clown leaves Paris]
That day Clown was sold. When he saw the money counted out, heunderstood and was at first quite delighted, but his joy did not lastlong. He soon discovered from the gestures of the two men that his newowner did not live in Paris and that he was leaving that very night,for his home far, far away in the south. Then Clown felt desperate. Heshook with rage and fear lest he should be lost forever. He was soupset by his bad luck that he hardly heard the thief offer to take himto the station that evening in time for the train, and his new owneraccept the offer.
He lost all hope on hearing that, for his last chance of escape wouldbe gone the minute he was taken away from Paris.
Clown shut up in the dog kennel]
On the way to the station Clown was held so tightly that he saw itwould be no use to struggle. When he reached there at nightfall, he wasshut up in the hated dog-kennel until the time came for the train tostart.
Clown released from the dog kennel]
When the noisy whistles blew, as they always do when the greatexpresses are about to draw out, and the train started with that horridgrating sound they always make, Clown began to sob wildly and to howlin a most dismal fashion. To make it all the worse he saw through theiron bars of his cage the shadows of the last houses of his nativecity. For a moment he thought he should go mad. Little by little thecool evening air revived him, calmed his fever. Snuggling down in acorner of his box, he determined to wait for the chance of escape whichmust come some time or other. He would cross the whole of France, ifnecessary, to find his beloved mistress. Death alone could deprive himof his one great hope.
At last, after passing through Burgundy, the express stopped. It wasmorning and already quite light. Clown saw his new master approach hisprison and open the padlock so that he could come out and stretch hislegs on the platform. The prisoner did not hesitate. No sooner was hefree than he was off like a shot, tearing along the platform, then backalong the railway track, taking no notice of the calls of his master orof the laughter of the travelers, to whom the whole thing was a joke.
Quite happy now, forgetting all his past troubles and full of hopeagain, he thought that, thanks to his hurried flight, he could not beso very far from Paris.
Clown - running]
All morning Clown walked bravely along the dusty road, but at last hebegan to feel hungry and tired. After going miles and miles, towardsmidday he was lucky enough to meet in the fields a large flock ofsheep, guarded by sheep-dogs. These dogs, when Clown told them histragic story, were very kind to him and even asked him to share theirdinner with them. But they could give no real help as to how to get toParis.
Clown and two sheep dogs]
"All that we know is, that it is several days' walk from here, downthat way," they told him, pointing with their paws.
After comforting himself with cheese, milk, and brown bread, Clown leftthem, thanking them politely for their kindness. All the same, as heset off, he felt very sad, for he saw that the good dogs he had justvisited did not think that his plan seemed a very good one, and hebegan to be afraid he never should get back home after all.
Clown fleeing]
To make him still more uneasy, toward four o'clock the wind began toblow and big clouds darkened the sky. Clown fled along as fast as hislegs would carry him, trying to get ahead of the awful storm whichhung above his head. But the clouds went faster than he did; thelightning and thunder grew nearer and nearer, louder and louder.
With the storm had come darkness. Now torrents of rain hurledthemselves madly from the sky. The poor dog was terribly frightened. Hedidn't know where to go, what road to take, valley, forest, or hill.
Clown runs wildly]
Wet to the skin, muddy, blinded by the rain, deafened by the thunder,he saw no sign of shelter. He just ran on wildly, battered by rain andwind, faster and faster, following his nose.
