k for the nest of a
cackling hen, Archie did not find his Elephant awaiting him as he
expected to.

"Oh, Elsie!" exclaimed the little boy. "Didn't I leave my Elephant right
here?" and he pointed to the place where he had set it.

"Why, yes, I think you did," Elsie answered. "I saw you put it there. I
was going to leave my Doll there, too, but she isn't feeling very well,
and has a little cold, so I carried her in my arms. I have her here
now," she added, as she held up her Christmas toy.

"Well, my Elephant is gone!" exclaimed Archie. "And I know I left it
here! Yes, you can see where his feet stood," he added, as he pointed to
some marks in the dust of the barn floor.

Elsie, holding her Doll, stooped down beside her brother and looked at
the dust.

"There are lots of marks," said the little girl. "Your Elephant must
have been walking around. Oh, Archie!" she cried, with shining eyes,
"maybe he came to life and walked away!"

"Nope! He couldn't do that!" Archie said. Of course he knew nothing of
what the toys did after dark--how they made believe come to life,
talked, and had fun among themselves.

"But now I know what has happened!" Archie exclaimed. "I can tell by the
marks in the dust."

"What did happen?" asked Elsie.

"Nip has been here," went on the little boy. "I can tell his paw marks
in the dust. It wasn't my Elephant walking around, it was Nip! And Nip
has carried off my Elephant!"

"Oh, just as he did once with my old Rag Doll!" cried Elsie.

"That's it!" her brother said. "Nip has carried away my Elephant. Come
here, Nip! Where are you?" called Archie.

Now Nip was always ready to come when Archie called, for he and the
little boy had many good times together, romping and playing tag in the
yard. So, when he heard his name called, Nip came running into the barn
to where Elsie and Archie were standing.

"Nip!" sternly said Archie, as he shook his finger at his big dog, "did
you take my Elephant? Did you carry him away?"

Now Nip understood a great deal that was said to him. He knew when he
was being scolded for having done wrong, and he knew he was being
scolded now. He also knew that he had taken away the Elephant. So, when
Archie talked this way, Nip hung his head and put his tail between his
legs.

"Nip!" went on Archie, "where is my Stuffed Elephant? Go get it! Bring
back my Elephant! Go on, Nip!"

Nip gave a little bark. He sprang up, barked again, louder than before,
and off he ra