rs of the cat-tails,
they saw, lying on the ground in the mud and water, poor Skyrocket. Their
pet looked up at them and howled mournfully.

"Oh, he's drowning!" cried Janet, as she saw that Skyrocket was partly
covered by the water of the swamp.

"He's got a broken leg!" said Jimmy.

"Dogs can go on three legs, if one is broken, though they can't go very
fast," said Teddy. "Skyrocket is caught fast, that's what's the matter."

Top seemed overjoyed that he had brought help to his dog friend. Close up
beside Skyrocket Top crawled, whining in sympathy, and then Top began
licking, with his red tongue, one of Skyrocket's legs.

"Oh, I see what the matter is!" cried Teddy. "Skyrocket's leg is caught
in a trap! That's why he couldn't get loose! Look!"

Teddy pointed to where, half hidden in the mud, water, and grass, was a
spring trap. It was fast to a chain, and the chain was attached to a
wooden stake, driven into the ground. But, worst of all, the steel jaws
of the trap had snapped shut on the lower part of Skyrocket's left hind
leg. The poor dog tried to stand up, but could not, as whenever he
attempted to move the chain held him back.

"Poor Skyrocket!" murmured Janet, almost ready to cry.

"I'll get him loose!" said Teddy.

"It's a good thing Top came and told us what the matter was, or maybe
we'd never have known it," remarked Jimmy.

"Come on, Jim! Help me open the trap and get Sky's leg out," said Teddy.
"You pat his head--I mean Sky's head, Jan, and that will let him know we
aren't going to hurt him."

So while Top looked on, whining in sympathy with his injured dog friend,
and while Janet softly rubbed the head of Skyrocket, the two boys opened
the trap. While Jimmy held it steady Teddy stepped on the strong spring
with his foot. This was the only way to open it.

In another moment the trap was gently pulled loose from the leg of
Skyrocket, and the poor dog, with a whine of thanks, managed to stand up.
He tried to step on the injured leg, but quickly drew it up with a howl
of pain.

"Oh, maybe it's broken!" half sobbed Janet.

"A dog can get well with a broken leg, but a horse can't," said Jimmy.
"At least a horse never does, because he is so big he can't be kept off
his leg until it heals. A horse can't go on three legs like a dog."

"A horse can stand up on two legs, and walk a little. I've seen 'em in a
circus!" declared Janet. "But I never saw a horse go on three legs."

"There goes Skyrocket