"
They set about calmly and deliberately to take an inventory of the
house; there wasn't three ochavos' worth of material in the entire
establishment. They were forcing the dining-room closet when of a
sudden they heard the bark of a dog close by and they ran in fright to
the gallery.
"What's the matter?" they asked Vidal.
"A damned dog's begun to bark and he'll certainly attract somebody's
attention."
"Throw a stone at him."
"Where'll I get it?"
"Scare him."
"He'll bark all the more."
"Jump down here, or they'll surely see you."
Vidal jumped down into the orchard. The dog, who must have been a
moral animal and a defender of private property, continued his loud
barking.
"But the deuce!" growled Vidal at his friends. "Haven't you finished
yet?"
"There's nothing!"
The three returned to the rooms trembling; they seized a napkin and
stuffed into it whatever they laid hands upon: a copper clock, a white
metal candlestick, a broken electric bell, a mercury barometer, a
magnet and a toy cannon.
Vidal climbed up the wall with the bundle.
"Here he is," he whispered in fright.
"Who?"
"The dog."
"I'll go down first," mumbled Manuel, and placing the knife between
his teeth he let himself drop. The dog, instead of setting upon him,
withdrew a short distance, but he continued his barking.
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