Barnyard Friends

Chapter 6

"Mary, forget her," Papa advised me kindly that evening, as I sat moping by the fire.
"Never," I replied sadly. "I can never forget her. She must come back. It was not her fault, Papa; truly it wasn't."
"I know it wasn't, Mary. But in a sense, she lost her mother all over again. Maybe she'll come back, and maybe she won't. It's in God's hands, now. Leave it with Him, and come and sit by me."
I went and sat at his feet, leaning my head against his knee. I wanted to leave it with God, and not worry anymore. But how could I? Already I had grown attatched to the little white dog, my Mandy. How could I ever forget her? She must come back. I could never rest, knowing that she was alone in the wild, unprotected from the many dangers. 

I spoke no more of her that evening, but when night came, and I was alone in my bed, I ached to know where Mandy was. Was she safe? I could not know this, and I felt as though I had lost my best friend. 
When I was certain that no one was awake, I crept out of my bed, down the ladder from the loft, and out the front door. 
Where would she go? To the woods, where I found her? Possibly. 
There I went, calling her name as I went. "Mandy!" I called, seemingly endless times, and receiving no response. 
The tears streamed down my face as I plunged through the trees. 
I stopped abruptly in my tracks. What was that sound? Laughter? Oh, no! I meditated flight, well knowing the meaning of that sound. One hyena, maybe more, were near. I wouldn't stand much of a chance if I remained. But you won't stand much chance running, either. You can't outrun a hyena, and you know it. Mandy; you must find Mandy!

I plunged on, strangely, in the direction of the laughter. Did I sense that the laughter was over Mandy? Maybe. Whatever the reason, I rushed on blindly, plunging through the branches, until I was forced to stop, completely breathless. I waited, listening for a renewal of the laughter, or any sound that would give me hope that Mandy still lived. 
Finally, after what seemed like hours, I heard a great rustling noise in the bushes to my right. I turned to face the animal, uncertain whether to advance or flee. Was it my beloved Mandy, or the hyena? 
My breathing quickened, and more than once I came near to turning and fleeing. With a great rustle, my beloved Mandy burst out of the brush.
Oh, what great joy was mine as I scooped her up in my arms once more! But there was no time to stand and rejoice; we must flee, together, for I could hear the hyena approaching, and I felt Mandy tremble in my arms. 
I turned and fled in the direction I had come; but it was dark, and I had come a long way. How could I be sure where I was going? Had I done wrong to come out, alone in the night? No! I told myself, as I squeezed my puppy to me. If I had not, Mandy would be dead. At least now, if we cannot outrun the hyena, we will die together.