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be near some village by dawn, or we shall meet no dogs, he thought.
Soon after that a lane crossed the fields and, as they had just heard a
church clock strike midnight, Pongo felt there was now little chance of
their meeting any humans on the road. He wanted to find a signpost
and make sure they were travelling in the right direction. So they went
along the lane for a mile until they came to a sleeping village. There
was a signpost on the green, which Pongo read by the light of the
moon. (He was very good at reading as a pup he had played with
alphabet blocks.) All was well. Their journey across the fields had
saved them many miles, and they were now deep in Essex. (The
village where they might have stayed was already behind them.) By
going north, they would reach Suffolk.
The only depressing thing was that the wonderful steak dinner
seemed such a long time ago. And there was no hope of getting food
as late as this. They just had to go on and on through the night,
getting hungrier and hungrier.
And by the time it began to get light, they were also extremely
chilly partly because they were hungry and tired and partly
because it was getting colder and colder. The ice on the ponds they
passed was thicker and thicker at last they came to a pond where
they could not break through to drink.
And now Pongo was really anxious, for they had reached a part of the
country where there seemed to be very few villages. Where could they
get food and shelter? Where could they hide and sleep during the
bitterly cold day ahead of them?
He did not tell Missis of his fears and she would not even admit that
she was hungry. But her tail drooped and her pace got slower and
slower. He felt terrible: tired, hungry, anxious, and deeply ashamed
that he was letting his beautiful wife suffer hardship. Surely there
would be a village soon, or a fair-sized farm?
Should we rest a little now, Pongo? said Missis at last.
The Hundred And One Dalmatians 50
Not until we ve found some dogs to help us, Missis, said Pongo.
Then his heart gave a glad leap. Ahead of them were some thatched
cottages! It was full daylight now, and he could see smoke twisting up
from several chimneys. Surely some dog would be about.
If anyone tries to catch us, we must take to the fields and run,
said Pongo.
Yes, Pongo, said Missis, though she did not now feel she could run
very far.
They reached the first cottage. Pongo gave a low bark. No dog
answered it.
They went on and soon saw that this was not a real village but just a
short row of cottages, some of them empty and almost in ruins. Except
for smoke rising from a few chimneys, there was no sign of life until
they came to the very last cottage. As they reached it a little boy
looked out of a window.
He saw them and quickly opened the cottage door.
In his hand was a thick slab of bread and butter. He appeared to be
holding it out to them.
Gently, Pongo, said Missis, or we shall frighten him.
They went through the open gate and up the cobbled path, wagging
their tails and looking with love at the little boy and the bread and
butter. The child smiled at them fearlessly and waved the bread and
butter. And then, when they were only three or four yards away, he
stooped, picked up a stone, and slung it with all his force. He gave a
squeal of laughter when he saw the stone strike Pongo, then went in
and slammed the door.
At that moment the dogs heard a man s voice inside the cottage.
They turned and ran as fast as they could, along the road and then
into a field.
Are you hurt, Pongo? cried Missis as they ran. Then she saw that
he was limping. They stopped behind a haystack. Pongo s leg was
bleeding the stone must have had a very sharp edge. But what hurt
him most was the bruise on the bone. He was trembling with pain
and rage.
Missis was terrified, but she did not let him see this. She licked his
wound and said there was nothing a good rest would not cure.
Rest? Where? said Pongo.
The Hundred And One Dalmatians 51
Missis saw that the haystack was very loosely made. She scrabbled at
it fiercely, saying, Look, Pongo, you can creep in and get warm. Then
sleep for a while. I will find us some food I will, I will! The first dog I
meet will help me.
By now she had made a large hole in the haystack. Pongo looked at it
longingly. But no! He could not let her go alone. He struggled to his
feet, wincing with pain, and said, I must come with you to find food.
And I will bite that child.
No, Pongo, no! cried Missis, horrified. Remember he is only a very
young human. All very young creatures are ignorantly cruel often
our dear puppies hurt me badly, not knowing they were doing so. To
bite a human is the greatest crime a dog can commit. You shall not
let that cruel, thoughtless child put such a sin on your conscience.
Your pain and anger will pass, but the guilt would remain with you
for always.
Pongo knew she was right, and already the desire to bite the child was
passing. But I won t let you go alone, he said.
Then let us both rest a while first, said crafty Missis. Come on,
there s room for two. And she crept into the haystack.
We should find food first, or we shall be too weak to find it when we
wake up, said Pongo. But he followed her into the haystack.
Just sleep for a few minutes, Pongo while I keep guard, said
Missis coaxingly.
Pongo could fight on no longer. Sleep came to him while he thought
he was still arguing.
Missis waited a few minutes, then crept out and pulled hay round
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