As the people came closer, Mr Dog’s mind was racing. ‘Get up on the bank, you two,’ he told the seals. ‘Keep your heads down and follow me over the ground as fast as you can.’
Ditzy and Lulu hauled themselves out of the water and went galumphing after him at top speed. They would have looked comical, bouncing along like giant sausages, had the situation not been so dangerous.
‘Where are we going?’ Lulu panted.
‘Look – all that rain has made a big pond on the far side of the railway tracks,’ Mr Dog explained. ‘You two can hide in there while I try to lead the hunters away.’
‘It’s us they want,’ said Ditzy. ‘They won’t shoot a dog. You could get away.’
‘Nonsense,’ Mr Dog told her. ‘I will do all I can to help you.’
‘Why?’ Ditzy asked.
‘Because there’s no “DON’T” in “DOG” – only “DO”.’ Mr Dog gave a doggy grin. ‘And I DO believe there’s a way out of this – if we keep our heads about us.’
The man in the boat had rowed to their side of the river. A gunshot cracked out.
‘Eeek!’ Lulu tried to hurry, her poorly flipper dragging behind her. ‘I’d definitely like to keep my head if at all possible!’
Mr Dog crossed over the railway tracks. He squelched through the waterlogged grass to the new pond, and the seals did the same.
‘In you go,’ he urged.
Ditzy slithered in, but Lulu was exhausted. She had stopped for breath. Mr Dog barked furiously as Alana’s friend and the man from the boat came striding towards the tracks, raising their guns …
Then, with a piercing whistle and a pounding of steel wheels, another goods train came thundering along – creating a heavy metal barrier between the hunters and the animals.
Mr Dog got behind Lulu and pushed her with both paws. She slid down over the wet grass and hit the water with a splash.
‘Quickly!’ said Ditzy, flippers flapping excitedly as the train rumbled along. ‘I’ve explored. It’s just a short hop from this pond into a ditch that leads back into the river.’
‘That means we can double back behind the hunters,’ Mr Dog realised. ‘Good work, Ditzy. Come on!’
Mr Dog jumped into the water and did his best doggy-paddle alongside Lulu, keeping an eye on the tired seal as Ditzy led the way.
Ditzy rippled her body, sprang out of the pond and into the wet grassy ditch.
She slid on her belly, back into the river like a tubby torpedo.
Mr Dog let Lulu go first. Keeping low, he doggy-paddled after the seals into the reeds and rushes that fringed the river.
Together, the three animals swam downstream as quickly as they could; Ditzy kept swimming round behind Lulu and Mr Dog to chivvy them along.
It was hard work swimming so fast, especially for Mr Dog. ‘I’m sorry,’ he puffed. ‘I need to rest.’ He climbed up on to the riverbank and shook himself.
The sun was out, and he was grateful for its warmth as he lay on his side.
‘That was close,’ said Ditzy. ‘Back in the harbour, people only took shots with their cameras!’ She sighed. ‘I’ve been a bad seal, haven’t I?’
‘You were only following your instincts,’ said Mr Dog kindly. ‘Seals will always want to eat fish. The farmers could make their nets stronger or their noisy machines better … but I’m afraid it’s cheaper to deal with the seals.’
Lulu looked at Ditzy. ‘I think it’s time we returned to the sea.’
‘I agree,’ said Ditzy with feeling. ‘But what if there are more hunters coming?’
Mr Dog nodded. ‘Alana and her hunter friends will catch us up for sure if we don’t press on.’
‘This is scary.’ Lulu’s eyes grew wider. ‘Frightening. Petrifying!’
‘I suggest we move on in stages.’ Mr Dog got up and stretched. ‘I’ll go as far as the next bend by myself, check the way is clear – if it is, then I’ll howl for you to join me.’
‘We’ll listen out,’ said Lulu.
Ditzy bobbed and nodded in the water. ‘Thank you, Mr Dog.’ Then, with Lulu, she ducked out of sight.
Mr Dog ached from so much running and swimming, but, true to his woof, he scouted ahead at a fast trot, then howled to let the seals know it was safe to swim on. It was a long, exhausting afternoon. When another train went hurrying by, Mr Dog wished that he and the seals could jump on board for a free ride!
Evening was just beginning to steal the glow from the sky when Mr Dog met Ditzy and Lulu in the clearing where the train had gone off the rails. Mr Dog could see the net from the fish farm still trailing in the water, marking the spot where the crate lay submerged. If only he could do something about it!
‘Please, Mr Dog, won’t you rest?’ said Lulu.
‘I’m all right.’ Mr Dog flopped down and yawned. ‘I’m very fond of exercise.’
‘I caught you a fish,’ said Ditzy. ‘I really wanted to eat it myself, but …’
‘But it’s good to think of others,’ said Lulu with a nudge. ‘Right, Ditzy?’
‘Er, yes.’ With a flick of her head, she tossed bits of fish up on to the bank. ‘So I’d like you to have it.’
‘That’s kind, Ditzy. Thank you.’ Though he was tired, Mr Dog gobbled down the fish with gusto. ‘Now, I’d best check the way ahead again. You two stay here …’ He walked on for thirty minutes or more, wishing his woofiest that there’d be no one in his way.
It was a wish that did not come true.
Round one corner, two people were crouched in the reeds beside the river. The evening sun glinted on the barrel of a rifle.
Mr Dog’s blood ran cold. ‘Hunters,’ he growled. ‘Hiding in the rushes … ready to set a trap!’