Flat upon their faces lay the fourteen dolls , and the cake , the cherished cake , was gone . For an instant the little girls could only stand motionless , gazing at the dreadful scene . Then Bab cast her water-pail wildly away , and , doubling up her fist , cried out fiercely , -- `` It was that Sally ! She said she 'd pay me for slapping her when she pinched little Mary Ann , and now she has . I 'll give it to her ! You run that way . I 'll run this . Quick ! quick ! '' Away they went , Bab racing straight on , and bewildered Betty turning obediently round to trot in the opposite direction as fast as she could , with the water splashing all over her as she ran , for she had forgotten to put down her pail . Round the house they went , and met with a crash at the back door , but no sign of the thief appeared . `` In the lane ! '' shouted Bab . `` Down by the spring ! '' panted Betty ; and off they went again , one to scramble up a pile of stones and look over the wall into the avenue , the other to scamper to the spot they had just left . Still , nothing appeared but the dandelions ' innocent faces looking up at Bab , and a brown bird scared from his bath in the spring by Betty 's hasty approach . Back they rushed , but only to meet a new scare , which made them both cry `` Ow ! '' and fly into the porch for refuge . A strange dog was sitting calmly among the ruins of the feast , licking his lips after basely eating up the last poor bits of bun , when he had bolted the cake , basket , and all , apparently . `` Oh , the horrid thing ! ''
cried Bab , longing to XXXXX battle , but afraid , for the dog was a peculiar as well as a dishonest animal .
cast cherished cried cry give racing said scared sitting trot