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The dogs are there! One of them lunges, biting you in the left calf. Instinctively you swung back your right foot, striking the dog with enough force in the chest to send it reeling over backward. The other one leaps higher, closing it jaws on your right hip. You hear a ripping sound. It’s your jeans! The pocket rips open, spilling out diamonds and loose change. Suddenly sharp teeth rake your thigh. The other dog! You swing your right leg over a higher branch. Diamonds spill out of your other pocket. You’re horizontal-hugging the branch-just out of reach of the leaping dogs. You manage to get a good grip on a higher branch and pull yourself up to a standing position. You work your way to the big limb overhanging the fence, crawl along it, and drop to safety on the other side of the fence. You can hear men yelling in the yard, but you’re already running around the corner and through someone’s yard. Turn to page 3
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