"Oh, no. One whole side of the cover is glass, a side that is back away from the opening," Sibyl told them. "No one would ever notice the glass there. And besides that, father had cut the concrete away, over on one side of the bowl, and there he made a little skylight. You would never notice that either, as there are bushes all around it," she said. By this time Ted and Buster were demanding to be heard. They had tried to get a hearing with the older folks, but according to Ted "the buzzing there was worse than a bee fight." "And say, Nan," he called out now, "I just want to know about--about what Nero was after down the cellar, you know." Mr. Sanders was trying to make his way toward the girls just then, so Nancy delayed answering Ted. "And say, Ted," Mr. Sanders began. "About your dog. You needn't worry that anyone will take him from you. That man who spoke to you used to be care-taker at the old stone house. And he was supposed to look after Nero, whose real name is Jason. That's the fellow who went after the Golden Fleece you remember." "Jason?" repeated Ted. "Sounds like an auto fixer. I like Nero best." "All right, son," and Mr. Sanders gave Ted a friendly slap on the shoulders. "Nero he shall be. But as I was saying, the man who was expected to care for your dog hadn't done so, and he's got sort of worried lately and wanted to get him back." "He can't have him," Ted defended stoutly. "No, that's right; he can't. And I told him so. He knows now that the dog is in good hands, and that I'll answer any questions the Ellors family care to ask about him." Ted's face was now beaming with joy. He had been so worried about Nero that he simply wouldn't let the animal out of his protective sight for days past. "And Mr. Sanders," he insisted, "night before last Nero saved us from a flood. A water pipe broke right over there and Nero--made us all get up--" "Night before last!" exclaimed the professor. "Yes; and Nancy turned off the water--" "That was the night I had my precious little air-meter right under this chimney," said Mr. Sanders very slowly, "and if water had trickled through the floor, down onto that, it would have been ruined." "Then, just as Ted says," Nancy spoke, "Nero really did save it, for there was a regular flood around this hearth." "You must have seen me leaving the grounds that afternoon," Mr. Sanders admitted. "I was sure you did, but I wasn't ready to tell my story--just then. But Ted, I'll have to get you a fine collar for Nero--" The girls were begging Nancy to make an announcement. "Go on," urged Ruth. "They're all talking together and no one will listen unless you get up on the step." With this and considerable more urging, Nancy finally mounted the step. She smiled shyly at her mother as she passed along, for Mrs. Brandon, like the other "principals," was having a busy time of it.