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“Don’t be a spoilsport.”
    Now, with nothing between Willy and victory, Selby’s anger finally got the best of him. He raced to the starting line and began pushing a spare Easter egg across the lawn at a speed that only a short, angry dog could manage.
    â€œI’ll beat that kid!” Selby said, digging his paws into the wet ground. “I’ve got to beat him!”
    A cheer went up from the sidelines as he closed in on the cowboy. He dodged the puddles Iike a slalom skier dodging flags, but soon there was silence again, for although he had passed everyone else Willy was just centimetres from the finish line.
    As he came up behind Willy, Selby whispered in a tone that only Willy could hear:“Hey, brat! Look behind you. There’s a wild stallion on your heels!”
    Willy was so startled that he turned around and Selby bumped against him and knocked him head first into the biggest, muddiest puddle on the lawn and then shot by and crossed the finish line.
    â€œThat’s not fair!” Willy yelled, standing up and looking like a huge chocolate icecream cone. “Horsey cheated. He talked to me. I won the race. I want the pavlova.”
    Fortunately for Selby, no one — not even Aunt Jetty — believed Willy when he said that Selby had talked to him. Unfortunately, when it came to giving out the prize, Mrs Trifle gave it to Willy.
    â€œSelby won the race,” she said. “But we can’t very well give a dog a pavlova. It would only make him sick.”
    â€œI’d eat every blinking piece of it,” Selby thought, “just to keep that brat from getting it.”
    With this Selby jumped up on the table where the pavlova was and stood over it, perfectly still. Willy saw him out of the corner of his eye and suddenly the sight of Selby standingstill like a brahman bull in a chute ready to be ridden made something in him snap.
    â€œHold still, Horsey!” Wild West Willy yelled, forgetting about the pavlova and jumping towards Selby’s waiting back. “Ride ‘em cowboy! Yaaaaaaaahhhhoooooooo!”
    But before the “hoooooooo” was out of his mouth — while he was still hurtling through the air on a beeline for his victim — Selby stepped neatly out of the way and Willy landed smack in the middle of the pavlova.
    â€œOh, sorry, brat,” Selby whispered in Willy’s ear. “Better luck next year,” and off he went to watch
The Lucky Millions Quiz Quest.

Selby’s Secret Hangs in the Balance
    â€œSelby’s reading the newspaper!” screamed Barnstorm Billy, dreaded son of Aunt Jetty and brother of Selby’s old enemy Wild West Willy.
    â€œSelby’s only a dog,” Dr Trifle said patiently, “and dogs can’t read.”
    â€œHe
is
reading!” Barnstorm Billy yelled. “I saw his eyes moving. Come quick!”
    Selby lay on top of a copy of the
Bogusville Banner,
reading the ad for the Windy Scrub Roving Big Top Circus, which had just come to Bogusville. The ad said:
    SEE THE FLYING FERGUSONS’ HIGHWIRE SPECTACULAR
FEATURING BARNEY THE BALANCING MIRACLE DOG
WITH HIS PAWS OF STEEL.
Also See Our Lions, Tigers,
Elephants And Camels – One Hump And Two.
    â€œPaws of steel,” Selby, who was always interested in talented dogs, muttered. “Wow! That really sends shivers up my spine. I’d love to see that act.
    â€œCome quickly, uncle!” Barnstorm Billy yelled, dragging Dr Trifle into the lounge room. “He’s reading. Look!”
    Selby lay perfectly still on the newspaper with his eyes closed and pretended to sleep.
    â€œHe’s not reading, Billy,” Dr Trifle said politely. “He’s only sleeping. He often sleeps on the newspaper.”
    â€œBut he
was
reading. I know a reading dog when I see one,” Billy protested. “And I saw One!”
    â€œNobody’s going to believe you, kid,” Selby thought. “And thank goodness