"Basil!" Holmes's blood froze as the stray dog rushed down the area steps, straight for the hapless mouse. "Hi, you mangy cur, get away out of it! Go home!" The detective was horribly aware of how feeble he must sound from down here, he didn't even have anything left to throw! All at once, the growling grew muffled, as if the dog had just sunk its teeth into something soft... "Basil!"
There was a sudden scuttling noise, a snarl of outrage, and a small, brown shape leapt through the broken window, mere inches ahead of the stray's jaws. Holmes jumped forward, barely managing to catch his colleague in time. "Basil, thank God! How did you...?"
"Y-your sh-shoe," the mouse answered shakily from his cupped hands. "I ran back in, the dog latched onto the toe, so I jumped out again while he was busy chewing." He gave the detective an apologetic look. "Bit of a lost cause now, I'm afraid."
"Never mind that," Holmes said earnestly, extending a finger to help the trembling animal to sit up. "There, just rest now. We can't do anything more until that damn mongrel gives up, anyhow – it's only a mercy he didn't follow after you!"
"Well, fortunately, not even a terrier's that stupid," Basil smiled grimly, glaring daggers up at the furiously yelping beast.