"He has allotted to himself the duty of caring for the property of his

masters, Hiro," I said, "and hence is not really a malefactor.

Besides, since he would not leave the boat and follow our trail, he is

by this time hungry. Feed him, Hiro."

But Hiroshimi was not eager to approach the piratical canine again; so

I, myself, fished something from a hamper and called the dog to me. He

ate gladly and most gratefully.

Now, it is a strange thing to say, but it is the truth, I had never

before in my life fed a dog! I had won many knotty suits at law, had

solved many hard problems dealing with human nature--and had found

human nature for the most part rarely glad or grateful--but I have

never owned or even fed a dog. A strange new feeling came in my throat

now. Suddenly I swallowed some invisible intangible thing.

"John," said I, "what breed of dog is this?" Indeed, it was hard to

tell offhand, although he had the keen head of a collie.

"I guess he's just one o' them partial dogs," answered John, "mostly

shepherd, maybe; I dunno."

"Very well, Partial shall be his name. And is he yours?"

"He runs round on the farm. He goes with Jimmy an' me."

"John, will you sell me Partial?" I asked this suddenly, realizing

that my voice might sound odd.

"What'd ye want him fer?" he replied. "He'd be a nuisance."

"I think not. See how faithful he has been, see how grateful he is;

and how wise. He reasoned where you were as well as I reasoned who you

were. He knows now that we are talking about him, and knows that I am

his friend--see him look at me; see him come over and stand by me.

John, do you think--do you believe a dog, this dog, would learn to

like me, ever? Would he understand me?"

"Well," said John judicially, standing sword in hand, "I dunno.

Someways, maybe dogs and boys understands quicker. But you understand

us. Maybe he'd understand you."

"Well reasoned, Jean Lafitte," said I, "perhaps your logic is better

than you know, at least, I hope so. And now I offer you yonder

magazine pistol as your own in fee, if you will sign over to me all

your right, title and interest, in Partial, here. Evidently he belongs

with us. He seems to care for us. And I experience some odd sort of

feeling, which I can not quite describe. Perhaps it is only that I

feel like a boy, and one that is going to own a dog. Is it a bargain?"

"Sure! You c'n have him for nuthin'," said Lafitte. "He ain't worth

nothin'. Besides, I can't charge a brother of the flag anything;

anyhow, not you." I inferred that Jean Lafitte, also, was going to

grow up into one of those men like myself, cursed with a reticence and

shyness in some matters, and so winning a reputation of oddness or

coldness, against all the real and passionate protest of his own soul.




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