e," he exclaimed, "you're stronger than I think you are if you
break that."

Ill-usage had thoroughly aroused Duke. When Mr. Brown was out of
sight, he struggled so vigorously that the collar around his neck
worked into the raw flesh. Undaunted, however, he struggled on until
he again broke his fetters. Away he bounded over the four miles to the
Davenports'. Needless to say, the children were overjoyed to see him.

To their surprise, Mr. Brown did not appear that day, nor the following
morning. Consequently, Mr. Davenport went up to his house at noon, and
asked to see him. Brown by this time was sober, and at heart ashamed
of his treatment of Duke.

"Brown," said Mr. Davenport in greeting, "I've come to tell you that
your dog is out at our place again."

"I supposed as much," he answered curtly.

"Well, why haven't you been out for him?"

"It's labor lost. I can't keep the dog."

Mr. Davenport hesitated a moment.

"Brown, perhaps we've been somewhat to blame in this matter, but,
really, I couldn't help the children's making a fuss over the dog.
Beth, my youngest child, was grieving herself sick over the death of a
favorite dog, and Duke won her heart at once. For her sake, I'd be
very glad if you'd sell the dog."

"I won't sell the dog."

Mr. Davenport walked to the door.

"I don't see that there is anything that I can do then except to send
Duke back to you. I'll have one of my darkies bring him in to-morrow
morning."

Mr. Brown did not answer a word. However, when Mr. Davenport was
halfway down the steps, he stopped him and said:

"I'm the only one to blame. I see that love is more powerful that
hate. Tell your little girl to keep the dog. I make her a present of
him with one condition. If you ever leave Florida, I want the dog
back. Good-morning."

Before Mr. Davenport could utter a word, Brown closed the door as if
fearful of gratitude.

CHAPTER XIII

Anxious Hours

One day, a strange white dog appeared at the Davenports'. No one knew
whence she came. Perhaps Duke enticed her to the house. He tried to
bespeak Beth's interest by barking vigorously and jumping up and down
wildly, as if begging the child to keep her.

At first, it was hard for Beth to feel any interest in the dog. It was
fearfully thin, and always acted as if it expected to be kicked. It
had one redeeming feature in that its eyes were very beautiful. They
were large and brown, with a mildly pathetic l