er with
fun Skene turned quite mutinous, barking as if derisively in response to
every call, and evading Steve as he chased him, the boy running along
the deck and making dashes at the dog, who avoided him by his superior
activity, till, getting at last quite close, Steve made a snatch at his
quarry's hind leg and grasped it firmly. Almost at the same instant
Skene made a bound, dragged his leg away, and came down in a double
astride upon the top of the bulwark, tried to recover himself, got upon
his legs, again slipped, nearly went overboard, but saved himself by
another leap, and came down upon the deck flop. Before he could get up
Steve was upon him, holding by the long hair of the animal's neck. Then
there was a sharp struggle, in which the boy won, and Skene turned his
head round, looked up in his master's face, and uttered a pitiful howl,
the cry and the way in which it was uttered seeming so wonderfully human
and so thoroughly to express the dog's ideas, "Oh, what a shame, when I
was enjoying myself so!" that Steve burst into a fit of laughing.

"C'ssss! Bite him then," came from the door of the galley, and Steve
looked sharply round to see Watty's head just outside the door, and the
movement made him slacken his hold of the dog.

_Wuph_!

One deep utterance, half growl, half bark. Skene was free, and Steve on
his side, while the dog charged right at Watty, striking the door
heavily with his fore paws, as the cook's new assistant snatched his
head inside and pulled the door to.

"Serve you right!" muttered Steve, gaining his feet. "Quiet, Skeny!
Down!"

For the dog was gazing up at the spot where Watty's head had
disappeared, and growling fiercely.

The next moment Watty appeared at the window.

"I'll tell the skipper ye sat the tyke at me!" cried the boy.

"If you don't behave yourself I will!" retorted Steve; and then patting
Skene's head he walked away, the dog, quite sobered now, following him,
muttering in growls, and looking back now and then at the galley, whose
door was softly opened, and a hand protruded holding a piece of cold
salt meat.

Skene saw it, and hesitated. Then he stopped short, and Watty whistled
and wriggled the piece of meat about. That was too much for any animal.
Meat is meat after all, and to keep him healthy Skene had been dieted a
good deal upon biscuit. He was only a dog, and rushing back, he
snatched the piece in his trap-like jaws.

"Poor fellow, then; poor ol