't she?" inquired
Baldy Pallen, with a sly look over the company.

"Sure, she's a she!" replied the Boy. "MacPhairrson says so!"

"That accounts fer it!" said Baldy. "It's a way all shes have with the
Boss. Jest look at her now!"

"Now for Ebenezer!" interrupted the Boss, to change the subject.
"_You_ better hand him to me, an' maybe he'll take it as an
introduction."

Solemnly the Boy stooped, shoving the little raccoon aside, and picked
the pig up in his arms. Ebenezer was amazed, having never before been
treated as a lap-dog, but he made no resistance beyond stiffening out
all his legs in a way that made him most awkward to handle. Placed in
the Boss's great arms, he lifted his snout straight up in the air and
emitted one shrill squeal; but the sight of Ananias-and-Sapphira,
perched coolly beneath his captor's ear, in a measure reassured him,
and he made no further protest. He could not, however, appear
reconciled to the inexplicable and altogether undignified situation,
so he held his snout rigidly as high aloft as he could and shut his
little eyes tight, as if anticipating some further stroke of fate.

Black Angus was satisfied so far. He felt that the tolerance of
Ebenezer and the acceptance of Ananias-and-Sapphira added distinctly
to his prestige.

"Now for the little coon!" said he, jocularly. But the words were
hardly out of his mouth when he felt sharp claws go up his leg with a
rush, and the next instant the little raccoon was on his shoulder,
reaching out its long, black nose to sniff solicitously at Ebenezer's
legs and assure itself that everything was all right.

"Jumping Jiminy! Oh, by Gee!" squealed Ananias-and-Sapphira, startled
at the sudden onset, and nipped the intruder smartly on the leg till
he squalled and whipped around to the other shoulder.

"Now you've got all that's coming to you, I guess, Mr. MacAllister,"
laughed the Boy.

"Then I reckon I'd better be lightin' out fer home with it!" answered
Black Angus, hugely elated. Turning gently, so as not to dislodge the
passengers on his shoulder, he strode off over the bridge and up the
sawdust-muffled street towards his clapboard cottage, Ebenezer's snout
still held rigidly up in air, his eyes shut in heroic resignation,
while Ananias-and-Sapphira, tremendously excited by this excursion
into the outer world, kept shrieking at the top of her voice:
"Ebenezer, Ebenezer, Ebenezer! Oh, by Gee! I want Pa!"

As soon as the noisy and pictures