“Glad!” Benny exclaimed. “Why, you men can’t think how happy it will make Fluff and me! Of course we was ready to leave, and wouldn’t have said a word against it, because we’ve got our living to earn; but you’ve been so good to us that it seems as if you was our own folks, an’ we’d have been awful lonesome to go away where we didn’t know anybody. And you sha’n’t be sorry, either, if there’s anything we can do to pay our way, ’cause I know how to take care of the lamps, and wait on the table, and--and--and I can wash dishes just as well as a woman. I did it on the _Amazonia_ all the voyage.” “We’re allowing that this ’ere is a case where you regularly attend to your share of the duties,” Tom Downey said, speaking now in his official tone. “We don’t believe in making paupers out of boys, no matter whatever bad luck they’ve fallen into; but besides the work you’ll do, I reckon it will be kind of pleasant to have you and the dog laying round here,--makes it seem more like home. Now, Benny, you are to take hold from this out. Get up when the cook does; do what you can to help him; wash dishes and trim the lamps. After that the time will be pretty much your own, an’ if it so be that you can’t sleep here, why we’ll make a deal with Eph Hannaford’s folks so they’ll give you lodgings. But we won’t talk about that part of it. Turn to for breakfast now, and then there’ll be a chance to show how handy you are.” The lump which came into Benny’s throat at the thought that he must leave the station had suddenly taken its departure, and in obedience to the keeper’s orders the lad took his seat at the breakfast table alone, for the crew had already broken their fast. Tom Downey observed that the boy moved the chairs away from his immediate vicinity before sitting down, and it was apparent to all that, according to Master Fluff’s ideas, something had gone wrong, for the dog danced about excitedly, giving vent from time to time to a low yelp of what seemed to be disapproval. “What’s the matter with Fluff C. Foster?” Sam Hardy asked. “He’ll be all right after a spell,” Benny replied. “He’ll soon know the difference, ’cause I’ll make him understand it.” “Understand what?” “Why, you see, he always sat by the side of me on board the ship, and he thinks it’s funny he can’t do it now, I s’pose; but he’s a good, sensible dog, and won’t want to break over any rules after he gets a little used to it.” “Why don’t you let him sit by your side now?” “I was afraid it wouldn’t be right. Mrs. Clark said she’d have a good deal of trouble to break him of the habit after they got ashore.” “Will he behave himself?” Keeper Downey asked. “Fluff behave himself! Why, sir, he’s just as nice an’ polite at the table as any fellow you ever saw.” “Give him a show, and let’s see what he’ll do.”