“Now don’t take too many chances, Sam. That little shaver ain’t of the right build to knock around in rough water with the likes of you, an’ there’s too much danger in it for him.” “I don’t agree with you there, cookee. He’s spry as a kitten, an’ with grit enough to do anything another can.” “I’ll admit he’d make a try for it; but I don’t want to see him pushed too far.” Benny’s entrance put an end to the conversation for the time being, and following him, as a matter of course, was Fluff C. Foster, who had become sufficiently well acquainted with the men to greet each in turn by sitting up and barking shrilly as he held out one paw. Every man shook hands with the little fellow, after which he leaped up into the chair he had occupied the day previous. “Knows his place like a little gentleman,” Joe Cushing cried in a tone of admiration as he stroked the dog’s silken hair, and Benny said apprehensively: “I’m almost afraid Fluff will get so much petting that he’ll forget his good manners. This very morning he acted as if the whole station belonged to him.” “What did he do, Benny?” Keeper Downey asked with a laugh. “He was determined to walk straight out of doors, even though the big dog was sitting there waiting to teach him better manners.” “Hasn’t he been out yet?” “Oh, yes, sir. I carried him down by the shore where he could run around while I watched the other dog.” [Illustration] “We must introduce him to Maje after breakfast,” Sam Hardy said, as he slyly gave Fluff a bit of meat, and laughed until the tears came into his eyes as he watched the little fellow trying to eat it without betraying the fact to Benny. “Fluff C. Foster has rights around this station as well as Maje, an’ they must be respected.” “Don’t let the introduction take too long,” Keeper Downey said warningly. “It is beach-apparatus drill day, and too much time must not be wasted, because I’m counting on getting the boats out to have a look at what is left of the----” He ceased speaking very suddenly as his gaze rested on Benny; but the crew understood that it was the keeper’s purpose to overhaul such portions of the _Amazonia_ as yet remained upon the rocks, although it was hardly probable anything of value would be found. After breakfast the cook would have excused Benny from the task of washing dishes, so eager were the men to witness the first meeting of the dogs; but the new member of the crew begged permission to perform his regular duties before indulging in what was very like play. Not until the kitchen was put in proper order did Benny consider that he was at liberty to go out of doors, even though all the men, save the keeper himself, insisted that there was no good reason why he should not take advantage of the cook’s proposition. Then, with Fluff under his arm, he went out back of the station buildings, where, in a spot sheltered from the wind, the crew was impatiently awaiting his arrival.