“Where’s yer boss?” (meaning master).
“Yonder,” with a backward movement of the head.
The boy leant his back against a lamp-post near, and seemed in no hurry to pursue his journey; Tim was not sorry, for a little conversation beguiled the time, and his remark about Moses showed this to be an intelligent and discerning youth.
“Wot can he do?” he asked presently, still with his eye on the dog.
Tim ran through a list of Moses’ acquirements eagerly, and finished up with: “And he can watch the parcels as well as a Christian—he wouldn’t let no one but me or Joshua come nigh ’em, not for anything.”
“Wouldn’t he now?” said the boy admiringly.
“You try,” suggested Tim, anxious to show off Moses’ talents.
The stranger came a little nearer, and stretched out his hand as if to touch one of the parcels; he quickly withdrew it, however, for Moses’ bristling mane and angry growl were sufficient warnings of his further intentions. Both boys laughed, Tim triumphantly, and he patted the dog with an air of proud proprietorship.
“There’s a Punch and Judy playin’ in the next street,” remarked the stranger, “and they’ve got a dorg some’at like yours, he’s a clever un he is—wouldn’t you like to see him?”
“I’ve seen ’em—scores o’ times,” said Tim loftily.