However, Duke was not to be hindered by obstacles. With one bound, he leaped to the side of the boat and jumped overboard.
"Well," the captain muttered, "I don't know what Brown'll say, but it can't be helped."
Duke swam immediately to shore. There one of the wharf hands saw him as he landed, and exclaimed:
"Why, that's Brown's dog. Perhaps he'll give me something if I take him home."
So the wharf hand caught Duke and took him up to Brown's home at noon. Brown, who had been drinking and was in a very unpleasant mood, was struck with amazement at sight of the dog. He gave the wharf hand some small change, and, when he was gone, took Duke into the back yard and beat him. Next, he tied the dog with an extra heavy chain.
"There," he exclaimed, "you're stronger than I think you are if you break that."
Ill-usage had thoroughly aroused Duke. When Mr. Brown was out of sight, he struggled so vigorously that the collar around his neck worked into the raw flesh. Undaunted, however, he struggled on until he again broke his fetters. Away he bounded over the four miles to the Davenports'. Needless to say, the children were overjoyed to see him.
To their surprise, Mr. Brown did not appear that day, nor the following morning. Consequently, Mr. Davenport went up to his house at noon, and asked to see him. Brown by this time was sober, and at heart ashamed of his treatment of Duke.
"Brown," said Mr. Davenport in greeting, "I've come to tell you that your dog is out at our place again."
"I supposed as much," he answered curtly.