The Colonel gave a distinct grunt of disapproval, and then, "Keepin' that brute in here?"
"He's a lot cleaner than our two-legged friends," said the Boy sharply, as if answering an insult.
"Right," said the Colonel with conviction.
His pardner was instantly mollified. "If you wake another baby, you'll get a lickin'," he said genially to the dog; and then he stretched out his feet till they reached Nig's back, and a feeling of great comfort came over the Boy.
"Say, Colonel," he yawned luxuriously, "did you know that—a—to-night—when Nig flared up, did you know you'd trodden on his paw?"
"Didn't know it till you told me," growled the Colonel.
"I thought you didn't. Makes a difference, doesn't it?"
"You needn't think," says the Colonel a little defiantly, "that I've weakened on the main point just because I choose to give Nig a few cracker crumbs. If it's a question between a man's life and a dog's life, only a sentimental fool would hesitate."
"I'm not talking about that; we can get fish now. What I'm pointin' out is that Nig didn't fly at you for nothin'."
"He's got a devil of a temper, that dog."