For Bruff, who had been lying down when this tirade began, slowly raised his head, then placed himself in a sitting posture, and ended by staring at Billy, till Jack gave a more piteous howl than any he had before uttered, when the dog gave vent to one low growling bark, and sprang at the sailor.
“Ah!” said Billy, as soon as Bruff was quieted down, “you see he takes his part. Being a dog he don’t know no better, sir. I must try another way.”
Billy slowly swung himself down, displaying wonderful muscular strength of arm as he did so, and beckoning Mark aside he continued:
“I’m going to show you now, sir. Can you make your dog howl?”
“Oh, yes, Billy, easily.”
“How will you do it?”
“Shut him up somewhere, or chain him, and then call him. As soon as he finds he can’t get to me, he’ll make noise enough.”
“That’s your sort,” said Billy. “You bring him along, then.”
Mark called the dog, who leaped up and bounded to him, and five minutes later he was chained up under the main hatch and left, while Billy led the way back to the deck, and helped Mark up to a place of vantage, where they could see the monkey without being seen, and at the same time make the dog hear.
“Now then, Mr Mark, sir. You call old Bruff.”