“It was Purt’s shanks in those green socks that attracted the dog. I suppose the poor dog was hungry, and a hungry dog will go far for a bone, you know.”
Purt was hurrying to get his Duchess under way, and he was so glad of getting rid of the dog that he did not mind the boys’ chaffing. Suddenly a wild yell arose from some of the boys on the dock.
“What’s this? See who’s come!” yelled Billy Long.
“The Barnacle!” quoth Chet, bursting into a roar of laughter.
Even Lily Pendleton could not forbear giving vent to her amusement, and she laughed with the others. Down the dock tore the ragged coated dog, with a fathom of rope tied to his collar.
He leaped aboard the Bonnie Lass and then, with a glad yelp, sprang to the decked-over part of the Duchess.
Purt Sweet looked up with a cry of amazement 71 and received the delighted dog full in his chest. They rolled together in the cockpit of the boat, the dog eagerly lapping Purt’s face, while the boy tried to beat him off with his fists.
“The Barnacle!” yelled Chet again, and that name stuck.
So did the dog. He refused to leave. The party left Lumberton with the foolish beast sitting up in the prow of the Duchess, wagging his ridiculous tail and barking a last farewell to the amused spectators gathered along the edge of the dock.