After a while Sailor Jed got up and started for the door.
"Where you going?" demanded Matt.
"Out for a breath of fresh air," was the answer. "Too hot in here."
"Take the dog a bone," requested Matt. "I guess he's hungry. He can have the one I left on my plate," he added quickly, as he saw that Sam was going to object.
"Guess there isn't much meat on any bone you picked!" was the remark of Jed. "But I'll give it to him."
He carried the bone out to Ruddy, who cringed low when he dimly saw, and heard, and keenly smelled the man coming toward him.
"Poor fellow!" spoke the sailor in a low, kind voice. "You needn't be afraid of me. I won't hurt you. I love dogs, and I'm sorry Matt Stanton has you. He won't exactly kick or beat you, but he won't be kind to you. And you look as if you had come from a better home than he'll ever give you."
Jed looked back toward the house where the light dimly glowed. Then he looked down at the cringing dog, tied by a heavy rope.
"I'll do it!" suddenly whispered the sailor to himself. "I'll do it! 'Tis a shame to let Matt keep you. I wonder, if I cut you loose, if you can find your way home? I'll try it."
He whipped out his knife, and, with one sweep, cut through the rope, close to where it was tied around Ruddy's neck. The dog felt that he was free. He could scarcely believe it.