"Ee-o!" answered Rick. "Oh, fellows! Come here! I have such a lot to tell you!" he added.
And you may be sure Tom and Chot opened their eyes in wonder when they heard about the ragged sailor and his green parrot good-luck mascot.
"Well, I'm glad Ruddy is yours to keep, and that you don't have to worry about him being whistled away again," said Chot.
"So'm I," added Tom.
"Come on, now, we'll have some fun!" said Rick, and then boys and dog raced over the meadow toward Weed River.
This was the beginning of many happy days for Rick and Ruddy, and Haw-Haw, the tame crow, shared in them, for, having seen the parrot perched on the sailor's shoulder, Rick taught his black pet to do the same trick, and also some new whistles.
And on the bright and breezy days of spring and summer you might have seen Rick, Ruddy and Haw-Haw playing about in the fields, or near Silver Lake, whereon the white swans floated. But Ruddy never chased them, now, and so the setter did not have to flee in terror from the big birds. Ruddy had learned his lesson.
"Oh, but you are the best dog in the world, Ruddy!" said Rick, over and over again. "What good times we'll have!"
And they did have many adventures. If you would like to read more about the boy and his dog I may write another book. I think I shall call it "Rick and Ruddy in Camp," but, as for this volume, we have come to
THE END