With a loud bark Bulger rushed towards me, and laying one ear against my leg closed his other with his paw.
So Too and his retainers, at seeing this to me laughable sight, looked grave, agitated their thumbs and twitched the corners of their mouths.
Just as I was about crossing So Too’s threshold, to my inexpressible chagrin I discovered that I had lost my purse containing a large sum of money. In a desperate hope that I might have dropped it on the sea shore, I bounded away in that direction, but I had not gone a hundred paces ere I met Bulger carrying the purse in his mouth. I had in truth dropped it while kneeling on the beach and caressing my beloved rescuer.
Noting that in my eagerness to follow my gracious host, I had not missed the lost treasure, Bulger had driven away several of So Too’s retainers, who manifested a desire to appropriate the pouch of gold to their own use, and picking it up in his teeth, had raced after me as fast as his burden would permit.
As we crossed So Too’s threshold, several small, woolly dogs sprang out and gathered about Bulger. They were apparently delighted to meet with one of their race, so distinguished in appearance and dignified in carriage. Fain would they have exchanged the usual canine civilities with Bulger, but he absolutely declined to enter into any conversation with them or to express any surprise at these extraordinary looking cousins of his, which seemed like so many animated bundles of freshly-ginned cotton. Keeping close at my heels, he skillfully avoided their advances, and gave a low growl of relief when the door of the ante-chamber was closed upon them.
After a warm bath, my stiffened limbs were limbered up by the stroking, patting and rubbing of So Too’s bath assistants.
I was then invited to encase my body in a rich suit of embroidered silk, and this done, was conducted into the presence of the amiable So Too, who received me with a smile that was as persistent as it was broad.
Several hours were now consumed in drinking tea, eating dainty little sugar cakes, and telling each other the most extravagant and shameless fibs in the shape of compliments,—compliments about everything, voice, eyes, ears, chin, mouth, hands, feet, etc. Although I only reached to So Too’s shoulder, he regretted, in a piteous tone, his lack of stature and praised my tall, stately, noble, commanding height.
Overcome at last by sheer exhaustion, So Too closed his eyes and appeared to have dropped off in a little nap.
Seizing upon the opportunity, I raised my voice and began to urge upon him the necessity of immediate action with regard to me and my men.