“You ought to let him have it, for surely the people will be interested in knowing he has won such an honor. There ain’t many dogs who can show as much, an’ it isn’t fair to keep it from him just now. You must go back and tell the whole story.”
Benny hesitated. He was eager that Fluff should have all the credit due him, but feared lest by displaying the medal his motives might be misunderstood.
“Do you suppose they’d think I was trying to make out he was something wonderful?”
“Now don’t be too modest, Benjamin. Fluff really was the means of saving Mr. Bradford’s life, and it’s only fair to let people know about it.”
Thus urged, Benny did as the cook desired, and nearly half an hour elapsed before he returned to the kitchen.
“It seemed as if I’d never get away,” he said apologetically, taking up the first work which presented itself, and quickening his movements to atone for lost time. “They made me tell the story over and over again, and now Fluff’s having a terrible good time.”
“That’s as it should be, and I only wish they’d kept you longer, for I don’t like to see a tired lad hustling around here.”
“I sha’n’t hurt myself,” Benny replied with a laugh, determined not to be prevented from attending to his regular duties, except by a positive command from Keeper Downey.
The members of the crew were too busy to give much heed to No. 8. The tugs, which had finally come in response to the messages sent, were lying-to outside, communicating with the keeper by signals; all the gear used was to be put away in proper order that it might be got at without loss of time should occasion arise, and three of the men had been sent back on the bluff to watch for wreckage from the steamer. In fact, all was bustle and seeming confusion until after the keeper issued imperative orders that Benny make up a bed for himself in the kitchen, and go to sleep.
The number of the rescued was so large that all the apartments in the station, save the kitchen itself, were given up to them, the crew lying down when their turns to rest came, wherever sufficient space could be found.