“Well, he’s got more sense than I ever gave a dumb animal credit for havin’, an’ so far as I’m concerned, he’s welcome to sit at any table where I am.”
“We’ll give him a regular place by Benny’s side,” Tom Downey added, and thus were the two officially and formally received into the family of the life savers.
The new member of the crew did not wait to be told how he might make himself useful, but immediately after the meal was ended he set about clearing the table, washing dishes, and setting to rights the interior of the station.
The men watched him curiously while he moved quickly but noiselessly to and fro, until, having swept the floor, he began dusting the different articles of furniture, when Sam Hardy exclaimed emphatically:
“Mark my word, that lad will be a big addition to this ’ere place! He’s tidy, willing, an’ quiet; what more could we want?”
“I reckon he’ll do,” Keeper Downey replied in a tone of content, and straightway the members of the crew set about their several duties, satisfied that they had made no mistake in assuming the guardianship of Benny and Fluff.
The building was cleanly, when viewed from a man’s standpoint; but Benny, who had profited by the teachings of Mrs. Clark, saw very much which should be done, and from the time breakfast was over until late in the afternoon he did not spend an idle moment. As a matter of fact Fluff was equally busy; when not exhibiting his tricks for the amusement of the men, he was trudging to and fro at the heels of his young master as if superintending the labor, and blissfully ignorant of the fact that old Maje sat outside displaying no slight jealousy and anger because he had not been admitted to the mess-room according to custom.
“It stands to reason that the old dog will be a bit disagreeable at first,” Joe Cushing said, as he called attention to Maje in front of the tool-house. “We must introduce the two before long, and once they are friends it’ll be more lively for Fluff C. Foster.”
A ring at the telephone which connected the station with the neighboring city called Keeper Downey into the adjoining room, and after receiving a certain message he summoned Sam Hardy.
