Tim gave the desired information, and then asked in turn:
“How long have you been up here?”
“’Most a whole week; an’ I’ve had the boss time. I had five dollars an’ twenty cents that I earned all myself, an’ I’ve got ’most half a dollar left. Let’s go out on the wharf an’ buy something.”
There was no chance that Tim would object to any such brilliant idea, and the valise was left with old Mose for safekeeping. Once on the wharf, both they and the apple-women were very busy for five minutes, during which time they—or rather, Bobby—bought fruit and candies enough to make both of them as contented as a boy could hope to be.
Luckily for Tim he got on the steamer again just as one of the waiters came to tell him that the captain had rung for him, and he lost no time in making his way to the wheel-house. He had the good-fortune to get there as quickly as Captain Pratt thought he ought to have done, and then got his employer’s coat from his state-room as he was ordered.
After that he went back to his newly-made friend, who was awaiting his return with considerable impatience, for he did not feel exactly certain that his valise with its precious contents was perfectly safe.
Tim took him to the cook-room, and while there showed him “one of the finest dogs in the country,” which he led back to his old quarters, so that he would be out of the way at dinner-time.
At first Bobby was not inclined to look upon Tip either as a beautiful or a valuable animal; but Tim sounded his pet’s praises so loudly that Bobby could hardly prevent himself from being convinced, even though appearances were so decidedly against his companion’s words.
Among other stories which Tim related, as showing that Tip was one of the most intelligent of his species, was the incident of his finding the cow so suddenly for Sam Simpson, which pleased Bobby greatly, and he said, in a wise tone both of praise and blame:
“He looks like a good dog, an’ he acts like a good dog; but ’pears to me his legs is kinder short if you wanted to make him run after a bear.”