“It seems to me that such old friends as we ought not to pass one another in this way. What’s the use in quarrelling? Life is too short for that. Come over this afternoon and see me. I’ve got some fine bones that have been buried a long time, and they must be about mellow by this time. Come over, and we’ll try ’em and talk over old times together.”
While Jack was making this amiable speech, Boxer was walking on tiptoe in a circle about him, and looking at him out of the corners of his eyes. When a dog does that it means that he wants to pick a quarrel, and he holds himself ready to spring on the other dog at the first disagreeable word he utters. Jack, however, would not utter that word, he was determined to make peace.
“There are no friends like old friends,” said Jack, pleasantly, “and I can’t afford to lose any of mine. Don’t let a few hasty words keep us apart any longer. I’m sure I’m sorry for my part of the affair, and I can’t say any more than that.”
Boxer stopped walking about in circles, and seemed to be swallowing something that stuck in his throat. The ridge on his back went down, too, and his tail didn’t stand up as stiffly. These are signs that a dog has given up his intention of fighting.
“The quarrel was not of my making,” he growled at last.
“I’m willing to take all the blame of it,” replied Jack, who was thankful to find his old friend coming around, for he knew that a bull-dog couldn’t be expected to do this at once. “I’ve lots to tell you. You don’t know anything about the blind kid who’s been stopping with us. I’ll tell you about him and about the little yellow dog Toby who was lost, and how I happened to come across him. I gave him your rules about slipping a collar. You know you taught them to me. I doubt if he’s a dog of enough character to carry it out. He looked kind of weak in his mind.”
“If he’s that kind of a dog, he’d better stay where he is,” growled Boxer.
“I wouldn’t wonder if he did,” replied Jack, “but we’ll see. He seemed to have a great respect for you when I told him about you, and said he should like to meet you.”
This was very gratifying to Boxer’s feelings, and his reserve began to thaw still more. Good-natured Jack saw the advantage he had gained, and took his leave, saying,—