He patted the dog's 'ead agin and whistled, and a big black dog came up out of the cabin and sprang ashore. It went up and put its nose to Sam's dog, and they both growled like thunderstorms.
“Might be brothers,” ses the skipper, “on'y your dog's got a better 'eead and a better coat. It's a good dog.”
“They're all alike to me,” I ses. “I couldn't tell 'em apart, not if you paid me.”
The skipper stood there a moment, and then he ses: “I wish you'd let me see 'ow my dog looks in your dog's collar,” he ses.
“Whaffor?” I ses.
“On'y fancy,” he ses. “Oh, Bill!”
“Yes,” I ses.
“It ain't Christmas,” he ses, taking my arm and walking up and down a bit, “but it will be soon, and then I mightn't see you. You've done me one or two good turns, and I should like to make you a Christmas-box of three 'arf-dollars.”
I let 'im give 'em to me, and then, just to please 'im, I let 'im try the collar on 'is dog, while I swept up a bit.
“It looked beautiful on 'im,” he ses, when I'd finished; “but I've put it back agin. Come on, Bruno. Good-night, Bill.”