ry conceivable elevation, and rubbed his nose against
Fan's, and barked softly, in every imaginable degree of modulation, and
varied these proceedings by bounding away at full speed over the rocks
of the beach, and in among the bushes and out again, but always circling
round and round Fan, and keeping her in view!

It was a sight worth seeing, and young Marston sat down on a rock,
deliberately and enthusiastically, to gloat over it. But perhaps the
most remarkable part of it has not yet been referred to. There was yet
another heart there that was glad--exceeding glad--that day. It was a
little one too, but it was big for the body that held it. Grumps was
there, and all that Grumps did was to sit on his haunches and stare at
Fan and Crusoe, and wag his tail as well as he could in so awkward a
position! Grumps was evidently bewildered with delight, and had lost
nearly all power to express it. Crusoe's conduct towards him, too, was
not calculated to clear his faculties. Every time he chanced to pass
near Grumps in his elephantine gambols, he gave him a passing touch with
his nose, which always knocked him head over heels; whereat Grumps
invariably got up quickly and wagged his tail with additional energy.
Before the feelings of those canine friends were calmed, they were all
three ruffled into a state of comparative exhaustion.

Then young Marston called Crusoe to him, and Crusoe, obedient to the
voice of friendship, went.

"Are you happy, my dog?"

"You're a stupid fellow to ask such a question; however, it's an amiable
one. Yes, I am."

"What do _you_ want, ye small bundle o' hair?"

This was addressed to Grumps, who came forward innocently, and sat down
to listen to the conversation.

On being thus sternly questioned, the little dog put down its ears flat,
and hung its head, looking up at the same time with a deprecatory look
as if to say, "Oh, dear! I beg pardon; I--I only want to sit near
Crusoe, please, but if you wish it I'll go away, sad and lonely, with my
tail _very_ much between my legs--indeed I will, only say the word,
but--but I'd _rather_ stay if I might."

"Poor bundle!" said Marston, patting its head, "you can stay then.
Hooray! Crusoe, are you happy, I say? Does your heart bound in you
like a cannon ball that wants to find its way out and can't--eh?"

Crusoe put his snout against Marston's cheek, and, in the excess of his
joy, the lad threw his arms round the dog's neck and hugged it