aited upon Jerry. Food of the choicest was his. After
Agno had eaten first-cut of pig, Jerry was served second. Even the two
acolytes and the fly-flapping maid ate after him, leaving the debris for
the several old women. And, unlike the mere bush dogs, who stole shelter
from the rain under overhanging eaves, Jerry was given a dry place under
the roof where the heads of bushmen and of forgotten sandalwood traders
hung down from above in the midst of a dusty confusion of dried viscera
of sharks, crocodile skulls, and skeletons of Solomons rats that measured
two-thirds of a yard in length from bone-tip of nose to bone-tip of tail.

A number of times, all freedom being his, Jerry stole away across the
village to the house of Lumai. But never did he find Lamai, who, since
Skipper, was the only human he had met that had placed a bid to his
heart. Jerry never appeared openly, but from the thick fern of the
brookside observed the house and scented out its occupants. No scent of
Lamai did he ever obtain, and, after a time, he gave up his vain visits
and accepted the devil devil doctor's house as his home and the devil
devil doctor as his master.

But he bore no love for this master. Agno, who had ruled by fear so long
in his house of mystery, did not know love. Nor was affection any part
of him, nor was geniality. He had no sense of humour, and was as
frostily cruel as an icicle. Next to Bashti he stood in power, and all
his days had been embittered in that he was not first in power. He had
no softness for Jerry. Because he feared Bashti he feared to harm Jerry.

The months passed, and Jerry got his firm, massive second teeth and
increased in weight and size. He came as near to being spoiled as is
possible for a dog. Himself taboo, he quickly learned to lord it over
the Somo folk and to have his way and will in all matters. No one dared
to dispute with him with stick or stone. Agno hated him--he knew that;
but also he gleaned the knowledge that Agno feared him and would not dare
to hurt him. But Agno was a chill-blooded philosopher and bided his
time, being different from Jerry in that he possessed human prevision and
could adjust his actions to remote ends.

From the edge of the lagoon, into the waters of which, remembering the
crocodile taboo he had learned on Meringe, he never ventured, Jerry
ranged to the outlying bush villages of Bashti's domain. All made way
for him. All fed him when he desired food.