through the dewy mist until she was plain to view. It was
even a pleasure to him to watch her disappear with the departing day.

So when he bade Nora good-night he went down to his own cabin with a
light heart, still followed by the good brown dog, Rover, which had
taken up with him so firmly that he went home only when Nora blew the
horn. He always obeyed this call, and trotted off gayly, but when the
morning light appeared he was back again lying on Wade's little porch as
comfortably as he desired to be. Wade was very glad of the dog's
friendship, for he helped to dissolve the terrible gloom that sometimes
gathered over him. He took great delight in talking to the dog while he
was preparing his meals, and never forgot to put in an extra allowance
for Rover.

"Now, Rover," he said, "you like your eggs better raw, perhaps, and no
doubt, if you have been getting them at all, you have had to take them
that way; but this is quite a different hotel, and you shall have to
cultivate a taste for fried eggs, as that is the way I like them best,
and that is certainly the easiest and quickest way to get them
prepared."

Rover whined and wagged his shaggy tail.

"In this country, Rover, old boy," continued Wade, "where every fellow
is looking about for someone he can kill, a fellow, if he would eat at
all, must get his lunch the quickest way he can; so you must not be
angry if you must eat fried eggs."

Rover gave a low bark, seeming to understand fully. He watched the
preparation of the meal with pleasure. When Jack moved to another part
of the room Rover trotted quickly over there, as though he feared some
portion of the work would be lost to him. When Wade stood over the
little stove Rover was there looking longingly up at him.

"Now," said Wade, "you don't like coffee, Rover, and there is where you
are lucky. You are wise not to drink it. I ought not to drink coffee,
but how could I stand the strain of all that I look for should I not
take some stimulant? I don't drink whisky, Rover--that is wrong for a
fellow to do; I don't chew tobacco nor smoke a pipe, so what? I must
drink coffee. Some men say that man is so constituted that his system
calls for a stimulant; but I don't believe that, Rover, do you? Now here
you are, old friend, a nice slice of good bread made by your dear
mistress, a piece of bacon, and a whole egg fried. My, what a lunch for
an old dog which has not been used to anything but kicks and curses all
h