him close and smiled over his curly, white head, at the
little girls who clapped their hands at the pleasing tableau, and then
went to pat and fondle the good creature, assuring him that they
entirely forgave the theft of the cake and the new dinner-pail. Inspired
by these endearments and certain private signals given by Ben, Sancho
suddenly burst away to perform all his best antics with unusual grace
and dexterity.

Bab and Betty danced about the room with rapture, while Mrs. Moss
declared she was almost afraid to have such a wonderfully intelligent
animal in the house. Praises of his dog pleased Ben more than praises of
himself, and when the confusion had subsided he entertained his audience
with a lively account of Sancho's cleverness, fidelity, and the various
adventures in which he had nobly borne his part.

While he talked Mrs. Moss was making up her mind about him, and when he
came to an end of his dog's perfections, she said, gravely:

"If I can find something for you to do, would you like to stay here
awhile?"

"Oh yes, ma'am, I'd be glad to!" answered Ben, eagerly; for the place
seemed home-like already, and the good woman almost as motherly as the
departed Mrs. Smithers.

"Well, I'll step over to the Judge's to-morrow to see what he says.
Shouldn't wonder if he'd take you for a chore-boy, if you are as smart
as you say. He always has one in the summer, and I haven't seen any
round yet. Can you drive cows?"

"Hope so;" and Ben gave a shrug, as if it was a very unnecessary
question to put to a person who had driven four calico ponies in a
gilded chariot.

"It mayn't be as lively as riding elephants and playing with bears, but
it is respectable, and I guess you'll be happier switching Brindle and
Buttercup than being switched yourself," said Mrs. Moss, shaking her
head at him with a smile.

"I guess I will, ma'am," answered Ben, with sudden meekness, remembering
the trials from which he had escaped.

Very soon after this, he was sent off for a good night's sleep in the
back bedroom, with Sancho to watch over him. But both found it difficult
to slumber till the racket overhead subsided, for Bab insisted on
playing she was a bear and devouring poor Betty in spite of her wails,
till their mother came up and put an end to it by threatening to send
Ben and his dog away in the morning if the girls "didn't behave and be
as still as mice."

[Illustration: BEN AT THE WELL.]

This they solemnly promised, a