sau's countenance changed. All the pleasure faded out, and he turned
his back, and began walking slowly away.

"Esau," I said, "don't go."

"I must," he said, stopping short, but without trying to face me. "Got
to fetch your stoo. He said it was the best physic you could take."

"But, Esau, I don't want it now; I'm sorry I said that."

"So am I; sooner ha' shot myself hundreds o' times. Wish I had shot
myself dead instead, and then you wouldn't be able to jump on me."

"It was very unkind," I said; "please forgive me."

"All right, I'm going to fetch your stoo."

He did not turn round, but walked away toward the gate of the palisade
just as there was a fierce deep-toned barking, and Rough came bounding
down toward my chair.

"He'll knock me over," I thought, as I saw his gleaming teeth, and the
thick pile of hair about his neck, a natural armour which had protected
him in many an encounter with wolf or bear. And for the moment it
seemed as if the great animal would send me clean over as he charged
wildly; but just as he was close to me he turned off, dashed away, came
back, up and down, barking furiously, and ended by making a sudden stop,
to stand there with his great muzzle laid in my lap, and his eyes
looking earnestly up in mine.

I placed my hand upon his head, and as I did so I could not help
thinking how thin and white it was; and this made me lie back recalling
how bad I must have been, and how clever Mr Raydon had been to save my
life, tending me as he had just like a doctor. That made me think too
of every one else--the men's wives, who had waited on me and brought me
flowers; Grey, who shot game; and above all of Quong and Esau, who had
seemed to spend all their time in attending upon one who had been
irritable, and as helpless as a baby.

As I thought, my fingers played about the great head in my lap, pulling
the long ears, stroking the muzzle, and all the time the eyes blinked up
at me, and once there was a long-drawn sigh as of satisfaction, which
made me ready to fancy that even the dog was glad to see me out again
after my long, weary illness.

All at once Rough raised his head and uttered a low, muttering growl,
followed by a couple of short barks; and on looking round there were
Esau and Quong coming, the latter bearing a basin and a plate of bread.

"Velly good soup," said Quong, eagerly. "Velly stlong. Quite leady."

He placed the basin on my knees, Rough drawing back a little,