;S6 



RECREATION 



minute I could only stand and stare, but 

 just then one little fellow jumped down, 

 and then down they all jumped; I don't 

 know what made me do it — I jumped after 

 them; the other dogs saw it all, forgot their 

 dignity and joined me, and away we all 

 went after the mother .and her kittens; it 

 was fun while it lasted, but it didn't last 

 long, for the sailors whipped the other dogs, 

 and my master caught me and said I must 

 be taught to obey. Well, if that is the way 

 it is taught, I don't want many lessons. 

 I would a lot rather have been whipped by a 

 cur bulldog than have the same hand that 

 had petted and stroked me raised in anger 

 against me. 



The sailors said it was good luck to have 

 kittens born on board, and besides, they 

 wanted them to catch the rats and mice. 

 Bah ! I can beat all- the cats at rat catching ! 

 What are a few ship rats compared to the 

 army of them I put to flight in the lumber 

 yard. 



But I let old Mascot and her family alone 

 after that, excepting when I could get one 

 or more behind something, then I used to 

 stand by the hour and show my teeth, it was 



such fun, for they were so scared; but I 

 never hurt them, and finally we became great 

 friends. 



CHAPTER V 



LOST 



I had been in the Navy over a year when 

 what I am going to tell you happened. 



Our ship always went south in winter, 

 sometimes as far down as San Diego Bay, 

 when our officers and men forgot the anxi- 

 eties and work of the long summer months 

 and became care free amid the enjoyments 

 of a southern winter. 



We had wintered at Coronado (the jack 

 rabbits on that island are the finest runners 

 I ever saw) and as there was a lot of extra 

 work to do, we had come north earlier than 

 usual. The trip up, even to me, a dog, 

 seemed very lovely, especially among the 

 islands near Sitka, and I would lie for hours 

 and watch the shores as we passed. I was 

 fast learning to be a gentleman and as every 

 one was so kind to me I almost forgot how to 

 growl. 



Our captain had warned us to expect a 

 lot of ice, and he was right ; each day it got 



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