But let this pass. I got back to Harris's hut without adventure. When
there, in the course of the evening, I told Harris that I had a fancy for
the rug he had found on the river-bed, and that if he would let me have
it, I would give him my red one and ten shillings to boot. The exchange
was so obviously to his advantage that he made no demur, and next morning
I strapped Yram's rug on to my horse, and took it gladly home to England,
where I keep it on my own bed next to the counterpane, so that with care
it may last me out my life. I wanted him to take the dog and make a home
for him, but he had two collies already, and said that a retriever would
be of no use to him. So I took the poor beast on with me to the port,
where I was glad to find that Mr. Baker liked him and accepted him from
me, though he was not mine to give. He had been such an unspeakable
comfort to me when I was alone, that he would have haunted me unless I
had been able to provide for him where I knew he would be well cared for.
As for Doctor, I was sorry to leave him, but I knew he was in good hands.
"I see you have not brought your knapsack back, sir," said Mr. Baker.
"No," said I, "and very thankful was I when I had handed it over to those
for whom it was intended."
"I have no doubt you were, sir, for I could see it was a desperate heavy
load for you.
Pages:
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335