Part 6 (2/2)

Save the bone and the soup. Cut the meat up in small pieces, mix it with bread or rice and any vegetables left over from the house--onions, cabbage, carrots, or anything but potatoes. They ain't very good for dogs. Mix the food all up together and moisten it with the soup, but don't have it too wet. Stale bread is better for 'em than fresh bread. Never give 'em chicken or rabbit bones that may splinter and injure 'em inside. Don't give too much pork or fat of any kind. Don't give 'em much candy or sweet stuff. Some folks bake bread or cakes specially for dogs, but if you do that, don't use much corn meal. It's too heatin' in summer and it's apt to cause skin trouble.

If anything seems to disagree with 'em, like baked beans, or sweet corn, or rice, cut it out; you can tell. Last of all, always keep plenty of clean, fresh water where they can get it. A thirsty dog is never happy.”

These and other instructions the boys obtained from Sam b.u.mpus from time to time, and as the days went by they were pleased to see their dogs growing bigger and stronger. Slowly, too, they began to learn the meaning of things and to obey their masters' voices. Raising dogs proved to be the most fascinating thing that Ernest and Jack Whipple had ever undertaken.

By February they were very proud of their charges and anxious to show them off. Consequently they welcomed a visit one Sat.u.r.day morning from Harry Barton, a chum of theirs. Harry appeared unannounced and accompanied by his big, bow-legged English bulldog, Mike. He went directly to the barn, from which issued the voices of the Whipple boys and their dogs, and entered Rome. The unexpected appearance of Mike startled Jack, and he picked Remus hastily up and held him in protecting arms. But Harry only laughed.

”What you 'fraid of?” he inquired. ”Mike wouldn't hurt a kitten. He looks ugly and that's what scares tramps away, but he never bit anything. You ought to see the baby walk all over him.”

”Come on in, then,” invited Ernest.

Mike went slowly up to Romulus and sniffed at him noisily. At first the puppy was frightened, but finding that he was not attacked he made one or two playful little lunges at the bulldog and then stood off and barked shrilly at him, Remus joining in the chorus and struggling to be set down.

”They've got s.p.u.n.k, all right,” said Ernest, proudly.

[Ill.u.s.tration: English Bulldog]

Mike sniffed at Remus also, then yawned in a bored sort of way, waddled out of Rome as though his years and dignity forbade his a.s.sociation with such frivolous company, and thumped down on the floor outside. All three boys laughed.

”Well, what do you think of 'em?” Ernest asked presently. ”Some dogs, eh?”

”Oh, they'll prob'ly be all right when they grow up,” said Harry, unwilling to concede too much. ”They'll have to grow a lot, though, before they know as much as Mike.”

”But a bulldog can't hunt like a setter,” said Ernest, flying to the defense of his breed.

”Who wants to hunt?” demanded Harry. ”Hunting isn't all a dog's for, is it? A bulldog's a better watchdog than a setter.”

Ernest, not knowing whether this was so or not, made no reply.

”But aren't they cunning, Harry?” asked Jack.

”Oh, sure, they're cunning,” said Harry, satisfied that he had scored his point. ”Can they shake hands yet?”

”Not yet,” said Jack.

”Mike can shake hands,” said Harry, ”and take the mail from the postman, and do lots of things.”

”But he can't hunt,” insisted Ernest, returning to the attack.

”I'd rather have a bulldog than a setter, any day,” said Harry. ”Why, the bulldog is one of the best kinds of dogs. It's an older kind than the setter. They used them in England for fighting bulls hundreds of years ago. A bulldog is brave and faithful, and he sticks to things.

He isn't a flyaway kind of a dog.”

”But they're so homely,” objected Jack, glancing out at Mike.

”Ho,” cried Harry, ”who ever heard of a pretty bulldog? We don't want 'em pretty. Mike's just like a bulldog ought to be, thick-set, muscular, with wide chest, elbows set far apart, and undershot jaw.

See?”

It sounded very much as though he were reading it out of a book, and the other boys were much impressed. Ernest found himself wondering where Harry had picked up his dog lore.

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