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distinct growl。 The minister stopped。
We； and we alone； comprehended in a flash the whole situation。 The
Bible was nearly the size and shape of one of those soft clods of
sod which we were in the playful habit of launching at Bones when
he lay half…asleep in the sun； in order to see him cleverly evade
it。
We held our breath。 What was to be done？ But the opportunity
belonged to our leader； Jeff Briggsa confoundedly good…looking
fellow； with the golden mustache of a northern viking and the curls
of an Apollo。 Secure in his beauty and bland in his self…conceit；
he rose from the pew； and stepped before the chancel rails。
〃I would wait a moment； if I were you； sir；〃 he said； respectfully；
〃and you will see that he will go out quietly。〃
〃What is wrong？〃 whispered the minister in some concern。
〃He thinks you are going to heave that book at him； sir； without
giving him a fair show； as we do。〃
The minister looked perplexed； but remained motionless； with the
book in his hands。 Bones arose； walked halfway down the aisle； and
vanished like a yellow flash！
With this justification of his reputation； Bones disappeared for a
week。 At the end of that time we received a polite note from Judge
Preston； saying that the dog had become quite domiciled in their
house； and begged that the camp； without yielding up their valuable
PROPERTY in him； would allow him to remain at Spring Valley for an
indefinite time； that both the judge and his daughterwith whom
Bones was already an old friendwould be glad if the members of
the camp would visit their old favorite whenever they desired； to
assure themselves that he was well cared for。
I am afraid that the bait thus ingenuously thrown out had a good
deal to do with our ultimate yielding。 However； the reports of
those who visited Bones were wonderful and marvelous。 He was
residing there in state； lying on rugs in the drawing…room； coiled
up under the judicial desk in the judge's study； sleeping regularly
on the mat outside Miss Pinkey's bedroom door； or lazily snapping
at flies on the judge's lawn。
〃He's as yaller as ever；〃 said one of our informants； 〃but it don't
somehow seem to be the same back that we used to break clods over
in the old time； just to see him scoot out of the dust。〃
And now I must record a fact which I am aware all lovers of dogs
will indignantly deny； and which will be furiously bayed at by
every faithful hound since the days of Ulysses。 Bones not only
FORGOT； but absolutely CUT US！ Those who called upon the judge in
〃store clothes〃 he would perhaps casually notice； but he would
sniff at them as if detecting and resenting them under their
superficial exterior。 The rest he simply paid no attention to。
The more familiar term of 〃Bonesy〃formerly applied to him； as in
our rare moments of endearmentproduced no response。 This pained；
I think； some of the more youthful of us； but； through some strange
human weakness； it also increased the camp's respect for him。
Nevertheless； we spoke of him familiarly to strangers at the very
moment he ignored us。 I am afraid that we also took some pains to
point out that he was getting fat and unwieldy； and losing his
elasticity； implying covertly that his choice was a mistake and his
life a failure。
A year after； he died； in the odor of sanctity and respectability；
being found one morning coiled up and stiff on the mat outside Miss
Pinkey's door。 When the news was conveyed to us； we asked
permission； the camp being in a prosperous condition； to erect a
stone over his grave。 But when it came to the inscription we could
only think of the two words murmured to him by Miss Pinkey； which
we always believe effected his conversion：
〃GOOD Dog！〃