CHAPTER V BEN GETS A PLACE

mentbutBenlookedstraightinhiseyes,gaveascientificstroketotheiron-graynose,andutteredachirrupwhichmadetheearsprickupasifrecognizingafamiliarsound. "He'llnipye,ifyegobotherin'thatway.Leavehimalone,andattendtothecattleashishonortoldye,"commandedPat,whomadeagreatshowofrespecttowardDukeinpublic,andkickedhimbrutallyinprivate. "Iain'tafraid!Youwon'thurtme,willyou,oldfeller?Seetherenow!—heknowsI'mafriend,andtakestomerightoff,"saidBen,withanarmaroundDuke'sneck,andhisowncheekconfidinglylaidagainsttheanimal'sfortheintelligenteyesspoketohimasplainlyasthelittlewhinnywhichheunderstoodandacceptedasawelcome. TheSquiresawitallfromtheopenwindow,andsuspectingfromPat'sfacethattroublewasbrewing,calledout,— "LettheladharnessDuke,ifhecan.I'mgoingoutdirectly,andhemayaswelltrythatasanything." Benwasdelighted,andprovedhimselfsobriskandhandythattheroomychaisestoodatthedoorinasurprisinglyshorttime,withasmilinglittleostleratDuke'sheadwhentheSquirecameout. Hisaffectionforthehorsepleasedtheoldgentleman,andhisneatwayofharnessingsuitedaswellbutBengotnopraise,exceptanodandabrief"Allright,boy,"astheequipagewentcreakingandjoggingaway. FoursleekcowsfiledoutofthebarnyardwhenPatopenedthegate,andBendrovethemdowntheroadtoadistantpasturewheretheearlygrassawaitedtheireagercropping.Bytheschooltheywent,andtheboylookedpityinglyattheblack,brown,andyellowheadsbobbingpastthewindowsasaclasswentuptoreciteforitseemedahardthingtotheliberty-lovingladtobeshutuptheresomanyhoursonamorninglikethat. ButalittlebreezethatwasplayingtruantroundthestepsdidBenaservicewithoutknowingit,forasuddenpuffblewatornleaftohisfeet,andseeingapicturehetookitup.Itevidentlyhadfallenfromsomeill-usedhistory,forthepictureshowedsomequeershipsatanchor,someoddlydressedmenjustlanding,andacrowdofIndiansdancingaboutontheshore.Benspeltoutallhecouldabouttheseinterestingpersonages,butcouldnotdiscoverwhatitmeant,becauseinkevidentlyhaddelugedthepage,tothenewreader'sgreatdisappointment. "I'llaskthegirlsmaybetheywillknow,"saidBentohimselfas,afterlookingvainlyformorestrayleaves,hetrudgedon,enjoyingthebobolink'ssong,thewarmsunshine,andacomfortablesenseoffriendlinessandsafety,whichsoonsethimtowhistlingasgaylyasanyblackbirdinthemeadow.