So from this time there was a van-dog as well as a van-boy; three
"mates" travelling in the cart between Roydon and London--Joshua, Tim,
and Moses, for after much consideration that was the name given to the
dog.
It was wonderful to see how, after a few weeks of food and kindness, he
"plucked up a spirit," as Joshua said. His whole aspect altered, for he
now held his ears and tail valiantly erect, and quite a martial gleam
appeared in his eye. He still, it is true, limped about on three legs,
which is never a dignified attitude for a dog, but he already began to
acquire distinct views concerning the parcels and the cart, and was
ready to defend them, with hair bristling, and lips fiercely drawn back
from glistening white teeth.
"Not a beauty," Joshua had said, and decidedly a mongrel according to
the landlord. Nobody could doubt that; but to Tim's eyes Moses wanted
no attractions, he was perfect. Many and many a confidence was poured
into his small, upright, attentive ear, as the two sat so close together
at the back of the cart; Tim never considered whether he understood or
not, but it was such a comfort to tell him about things. The cold
nights were comparatively easy to bear, now that he could put his arm
round Moses' hairy form and feel that he was warm and comfortable; meals
became more interesting though slighter than they used to be, now that
they must be shared by Moses, who watched every morsel with bright
expectant eyes. Then he must be taught, and this was not difficult, for
ready intelligence and eager affection made him a good scholar; all he
wanted was to know what was really required of him. This once
understood and successfully performed, what an ecstasy of delight
followed on the part of both master and pupil, shown by the former in
caresses, and by the latter in excited barks, and short quick rushes
among the parcels.
As his education proceeded he learnt to distinguish all the different
sounds of Tim's voice, and would sit on guard for any length of time if
once told to do so. When on duty in this way, a more conscientious dog
could not have been found, for not even the urgent temptation of a
cat-chase could lure him from his post--although, sometimes, a short cry
of anguish would be wrung from him at being obliged to forego such a
pleasure.
Joshua he regarded with a distant respect, Tim with intense affection,
and the landlord of the Magpie and Stump with ill-concealed growls of
aversion, though the latter tried to ingratiate himself by savoury
offerings of food. Moses would walk stiffly away from him with his tail
held very high, and the landlord would laugh sarcastically. "You're a
nice sample, you are," he would say, "and as ugly a mongrel as ever I
see--"
As time went on, Tim began to place great reliance on the dog's
trustworthiness, and to look upon him as quite equal to another boy. He
knew that he had only to hold up his ringer and say, "Watch, Moses!" and
the dog's vigilant attention was secure; trusting in this, therefore, he
felt it by no means so necessary as formerly to be very watchful
himself, and began to take life much more easily. In the evening, when
Joshua stopped to deliver a parcel, Tim would rouse himself from a
comfortable nap, and just murmur, "Watch, Moses!" then woe to anyone who
ventured too near Moses and his property.
Now this division of labour, or rather this shifting of responsibility
on to another's shoulders, had its bad results, for while the dog
improved every day in sharpness and conscientious performance of duty,
the boy did the opposite. Tim became somewhat careless and lazy, and
though Joshua knew nothing of it, he did not really fill his post half
so well as before the dog came; he allowed things to get slack. Now,
whether one is a van-boy or a lord-chancellor this is bad, for slackness
leads to neglect, and neglect to worse things. You shall hear what
happened in Tim's case.
One evening the carrier's cart was standing in a little back street in
the Borough waiting for Joshua; he had matters to settle, he told Tim,
which might take him an hour or more, and he added:
"Look alive, now, for it's a nasty neighbourhood to be standing about
in, and there's some smallish parcels in the cart easy made off with.
Don't you let your eye off 'em."
Tim promised, and, taking his seat on the edge of the cart with his legs
swinging, whistled to Moses, who was examining the neighbourhood in an
interested manner; he at once jumped up beside his master and assumed a
gravely watchful and responsible air.
It was not an amusing street, but poor and squalid, full of small
lodging-houses, and little dingy shops; very few people were about, and
in spite of Joshua's warning no one seemed even to notice the carrier's
cart.
Presently there walked slowly by, whistling carelessly, a boy about
Tim's own age; he was quite respectably, though poorly dressed, and wore
his cap very much on one side with an air of smartness which Tim thought
becoming. He stopped and looked at the boy and the dog, and they looked
at him, Moses ready to be suspicious, and Tim to be conversational if
required.
For some minutes the group remained in silent contemplation, then the
new-comer said inquiringly:
"Fer dog?"
"Ah," said Tim, nodding his head.
"Up to snuff, ain't he?" said the other boy.
Tim nodded again, this time in a more friendly manner.
"Wot's his name?"
"Moses."
"Yer give it him?"
"Ah."
"Where's yer boss?" (meaning master).
"Yonder," with a backward movement of the head.
The boy leant his back against a lamp-post near, and seemed in no hurry
to pursue his journey; Tim was not sorry, for a little conversation
beguiled the time, and his remark about Moses showed this to be an
intelligent and discerning youth.
"Wot can he do?" he asked presently, still with his eye on the dog.
Tim ran through a list of Moses' acquirements eagerly, and finished up
with: "And he can watch the parcels as well as a Christian--he wouldn't
let no one but me or Joshua come nigh 'em, not for anything."
"Wouldn't he now?" said the boy admiringly.
"You try," suggested Tim, anxious to show off Moses' talents.
The stranger came a little nearer, and stretched out his hand as if to
touch one of the parcels; he quickly withdrew it, however, for Moses'
bristling mane and angry growl were sufficient warnings of his further
intentions. Both boys laughed, Tim triumphantly, and he patted the dog
with an air of proud proprietorship.
"There's a Punch and Judy playin' in the next street," remarked the
stranger, "and they've got a dorg some'at like yours, he's a clever un
he is--wouldn't you like to see him?"
"I've seen 'em--scores o' times," said Tim loftily.
"Not such a good un as this, I lay. You come and see. It wouldn't take
you not two minutes, and your dog'll watch the things."
"No," said Tim very quickly and decidedly, "I can't leave the cart."
"You don't trust the dog much, then. You've bin humbuggin' about him, I
bet."
"That I haven't," said Tim angrily, "I could trust him not to stir for
hours."
"I should just like to see yer," sneered the boy--"I don't b'lieve yer
dare leave 'im a minute. Well, I wouldn't keep a stupid cur like that!"
The taunt was more than Tim could bear. He knew that Moses would come
triumphantly out of the ordeal, and besides, he would really like to go
and see the clever Punch's dog in the next street; Joshua was safe for
another half-hour, and the place looked so quiet and deserted. It must
be safe. He would go.
He jumped down from the cart, and spoke to Moses in a certain voice:
"Watch, Moses!" he said, pointing to the parcels.
The dog looked wistfully at his master, as though suspecting something
wrong or unusual, but he did not attempt to follow him; he lay down with
his nose between his paws, his short ears pricked, and his bright eyes
keenly observant. Then the two boys set off running down the street
together, and were soon out of his sight.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Half an hour later, Joshua, his business over, turned into the street
where he had left his cart. There it stood still, with the horses'
heads turned towards him; but what was that choking savage growl which
met his ear? Surely that was Moses' voice, though strangely stifled.
With a hoarsely muttered oath Joshua quickened his pace to a run,
stretched out his powerful arm, and seized hold of a boy about Tim's
size, who, with several parcels in his arms, was trying in vain to
escape. In vain--because, hanging fast on to one leg, with resolute
grip and starting fiery eyes, was the faithful Moses. Every separate
hair of his rough coat bristled with excitement and rage, his head was
bleeding from a wound made by a kick or a blow, and he uttered all the
time the half-strangled growls which Joshua had heard.
And where was Tim? Oh, sad falling off! Tim had deserted his post; he
had proved less faithful than the dog Moses.
When a few minutes later he came hurrying back breathless, there were no
traces of what had happened, except on Joshua's enraged red countenance
and Moses' bleeding head. The strange boy, who had so easily beguiled
him, had been quickly handed over to a policeman. And there were no
parcels missing--thanks to Moses, but not, alas, to Tim.
Disgraced and miserable, he stood before the angry Joshua, silent in the
midst of a torrent of wrathful words. He deserved every one of them.
Instant dismissal without a character was all he had to expect, and he
waited trembling for his fate. But, behold, an unlooked-for
intercessor! Moses, seeing Joshua's threatening attitude and his dear
master's downcast face, drew near to help him, and, as was his custom,
stood up and put his paw on the boy's arm. Joshua looked at the dog;
his silent presence pleaded eloquently in Tim's favour, and the angry
tone was involuntarily softened.
"If ever a boy deserved the sack, it's you," he said; "and, as sure as
my name's Joshua, you should have it if it wasn't for that dog o' yourn.
He's worth a score o' boys, that dog is, for he does his dooty, as well
as knows what it is."
Tim breathed again; he flung his arms round Moses' neck, who licked his
face eagerly.
"Give us another chance," he cried imploringly, "we'll both work so
hard, Moses and me, and I'll never leave the cart again. If you only
won't turn us off I'll work without wage ever so long, that I will."
"That, in course, you will," said Joshua grimly, yet relenting, "and
you'll get a jolly good thrashing besides. And if you're not turned off
you've got the dog to thank."
He got up into his seat as he spoke, and Tim crept thankfully in at the
back of the cart with Moses. He had, indeed, "got the dog to thank."
Moses had paid his debt of gratitude now; he and Tim were equal.
You will be glad to hear that Tim was not dismissed, and that he used
his other "chance" well, for no amount of sharp London boys could have
tempted him from his duty again. As for Moses, he was respected and
trusted by everyone on the road after this, and Joshua presented him
with a collar, whereon were inscribed his name and the date of the
memorable fray in which he acquitted himself so well. In spite of these
honours, however, all the love of his faithful heart continued to be
given to Tim; who, on his part, never forgot how it was and why it was
that he had "got the dog to thank."