One day when the ship was at anchor in one of the ports on the western
coast of South America, a number of sheep were brought on board. Whether
Dennis regarded them as intruders, or not, I cannot say; but his
treatment of them was anything but kind.
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The poor sheep stood in great fear of him, and fled in alarm whenever he
made a charge at them. One by one they began to disappear; and, at last,
only one--a little fellow whom the sailors afterward named Billy--was
left.
He was greatly distressed when the last of his companions was taken
away, and ran bleating about the deck in search of him. To add to his
troubles, that dreadful bully Dennis, who had been watching him for some
time, was now coming towards him. He was frightened nearly to death.
What must have been his delight when he saw in Dennis's eyes a look of
pity, and heard his friendly grunt! I don't know what Dennis said; but I
do know, that, half an hour afterwards, Billy had forgotten all about
his troubles, and was lying down with his head resting in Dennis's fat
neck.
Even the rough sailors were pleased; and as they looked at Dennis, who
was fast asleep, they said, "Now that was a fine thing, and Dennis was
the pig to do it. He was willing to fight with a flock of sheep; but,
when it came to quarrelling with one little fellow, he was too noble for
that."
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Thenceforth Dennis and Billy were inseparable, and no pair ever agreed
better. There were times, however, when Dennis seemed a little vexed
with Billy, though he was always as kind as possible. I will tell you of
an instance.
Billy would always watch the crowd about Dennis, when the latter was
taking his bath, with a great deal of anxiety; and, if Dennis did not
appear very shortly, he would begin bleating loudly.
This would disgust Dennis immensely; but he couldn't bear to think that
Billy's feelings were hurt: so he would leave his nice bath, and push
his way through the men, until Billy could see him. Then he would return
to the pump, grunting in a manner that plainly showed his feelings.
He was certainly saying, "I do wish that sheep had a little more of the
pig about him. If I am out of his sight for a moment, he begins to cry,
and take on in such a manner, that I must show myself to him; and then I
have all the trouble of making the sailors pump again."
But the sailors only waited to make Dennis beg a little. They had no
idea of not pumping again. They were always pleased when he showed so
much good feeling for Billy; and generally he got a larger allowance of
water to pay for it.
I believe that Dennis was not living when the ship reached California.
That ever he became food for his sailor friends no one can imagine.
Therefore his fate must remain a mystery, unless some of my readers
happen to know one of the crew of "The Vanderbilt," and can learn from
him something on the subject.
If they can, there are many, no doubt, who would be glad to hear from
them in the pages of "The Nursery." My little girls would, at least.
But, probably, Dennis has more of a place in their thoughts than he can
have in those of others.