ears bent forward. If he could have spoken--and he
looked as if he was speaking--he would be telling
him how glad he felt at savin' the old woman, and
how happy he was that they'd all three got clear.
My own collie used to talk to me like that--had
a kind of low whine when he'd get that way; tell
me about his sheep stuck in the snow, and the way
the--"

The first officer stopped, cleared his throat, shook
the ashes from his pipe and laid it on the table. After
a while he went on. His words came slower now, as
if they hurt him.

"When the captain got half-way down the ladder
I saw him stand still for a moment and look straight
tip into the dog's eyes. Then I heard him say:

"'Down, Bayard! Stay where you are.'

"The dog crouched and lay with his paws on the
edge of the rail. That's what he'd done all his life--
just obeyed orders without question. Again I saw
the captain stop. This time he slipped his hand into
his side-pocket, half drew out his revolver, put it
back again, and kept on his way down the ladder to
the boat.

"Then the captain's order rang out: