Chum，IguessGoddidarealday’sworkwhenHebuiltyou。
I——I——Letitgoatthat。OnlyIain’tforgettin’。NoryetIain’tli’bletoforget。Comeonhome。I’ma—gittin’thechatters!\"
Hehadbeenstrokingtheoddlyunresponsivedog’sheadashespoke。Now，forthefirsttime，Linkrealizedthatthenightwascool，thathisdrenchedclotheswerelikeiceonhim，andthatthecoldandtheshockreactionweregivinghimasharpcongestivechill。Walkingfasttorestorecirculationtohisnumbedbodyhemadeoffforhisdistantfarmhouse，Chumpatteringalongathisheels。
Therapidwalksethimintoaglow。Butbythetimehehadreachedhomeandhadstrippedoffhiswetclothesandswathedhimselfinaroughblanket，hisrackednervesreassertedthemselves。Hecravedadrink——anumberofdrinks——torestorehiswontedpoise。Lightingthekitchenlamp，hesetthewhiskybottleonthetableandputathicktumbleralongsideit。Chumwaslyingathismaster’sfeet。InfrontofFerriswasapintofgoodcheer。Thelamplightmadethekitchenbrightandcozy。Linkfeltasenseofutterwell—beingpervadehim。
Thiswashome——thiswastherealthing。Threesuccessiveandman—sizedrinksofwhiskypresentlymadeitseemmoreandmoretherealthing。Theymadeallthingsseempossible，andmostthingshighlydesirable。Linkwantedtosing。Andaftertwoadditionaldrinkshegratifiedthistastebyliftinghisvoiceinahiccup—punctuateddittyaddressedtooneJenny，whomthesingerexhortedtowaittillthecloudsrolledby。
HewasfollowingthisappealbyarurallyricwhichrecitedinsomewhatwearisometonalmonotonytheadventuresofaLittleBlackBullthatcameOvertheMountain，whenheobservedthatChumwasnolongerlyingathisfeet。Indeed，thedogwasinafarcorneroftheroom，pressedclosetotheclosedouterdoor，andwithcrestandruffa—droop。
Puzzledbyhispet’sdefection，LinkimperiouslycommandedChumtoreturntohisformerplace。Thecollie，inmostunwillingobedience，turnedaboutandcameslowlytowardthedrinker。
EverylineofChum’ssplendidbodytoldofreluctancetoapproachhismaster。Thedeep—set，darkeyeswereeloquentofafrighteneddisgust。HelookedatFerrisasatsomeloathelystranger。Thegladlightofloyalty，whichalwayshadtransfiguredhisvisagewhenLinkcalledtohim，waswoefullylacking。DrunkashewasFerriscouldnothelpnoticingthechange。Andhemarveledatit。
\"Whassermatter？\"bedemandedtruculently。\"Whatailsyer？C’mhere，I’mtellin’you!\"
Hestretchedouthishandinroughcaresstotheslowlyapproachingcollie。Chumshrankbackfromthetouchasachildfromadoseofcastoroil。Therewasnofearnowinhisaspect。
Onlydisgustandapoignantunhappiness。
And，allsuddenly，LinkFerrisunderstood。
Hehimselfdidnotknowhowtheknowledgecametohim。Acaninepsychologistmightperhapshavetoldhimthatthereisalwaysanocculttelepathybetweenthemindofathoroughbreddoganditsmaster，apowerwhichgivesthemaglimpseintoeachother’sprocessesofthought。Buttherewasnosuchpsychologisttheretoexplainthething。NordidLinkneeditexplained。Itwasenoughforhimthatheknew。
Heknew，asbyrevelation，thathisadoringdognowshunnedhimbecauseLinkwasdrunk。
Fromthefirst，Chum’slookofutterworshipandhiseagerlyhappyobediencehadbeenajoytoLink。Thesubtlycompletechangeinhisworshiper’sdemeanorjarredsharplyontheman’srawnerves。Hefeltvaguelyunclean——shamed。
ThecontemptofsuchofhispioushumanneighborsashadpassedhimintheroadduringhisspreeshadaffectedLinknotatall。
Nornowcouldheunderstandthequeerfeelingofhumiliationthatsweptoverhimatsightofthehorrifiedrepugnanceintheeyesofthismerebrutebeast。Itrousedhimtoagustofhotvexation。
\"Shamedofme，areyou？\"hegruntedfiercely。\"Adirtyfour—leggedcritter’s’shamedofahe—man，hey？Well，we’lllickthatoutofyou，dam’soon!\"
Lurchingtohisfeet，hesnatchedupabroomhandle。Hewaveditmenacinglyoverthedog。Chumgavebacknotaninch。Underthethreatofabeatinghestoodhisground，hisbraveeyessteadfast，and，lurkingintheirmysticdepths，thatsameglintofsorrowfulwonderanddisgust。
Upwhirledthebroomstick。Butwhenitfellitdidnotsmiteathwarttheshouldersofthesorrowingdog。Instead，itclatteredharmlesslytotheboardfloor。AndtotheflooralsoslumpedLinkFerris，hisnerveallgone，hisheartsoggywithsuddenremorse。
Tohiskneesthuddedtheman，closebesidethecollie。FromLink’sthroatwereburstinggreatstrangledsobswhichtorturedhiswholebodyandmadehisspeechatangledjumblethatwasnotprettytohear。
\"Chum!\"hewailedbrokenly，clutchingthedog’shugeruffinbothshakyhands。\"Chum，oldfriend!Gawdforgiveme!Yousavedmefromdrowndin’an’fromgoin’broke，thisnight!YoubeentheonlyfriendthatevercaredahangifIwasaliveordead!
An’——an’Iwasgoin’tolickyou!Iwasgoin’tolambasteyou。
BecauseIwasabeastlierbeastthanYOUbe。Iwasgoin’todoitbecauseyouwassomuchbetterthanmethatyouwasmadesickbymybein’ahawg。An’Iwasmadatyouferit。I’m——oh，I’mshamederthanyouare!Chum!HonesttoGawd，Iam!Won’tyoumakefriendsagain？PLEASE，Chum!\"
Now，ofcourse，thiswasamostridiculousandmaudlinwaytotalk。Moreover，nomanbelongsonhiskneesbesideadog，eventhoughthemanbeasotandthedogathoroughbred。InhiscalmermomentsLinkFerriswouldhaveknownthis。Ahigh—bredcollie，too，hasnouseforsloppyemotion，butshunsitsexhibitionwell—nighasdisgustedlyasheshunsadrunkard。
Yet，forsomeillogicalreason，Chumdidnotseektowithdrawhisaristocraticselffromtheshiveringclutchoftherepentantsouse。Instead，theexpressionofmiseryandrepugnancefledasifbymagicfromhisbroodingeyes。Intotheminitsplaceleapedalightofkeensolicitude。Hepressedclosertotheswayinglykneelingman，andwithupthrustmuzzlesoughttokisstheblubberingface。
Thewhiskyreekwasasstrongasever。ButsomethinginChum’ssoulwasstronger。HeseemedtoknowthatthemaudlinUnknownhadvanished，andthathisdearmasterwasbackagain——hisdearmasterwhowasingrievoustroubleandwhomustbecomforted。
Wherefore，thesickeningliquorfumesnolongerheldhimalooffromLink。Justastheicylakehadnotdeterredhimfromspringingintothewaterafterhisdrowninggod，although，likemostcollies，Chumhatedtoswim。
Link，throughhisownnervouscollapse，recognizedtheinstantchangeinChum’sdemeanor，andreaditaright。Itstrengthenedtheoldbondbetweenhimselfandthedog。Itsomehowgavehimalessscornfulopinionofhimself。
Presentlyhegottohisfeet，andwiththecollieathissidewentbacktothetable，wherestoodthethreeparts—emptyflask。
Hisfaceworking，Linkopenedthewindowandpouredwhatwasleftofthewhiskyoutontheground。Therewasnothingdramaticabouthisaction。Ratheritwastingedbyveryvisibleregret。TurningbacktoChum，hesaidsheepishly：
\"Thereitgoes。An’Iain’tsayin’I’mtickledatwastin’suchgoodstuff。But——somehowIguesswe’vecometoashowdown，Chum；
youan’me。IfIsticktobooze，I’mli’bletoseeyoulookingatmethatqueerwayan’sidlin’awayfrommeallthetime；tillmaybeatlastyou’dgetplumbsickofmeforkeeps，an’lightout。An’——I’dratherhaveYOUthanthebooze，sinceIcan’thavebothofyou。Bein’onlyadawgandneverhavin’tastedgoodredliquor，youcan’tknowwhatabigbouquetI’ma—throwin’atyouwhenIsaythat，neither。I——Oh，let’scallitadayandgotosleep。\"
Nextmorning，inthecourseofnature，LinkFerrisworkedwithasplittingheadache。Hecarrieditandabadtasteinhismouth，forthebestpartoftheday。
Butitwasthelastdrinkheadachewhichmarredhislabor，allthatlongandhappysummer。Hisworkshowedtheresultsofthechange。Sodidthemeagerhillfarm。SodidLink’ssystemandhispocketbook。
Ashewasareal，livehumanandnotatemperancetracthero，thereweretimeswhenhegirdedbitterlyathisself—enforcedabstinence。Whereweretimes，too——whenhehadatouchofmalariaandagainwhenthecutwormsslaughteredtworowsofhisearlytomatoes——whenheyearnedunspeakablyforthesolaceofaneveningattheHamptontavern。
Hehadneverbeenanaturaldrinker。Likemanyabettermanhehaddrunklessforwhathesoughttogetthanforwhathesoughttoforget。Andwiththedepartureoflonelinessandthenewinterestinhishome，hefeltlesstheneedforwetconvivialityandfordrugginghisfitsofmelancholy。
ThememoryofChum’sgrievingrepulsionsomehowstuckinFerris’smind。Anditservedasabrake，morethanonce，tohistavernwardimpulses。Twoorthreetimes，also，whenLink’sbabyishgustsofdestructivebadtemperboiledtothesurfaceatsomesetbackorannoyance，muchthesamewonderinglydistressedlookwouldcreepintothecollie’sglance——alookasofonewhoisrevoltedbyadearfriend’sfailuretoplayuptoform。Andtohisownamusedsurprise，Ferrisfoundhimselftryingtocurbtheseoutbursts。
Totheaveragehuman，adogisonlyadog。ToFerris，thiscollieofhiswastheoneintimatefriendofhislife。Unversedinthewaysofdogs，heoverestimatedChum，ofcourse，andvaluedhissocietyandhisgoodopinionfarmorehighlythantheaveragemanwouldhavedone。Thus，perhaps，hisdesiretostandwellinthedog’sesteemhadinitmorethatwascommendablethanludicrous。
Orperhapsnot。
IfthestrangeassociationdidmuchforLink，itdidinfinitelymoreforChum。Hehadfoundamasterwhohadnosocialinterestsinlifebeyondhisdog，andwhocouldanddiddevoteallhisscantleisurehourstoassociationwiththatdog。Chum’ssagacityandindividualityblossomedundersuchintensivetutelage，asmightthatofacleverchildwhoisthesolepupilofitsteacher。
Linkdidnotseektomakeatrickdogofhispet。HetaughtChumtoshakehands，toliedown，to\"speak\"andoneortwomoresimpleaccomplishments。Itwasbytalkingconstantlytothecollie，astoafellowhuman，thathebroadenedthedog’sintelligence。ChumgrewtoknowandtointerpreteveryinflectionofFerris’svoice，everysimplewordhespokeandeverygestureofhis。
Apartfrommeregoodfellowshipthedogwasprovingofgreatuseonthefarm。Morningandnight，Chumdrovethesheepandthecattletotheirrespectivepasturesandthenbacktothebarnyardatnight。Attheentrancestothepastures，now，Ferrishadriggeduprudegateswith\"barcatch\"fastenings——simplecontrivanceswhichclosedbygravityandwhosebarsthedogwasreadilytaughttoshoveupwardwithhisnose。
ItwasthusamatterofonlyafewdaystoteachChumtoopenorclosethelightgates。Thistrickhasbeentaughttocountlesscollies，ofcourse，inGreatBritain，andtomanyhere。ButLinkdidnotknowthat。HefeltlikeanotherColumbusorEdison，athisowngeniusindevisingsuchascheme；andhefeltaninordinateprideinChumforlearningthesimpleexploitsoquickly。
Ofold，Linkhadfrettedatthewasteoftimeintakingoutthesheepandcowsandingoingforthematnight。Thisdualdutywasnowathingofthepast。Chumdidtheworkforhim，andreveledintheexcitementofit。Chumalso——fromwatchingLinkperformthetasktwice——hadlearnedtodrivethechickensoutofthegardenpatcheswheneveranyofthemchancedtostraythither，andtoscurryintothecornfieldwithharrowingbarksofejectionwhenaflockofcrowshoveredhungrilyabovethenewly—plantedcrops。
AllofwhichwascontinualamusementtoChum，andatremendoushelptohisowner。
Link，gettingoverhisinitialwonderatthedog’sprogress，begantotaketheseaccomplishmentsasamatterofcourse。
Indeed，hewassometimesperplexedattheotherwisesagaciousdog’slimitationsofbrain。
Forexample，Chumlovedthefireonthechillyeveningssuchascreepoverthemountainregioneveninmidsummer。HewouldwatchLinkreplenishtheblazewithfreshstickswheneveritsanklow。
Yet，lefttohimself，hewouldletthefiregoout，andheneverknewenoughtopickupastickinhismouthandlayitontheembers。ThislackofreasoningpowersinhispetperplexedFerris。
LinkcouldnotunderstandwhythesamewitwhichsentChumhalfamile，ofhisownaccord，insearchofonemissingsheepoutoftheentireflock，shouldnottellhimthatafireiskeptalivebytheputtingofwoodonit。
Insearchofsomebetterauthorityondogintelligence，LinkpaidhisfirstvisittoHampton’slittlepubliclibrary。There，shamefacedly，heaskedtheboyinchargeforsomebooksaboutdogs。Theyouthlookedidlyforafewminutesinacrossindexfile。Thenhebroughtforthatomecalled\"TheDoubleGarden，\"
writtenbysomeonewhowasevidentlyanEyetalianorPolackorotherforeigner，becauseheborethegrievouslyun—Americannameof\"Maeterlinck\"。
\"ThisisallIcanfindaboutdogs，\"explainedtheboy，passingthelinen—jacketedlittlevolumeacrossthecountertoLink。
\"Firststoryinitisanessayon’OurFriend，theDog，’theindexsays。Wantit？\"
Thatevening，byhiskitchenlamp，FerrisreadlaboriouslytheBelgianphilosopher’sdogessay。Hereaditaloud——ashehadtakentothinkingaloud——forChum’sbenefit。Andthereweremanypartsoftheimmortalessayfromwhichthemangleanednomoresensethandidthecollie。
ItbeganwithapromisingaccountofapuppynamedPelleas。Butmidwayitbranchedoffintosomethingelse。SomethingLinkcouldnotmakeheadnortailof。Then，onsecondreading，bitsofMaeterlinck’smeaning，hereandthere，seepedintoFerris’sbewilderedlygropingintellect。
Helearned，amongotherthings，thatManisallaloneonearth；
thatmostanimalsdon’tknowheishere，andthattherestofthemhavenouseforhim。Thatevenflowersandcropswilldeserthimandrunagaintowildness，ifManturnshisbackonthemforaminute。Sowillhishorse，hiscowandhissheep。Theygraftonhimforaliving，andtheyhateorignorehim。
Thedogalone，Linkspelledout，haspiercedthevastbarrierbetweenhumansandotherbeasts，andhasrangedhimself，willinglyandjoyously，onthesideofMan。ForMan’ssakethedogwillnotonlystarveandsufferandlaydownhislife，butwillbetrayhisfellowquadrupeds。Manisthedog’sgod。Andthedogistheonlylivingmortalthathastheprivilegeoflookinguponthefaceofhisdeity。
Allofwhichwasdoubtlessveryinteresting，andpartofwhichthrilledFerris，butnoneofwhichenlightenedhimastoadog’suncannywisdomincertainthingsandhisblankstupidityinothers。NextdayLinkreturnedthebooktothelibrary，nowiserthanbefore，albeitwithahigherappreciationofhisowngoodluckinbeingthegodofonesplendiddoglikeChum。
JulyhaddrowsedintoAugust，andAugustwasburningitssultrywaytowardSeptember。Link’squarterlycheckfromthePatersonMarketarrived。AndFerriswentasusualtotheHamptonstoretogetitcashed。Thistinehestoodinlessdireneedofmoney’slife—savingqualitiesthanofyore。IthadbeenagoodsummerforLink。Theliquoroutofhissystemandwithanewinterestinlife，hehadworkedwithasnapandvigorwhichhadbroughtresultsinhardcash。
Nonetheless，hewasgladforthischeck。Inanothermonththeannualinterest。onhisfarmmortgagewouldfalldue。Andthemeetingofthatpaymentwasalwaysaproblem。Thisyearhewouldbelesscruellyharassedbyitthanbefore。
Yet，allthemore，hedesiredextramoney。Forastartlinglyoriginalambitionhadawakenedrecentlyinhisheart——namely，topayoffalittleofthemortgage’sprincipalalongwiththeinterest。
Atfirsttheideahadstaggeredhim。ButtalkingitoverwithChumandstudyinghisthumbed—soiledledger，hehaddecidedtherewasabarechancehemightbeabletodoit。
Ashemountedthestepsofthestore，thiseveninginlateAugust，hesaw，tackedtothedoorsideclapboards，atrulygorgeousposter。Bythelightoftheflickeringlampoverthedoor，hediscernedthevividscarletheadofadogintheuppercorneroftheyellowplacard，andmuchdisplaytypebelowit。
ItwasthepictureofthedogwhichcheckedLinkinpassing。Itwasafancyhead——theheadofastatelyandlongmuzzleddogwitharuffandwithtulipears。Inshort，justsuchadogasChum。
NotknowingthatChumwasacollieandthatposterartistsrejoicetodepictcollies，byreasonofthelatter’sdecorativequalities，Ferriswasamazedbythecoincidence。
Afteralongandcriticalsurveyofthepicture，hewasmovedtorunhiseyeovertheflaringreadingmatter。
Theposterannounced，toallandsundry，thatonLaborDayamammothdogshowwastobeheldinthecountryclubgroundsatCraigswold——ashowforthebenefitoftheRedCross。Entriesweretobeonedollarforeachclass。\"Thankstogenerouscontributions，thecommitteewasenabledtoofferprizesofunusualbeautyandvalue，inadditiontothecustomaryribbons。\"
Followedalistofcupsandmedals。Linkscannedthemwithnogreatinterest，Butsuddenlyhisrovinggazecametoanastonishedstandstill。Atthebottomoftheposter，inforty—eight—pointbold—facetype，ranthefollowingproclamation：
COL。CYRUSMARDEN
OFCRAIGSWOLDMANOR
OFFERSACASHAWARDOF
ONEHUNDREDDOLLARS（$100）TOTHE
BESTDOGOFANYBREEDEXHIBITED
Onehundreddollars!
Linkrereadtheglitteringsentenceuntilhecouldhavesaiditbackward。Itwouldhavebeenapatentliehadhehearditbywordofmouth。Butasitwasinprint，ofcourseitwastrue。
Onehundreddollars!Andasaprizeforthefinestdogintheshow。NottoBUYthedog，mindyou。Justasagifttothemanwhohappenedtoownthebestdog。Itdidnotseempossible。Yet——
LinkknewbyhearsayandbyobservationthewaysoftherichcolonyatCraigswold。HeknewtheCraigswoldersspentmoneylikemud，whenitsopleasedthem——althoughmorethanonefellowhucksterwasattimessoreputtoittocollectfromthemabillforfreshvegetables。
Yes，andheknewCol。CyrusMardenbysight，too。Hewasalong—facedlittlemanwhousedtogoaboutdressedinfunnykneepantsandwithaleatherbagofmisshapenclubsoverhisshoulder。Linkhadseenhimagainandagain。HehadseentheColonel’senormoushouseatCraigswoldManor，too。HehadnodoubtMardencouldaffordthisgiftofahundreddollars。
\"TOTHEBESTDOGOFANYBREED!\"
Ferrisknewnothingaboutthevariousbreedsofdogs。ButhedidknowthatChumwasbyfarthebestandmostbeautifulandthewisestdogeverborn。IfMardenwereofferingahundreddollarprizeforthebestdog，therewasnotanotherdogonearthfittocompetewithChum。Thatwasacinch。
Asforthehundreddollars——why，itwouldbeagodsendonthemortgagepayment!Everycentofitcouldgotowardtheprincipal。
ThatmeantFerriscoulddevotetheextrafewdollarshehadalreadysavedfortheprincipaltothebuyingoffertilizersandseveralsorely—neededutensilsandtotheshinglingofthehouse。
Avidformorenewsoftheoffer，heenteredthestoreandhuntedupthepostmaster，whoalsochancedtobethestore’sproprietorandthemayorofHamptonandthelocalpeacejustice。OfthisPooh—BahtheinquiringFerrissoughtfordetails。
\"SomeoftheRedCrossladiesfromupCraigswoldwaywereherethismorning，tohavemenailthatsignonthestore，\"reportedthepostmaster。\"They’remakingatourofallthetownshereabouts。Theyaskedmetotrytoint’restfolksatHamptonintheirshow，too，andgetthemtomakeentries。Theyleftmeabunchofblanks。Wantone？\"
\"Yep，\"saidLink。\"IguessI’lltakeoneifitdon’tcostnothin’，please。\"
Hestudiedtheprofferedentryblankwithtotallyuncomprehendinggaze。Thepostmastercametohisrelief。
\"Letmeshowyou，\"hesuggested，takingpityonhiscustomer’swrinkledbrowandsquintinghelplessness。\"I’vehadsomeexperienceinthisfolderol。ItookmyAiredaleovertotheRidgewoodshowlastspringandgotathirdwithhim。I’mgoingtotakehimuptoCraigswoldonLaborDay，too。Whatkindofdogisyours？\"
\"Thedandiestdawgthateverstoodonfourlegs，\"answeredLink，afirewiththezealofownership。\"Why，thatdawgofminec’n——\"
\"Whatbreedishe？\"askedthepostmaster，notinterestedinthedawningrhapsody。
\"Oh——breed？\"repeatedLink。\"Why，Idon’trightlyknow。Somekindofabirddawg，Iguess。Yes。Abirddawg。Buthe’ssurethegrandest——\"
\"Ishethedogyouhaddownhere，onedaylastmonth？\"askedthepostmaster，withagleamofrecollection。
\"Yep。That’shim，\"assentedLink。\"OnlydawgI’vegot。OnlydawgIeverhad。OnlydawgIeverwanttohave。He’s——\"
Butthepostmasterwasnotattending。Histimewaslimited。So，takingoutafountainpen，hehadbeguntoscribbleontheblank。
FillinginLink’snameandaddress，hewrote，inthe\"breedandsex\"spaces，thewords，\"Scotchcollie，sable—and—white，male。\"
\"Name？\"hequeried，breakinginonFerris’sramblingeulogy。
\"Huh？\"askedthesurprisedLink，adding：\"Oh，hisname，hey？I
callhim’Chum。’Yousee，thatdawg’smorelikeachumtomethan——\"
\"Nouseaskingabouthispedigree，Isuppose，\"resumedthepostmaster，\"Imeanwhohisparentswereand——\"
\"Nope，\"saidLink。\"I——Ifoundhim。Hislegwas——\"
\"Pedigreeunknown，\"wrotethepostmaster；then，\"Whatclassesareyouenteringhimfor？\"
\"Classes？\"repeatedLinkdully。\"Why，Ijustwanttoputhimintothatcontestfor’bestdawg，’yousee。He——\"
\"Holdon!\"interposedthepostmasterimpatiently。\"Youdon’tcatchtheidea。Ineachbreedthereareacertainnumberofclasses：’Puppy，’’Novice，’’Limit，’’Open，’andsoon。Thedogsthatgetablueribbon——that’sfirstprize——intheseclassesallhavetoappearinwhatiscalledthe’WinnersClass。’Thenthedogthatgets’Winner’s’——thedogthatgetsfirstprizeinthis’Winners’Class’——competesforbestdogofhisbreedintheshow。
Afterthat——asa’special’——thebestinallthedifferentbreedsarebroughtintothering。Andthedogthatwinsinthatfinalclassisadjudgedthe’bestintheshow。’He’sthedoginthisparticularshowthatwillgetColonelMarden’shundred—dollarcashprize。SeewhatImean？\"
\"Ye—es，\"repliedLink，afterdigestingcarefullywhathehadheard。\"Iguessso。But——\"
\"Sinceyou’venevershownyourdogbefore，\"wentonthepostmaster，beginningtowarmwithprofessionalinterest，\"youcanenterhiminthe’NoviceClass。’That’sgenerallytheeasiest。Ifhelosesinthat，noharm’sdone。Ifhewinshehasachancelaterinthe’Winners’Class。’I’mmailingmyentryto—nighttothecommittee。Ifyoulike，I’llsendyoursalongwithit。Givemeadollar。\"
WhileLinkextractedagreasydollarbillfromhispocket，thepostmasterfilledintheclassspacewiththeword\"Novice。\"
\"Thanksforhelpin’meout，\"saidFerris，gratefulforthelift。
\"That’sallright，\"returnedthepostmaster，pocketingthebillandfoldingtheblank，ashepreparedtoendtheinterviewbymovingaway。\"BesuretohaveyourdogatthegateleadingintotheCraigswoldCountryClubgroundspromptlyatteno’clockonLaborDay。Ifyoudon’tgetacardandatagsenttoyou，beforethen，tellyournametotheclerkatthetablethere，andhe’llgiveyouanumber。Tieyourdogtothestallwiththatnumberonit，andbesuretohavehimreadytogointotheringwhenhisnumberiscalled。That’sall。\"
\"Thanks!\"saidLink，again。\"An’nowIguessI’llgobackhomean’commencebrightenin’Chumup，aweepeckle，onhistricks。
MaybeI’llhavetimetolearnhimsomenewones，too。Iwanthimtomakeahitwiththemjudges，an’everything。\"
\"Tricks？\"scoffedthepostmaster，pausingashestartedtowalkaway。\"Dogsdon’tneedtricksintheshowring。Allyouhavetodoistoleadyourdogintothering，andparadehimroundwiththerestofthemtillthejudgetellsyoutostop。Thenhe’llmakethemstandontheshowplatformwhileheexaminesthem。Thedog’sonly’tricks’aretostandandwalkathisbest，andtolookalert，sothejudgecanseetheshapeofhisearsandgethisexpression。Teachyourdogtowalkaroundwithyou，ontheleash，withouthangingback，andtoprickuphisearsandstandatattentionwhenyoutellhimto。That’sallheneedstodo。Thejudgewilldotherest。Havehimcleanandwellbrushed，ofcourse。\"
\"I——Isurefeelbittersorryforthereotherdawgsattheshow!\"
mumbledLink。\"Ahundreddollars!Ofallthedawgsthateverhappened，Chummieisthatone!Why，thereain’tathinghecan’tdo，fromherdin’sheeptowinnin’awadofsoftmoney!An’——an’
he’sallMINE。\"
CHAPTERIII。TheOrdealBydawnonLaborDayLinkFerriswasastir。AseriesofdiscomfitingbathsandrepeatedcurryingwiththedandybrushhadmadeChum’sgrandcoatstandoutinshimmeringfluffiness。A
courseofcarefully—conductedcircularpromenadesontheendofachainhadtaughtthedogtowalkgailyandunrestrainedlyinleash。Andanyofseveralcrypticwords，relatingtohypotheticalrats，andsoforth，werequiteenoughtosenduphisears。
ItwassheerexcitementthatbroughtLinkbroadawakebeforesunriseonthatdayofdays。Ferriswasinfectedwiththemostvirulentformofthatweirdmaladyknownas\"dog—showitis。\"Atfirsthehadbeentemptedsolelybythehopeofwinningthehundred—dollarprize。Butlatterlytheurgeofvictoryhadgottenintohisblood。Andheyearned，too，tolettheworldseewhatamarvelousdogwashis。
Hehurriedthroughthemorningchores，thendressedhimselfinhisshabbybestandhitchedhishorsetotheantiquatedConcordbuggy——avehiclehehadbeenwashingforthestateoccasionalmostasvehementlyashehadscrubbedChum。
Afteragobbledbreakfast，Ferrismountedtotheseatoftheagedbuggy，signaledChumtoleaptothebatteredcushionathissideandsetoffforCraigswold。Longbeforeteno’clockhishorsewassafelystabledattheCraigswoldlivery，andFerriswasleadingChumproudlythroughthewicketgateleadingintothecountry—clubgrounds。
Allhappenedasthepostmasterhadforetold。Theclerkatthewicketaskedhimhisname，fumbledthroughaledgerandapileofenvelopesandpresentlyhandedFerrisanumberedtag。
\"Sixty—five，\"readtheclerkforLink’sbenefit。\"That’sdownattheextremeright。Almostthelastbenchtotheright。\"
IntothehallowedprecinctLinkpilotedthemuch—interestedChum。
Therehepausedforadazzledinstant。Theputtinggreenandthefore—lawninfrontofthefield—stoneclubhousehadbeencoveredwithamassofwoodenalleyways，eachlinedwithadoublerowofstallsabouttwofeetfromtheground，carpetedwithstrawandhavingindividualzincwatertroughsinfrontofthem。Innearlyeveryoneofthese\"benches\"wastiedadog。
ThereweremoredogsthanLinkFerrishadseenbeforeinallhisquasi—doglesslife。Andallofthemseemedtobebarkingoryelping。Thedinwasegregious。Alongthealleyways，menandwomeninsportclothesweredrifting，insurveyofthechainedexhibits。Inacentralspaceamongthelinesofbencheswasalargesquareenclosure，ropedoffexceptforoneaperture。Inthemiddleofthisspace，whichLinkrightlyguessedtobethejudgingring，stoodaverylowwoodenplatform。Atonesideoftheringwereachairandatable，wheresatastewardinaPalmBeachsuit，fussilyturningovertheleavesofaledgerandassortingaheapofhigh—packedandvari—coloredribbons。
Link，mindfulofinstructions，boretotherightinsearchofastalllabeled\"65。\"Ashewent，henotedthatthedogswerebenchedinsuchawaythateachbreedhadasectiontoitself。
Thus，whilehewasstillsomedistanceawayfromhisdesignatedbench，hesawthathewascomingintoasectionofdogswhich，ingeneralaspect，resembledChum。Abovethisaggregation，asoverothers，hungaletteredsign。Andthisespecialsignread\"CollieSection。\"
SoChumwasa\"collie\"——whateverthatmightbe。Linktookittobeafancytermfor\"birddog。\"Hehadseenthewordbeforesomewhere。Andherememberednowthatithadbeenintheadvertisementthatofferedseventy—fivedollarsforthereturnofalost\"sable—and—whitecollie。\"Yes，andDominieJansenhadsaid，\"sable\"meant\"black。\"Linkfeltaglowofreliefthattheadvertisementhadnotsaid\"abrown—and—whitecollie。\"
Chumwasviewinghisnewsurroundingswithmuchattention，lookingupnowandthenintohismaster’sfaceastheymovedalongtheracketyline——asthoughtogainreassurancethatallwaswell。
Toahigh—strungandsensitivedogashowisaterrificordeal。
ButChum，likethearistocrathewas，boreitspreliminarieswithdebonaircalm。
ArrivingatBench65inthecolliesection，Linkenthronedhisdogthere，fasteningthechain’sfreeendtoaringinthestall’scorner。Then，afterseeingthatthewaterpanwaswhereChumcouldreachitincasehewerethirstyandthatthestrawmadeacomfortablecouchforhim，Ferrisoncemorepattedtheworrieddogandtoldhimeverythingwasallright。AfterwhichLinkproceededtotakeasurveyoftheneighboringcollies，thesixteendogswhichweretobeChum’scompetitors。
Hisfirstappraisingglanceofthedoublerowofcolliescausedthefurrowbetweenhiseyestovanishandbroughtagrinofcomplacentsatisfactiontohisthinlips。Forhedidnotseeasingleentrantthat，inhiseyes，seemedtohaveaghostofachanceagainsthisidolizedpet——notadogashandsomeorwithhalfthelookofintelligenceorwiththeproudlygaybearingofChum。
Ofthesixteenothercolliesthemajorityweresablesofdiversshades。Therewerethreetricolorsandtwomist—huedmerles。Overnearlyallthesection’soccupantsaswarmofownersandhandlerswerejustnowbusywithbrushandcloth。Forwordhadcomethatcolliesweretobethesecondbreedjudgedthatday。ThefirstbreedwastobetheGreatDanes。AstherewerebutthreeDanesintheshow，theirjudgingwouldbebrief。Anditbehoovedthecollies’attendantstohavetheirentriesready。
Link，followingtheexampleofthosearoundhim，tookfromhispocketthemoltingdandybrushandsettoworkoncemoreonChum’scoat。Heobservedthattherestwerebrushingtheirdogs’
furagainstthegrain，tomakeitfluffup。Andhereversedhisownformerprocessinimitationofthem。Hehadsupposeduntilnowthatacollie’shair，likeaman’s，oughttobeslickeddownsmoothforstateoccasions。AndittroubledhimtofindthatChum’scoatrebelledagainstsuchtreatment。Now，underthereverseprocess，itstoodoutinwavyfreedom。
Attheadjoiningstalltotheleftadecidedlyprettygirlwaswatchingagroomputthefinishingtouchestothetoiletofhertricolorcollie。Linkheardherexclaiminprotestasthegroomremovedfromthedog’scollarahugecerisebowshehadjustaffixedthere。
\"Sorry，Miss，\"Ferrisheardthegroomexplain，\"butit’saginrulesforadogtogointheringwitharibbonon。Ifthejudgethinkshe’sgoodenoughforaribbonhe’llawardhimone。But——\"
\"Oh，hesimplycan’thelpawardingonetoMorven，here!\"brokeinthegirl。\"CANhe，Stokes？\"
\"Hardtosay，Miss，\"answeredthegroomimperturbably，ashewroughtwithbrushandcloth。\"Judgeshastheirownideas。We’llhavetohopeforthebestforhimandnotbetoosickifhegetsgated。\"
\"Gated？\"echoedthegirl——anevidentnewcomertotherealmofshowdom。
\"Yes，Miss，\"expoundedthegroom。\"’Gated’means’shownthegate。’Somejudgesthinsoutaclassthatway，bysendingthepoorestdogsoutoftheringfirst。Thenagain，somejudges——\"
\"Oh，I’mgladIworethisdress!\"sighedthegirl。\"ItgoessowellwithMorven’scolor。Perhapsthejudge——\"
\"Excuseme，Miss，\"putinthegroom，tryingnottolaugh，\"butthecolliejudgeto—dayisFredLeightonhebredthegreatHowgillRival，youknow——andwhenLeightonisinthering，hehasn’tgoteyesforanythingbutthedogsthemselves。Beggingyourpardon，hewouldn’tnoticeifyouwastowearahorseblanket。Atthat，Leighton’sthesquarestandthebest——\"
\"Look!\"whisperedthegirl，whoseattentionhadwanderedandwhoserovinggazehadsettledonChum。\"Lookatthatdoginthenextbench。Isn’themagnificent？\"
Linkswelledwithprideatthelowspokenpraise。Andturningawaytohidehissatisfaction，hesawthatquiteasizableknotofspectatorshadgatheredinfrontofChum’sbench。Theywereinspectingthecolliewithmanifestapproval。Chum，embarrassedbytheunaccustomednotice，hadmovedasfaraspossiblefromhisadmirers，andwasnuzzlinghisheadintoFerris’shandforrefuge。
\"PuppyClass，MaleScotchCollies!\"dronedaringattendant，appearingforamomentatthefarendofthesection。Numbers60，61，62。\"
Threeyoungsters，ranginginagefromseventoelevenmonths，werecoaxeddownfromtheirstrawcouchesbythreeexcitedownersandwereconvoyedfussilytowardthering。
\"NoviceClassnext，Miss，\"Linkheardthegroomsayingtothegirlattheadjoiningbench。\"Gothisringleashready？\"
\"Ringleash!\"ThiswasanewonetoFerris。Hiseyesfollowedthetrioofpuppiesshufflingringward。Hesawthatallthreewereonleatherleashesandthattheirchainshadbeenleftinthestalls。Presumablytherewasalawagainstchainsinthering。
AndLinkhadnoleash。
Foraninstanthewasinaquandary。Thenhisbrowcleared。True，hehadnoleash。Yet，ifchains，likebowsofribbon，werebarredfromthering，hecouldmaneuverChumeverybitaswellwithhisvoiceaswithanyleash。Sothatproblemwassolved。
Aminutelater，thethreepupsreappearedattheendofthesection。Andbehindthemcametheattendant，intoning：
\"NoviceClass，MaleScotchCollies!Numbers64，65，66，67。\"
TherewasanabsurdthrobbinginLinkFerris’smeridian。HiscallousedhandsshookasheunchainedChumandmotionedhimtoleapfromthebenchtotheground。
Chumobeyed，butwithevidentuneasiness。Hisoddsurroundingsweregettingonthecollie’snerves。Linkbentoverhim，underpretenseofgivinghimafarewellrubwiththebrush。
\"It’sallright，Chummie!\"hecroonedsoothingly。\"It’sallRIGHT!I’mhere。An’nobody’sgoin’tobotheryounone。You’rea—helpin’mewinthathundred。An’you’relettin’thesegold—shirtfolksseewhataclam’gorgeousdawgyoube!Comealong，ol’friend!\"
Underthecomfortofhisgod’svoice，Chum’snervousnessfled。
Safeinhissublimetrustthathismasterwouldletnoharmbefallhim，thecollietrottedtowardtheringatFerris’sheels。
ThreeothernovicedogswerealreadyintheringwhenLinkarrivedatthenarrowopening。Thestewardwassittingatthetableasbefore。Atthecornerofthering，alongsidetheplatform，stoodamanintweeds，unlightedpipeinmouth，half—shutshrewdeyesstudyingthedogsastheyfiledinthroughthegapintheropes。TheinscrutableeyesflickeredeversolittleatsightofChum，butatonceresumedtheirformerdisinterestedgaze。
\"Walkclose!\"whisperedLinkastheparadestarted。
Chum，hearingacommandhehadlongsincelearned，rangedhimselfatFerris’ssideandpacedmajesticallyintheprocessionoffour。Twooftheothernovicedogswerestrainingattheirleashes；thethirdwashangingbackandpawingfranticallytobreakaway。Chum，unleashed，guidedonlybythevoice，dreweveryeyetohimbyhisrarebeautyandhisloftyself—possession。
Buthewasnotallowedtofinishtheparade。SteppinguptoFerris，JudgeLeightontappedhimonthearm。
\"Takeyourdogovertothatcorner，\"heordered，\"andkeephimthere。\"
Linkfoughtbackayearningtopunchthejudge，andsurlilyheobeyedthemandate。Intohismemoryjumpedthethingsthegroomhadsaidaboutadogbeing\"gated。\"IfthatjudgethoughtforonesecondthatanyofthosemuttscouldholdacandletoChum——。
Againheyearnedtoenforcewithhistwowillingfistshisopinionofthejudge。
But，ashewellknew，tostartafightinthisplutocraticassemblagewouldmeanajailterm。Andinsuchcase，whatwouldbefallthedesertedChum？Forthedog’ssakeherestrainedhimself，andhebegantoedgesurreptitiouslytowardtheringexit，withaviewtoslidingoutunperceivedwithhissplendid，underrateddog。
ButFerrisdidnotreachthegateunchecked。
JudgeLeightonhadendedtheparadeandhadstoodthethreedogs，onebyoneandthentwoatatime，ontheplatformwhilehestudiedthem。Thenhehadcrossedtothetableandpickedupthejudgingbookandfourribbons——oneblue，onered，oneyellowandonewhite。Threeoftheseribbonshehandedtothethreecontestants’handlers。
ThenhesteppedacrosstheringtowhereFerriswasedginghiswaytowardtheexit；andhandedLinktheremainingribbon。Itwasdarkblue，withgiltlettering。
LeightondidnotsomuchassubjectChumtothehandlingandcloseinspectionhehadlavishedonthethreeothers。Oneexpertglancehadtoldthejudgethatthedark—sablecollie，ledbythisloutishcountryman，wasbetterfittedtocleanupprizesatMadisonSquareGardenthantoappearinasocietydogshowintheNorthJerseyhinterland。
LeightonhadviewedChum，asaboredmusician，listeningtothepiano—anticsofdefectivechildren，mighthaveregardedtheplayingofadisguisedPaderewski。Wherefore，hehadwavedthedogtoonesidewhilehejudgedthelesserentrants，andthenhadgivenhimthemeritedfirst—prizeribbon。
Link，inadazeofbliss，stalkedbacktothebench；withChumcaperingalongathisside。ThequeersixthsenseofacollietoldChumhisgodwasdeliriouslyhappy，andthatChumhimselfhadsomehowhadashareinmakinghimso。Hencethedog’sformergloomypacingchangedtoaseriesofecstaticlittledancesteps，andhekeptthrustinghiscoldmuzzleintothecupofFerris’spalm。
AgainBench65wassurroundedbyanadmiringclumpofspectators。
ChumandLinkviedeachotherintheiricyaloofnesstowardtheseadmirers。Butwithadifference。
Chumwasunaffectedlybotheredbysomuchunwelcomeattentionfromstrangers。Ferris，ontheotherhand，reveledintheknowledgethathisbelovedpetwasthecenterofmoreadulationthanwasanyotherdoginallthesection。
Classafterclasswenttobejudged。LinkwassorryhehadnotspentmoremoneyandenteredChumineveryclass。Theinitialvictoryhadgonetohishead。Hehadnotknownhecouldbesoserenelyhappy。Afterawhile，hestartedupattheattendant’sdroningannouncementof，\"Winners’Class，MaleScotchCollies!Numbers62，65，68，70，73!\"
AgainLinkandChumsetoutforthering。Link’sgleehadmergedintoanall—consumingnervousness，comparableonlytoamaidenhunter’s\"buckague。\"Chum，oncemoresensingFerris’sstateofmind，losthisowngladbuoyancyandpacedsolemnlyalongside，peeringworriedlyupintoLink’sfaceateveryfewsteps。
Allfiveentrantsfiledintotheringandbegantheirparade。
Leighton，inviewoftheimportanceofthiscrowningevent，didnotsingleoutanyonedog，asbefore，tostandtooneside；nordidhegateany。Hegaveownersandspectatorstheirfulldue，byathoroughinspectionofallfivecontestants。Butasaresultofhisexamination，heendedthesuspensebyhandingLinkFerrisapurplerosette，whereonwasblazonedingiltthelegend，\"Winners。\"
Asalvoofhandclapsgreetedtheeminentlyjustdecision。AndChumleftthering，tofindascoreofgratulatoryhandsstretchedforthtopathim。Quitealittlecrowdescortedhimbacktohisbench。
AdozenpeoplepickedacquaintancewithLink。Theyaskedhimallsortsofquestionsastohisdog。Linkmademonosyllabicandnoncommittalrepliestoallofthese——evenwhenthegreatCol。
CyrusMardenhimselfdeignedtocomeovertothecolliesectionandstareatChum，accompanyinghisscrutinywithavolleyorpatronizinginquiries。
FromthebystandersLinklearnedsomethingofrealinterest——namely，thatoneofthe\"specials\"wasabigsilvercup，tobeawardedto\"bestcollieofeithersex\"；andthatafterthefemalesshouldhavebeen，judged，thewinningfemaleandChummustappearintheringtogethertocompeteforthistrophy。
Sureenough，inlessthanthirtyminutesChumwassummonedtothering。There，awaitinghim，wasadaintyandtemperamentalmerle，oftheTazewellstrain。Exquisiteandhigh—bredaswasthisfemalecompetitor，JudgeLeightonwastedlittletimeontheexaminationbeforegivingFerrisatricoloredribbon，whosepossessionentitledhimtooneoftheshimmeringsilvermugsinthenear—bytrophycase。
Afterreceivingfullassurancethatthebigcupshouldbehisatthecloseoftheshow，LinkreturnedtoChum’sbenchinecstasyandsatdownbesidehistireddog，withonearmthrownlovinglyroundthecollie’sruff。Chumnestledagainsthistriumphantmaster，asLinkfondledhisbunchofribbonsandwentover，mentally，everymoveofhistriumphalmorning。
ThemillingandchanginggroupsofspectatorsinfrontofBench65didnotdwindle。Indeed，asthemorningwenton，theyincreased。Peoplekeptcomingbacktothebenchandbringingotherswiththem。Someofthesepeoplewhisperedtogether。Somemerelystaredandwentaway。SomeaskedFerriscarefullywordedquestions，towhichtheshylyhappymountaineerrepliedwithsheepishgrunts。
Thelongperiodofjudgingcameatlasttoanend。Andthe\"BestDoginShow\"specialwascalled。
IntotheringFerrisescortedChum，amidamultitudeoffellowwinners，representingonemaleorfemaleofeverybreedexhibited。Leightonandanotherjudgestoodinthering’scenter，andaroundthembillowedtheheterogeneousarray。ThetwowentattheirGargantuantaskwithanexpertswiftness。Mercilessly，dogafterdogwasweededoutandgated。Atlast，Chumandtwootherswereallremainingofthemanywhichhadthrongedthering。Thespectatorswerebanked，fivedeepandbreathless，roundtheropes。
Thetwojudgeswentintobriefexecutivesessioninonecorner。
ThenLeightoncrossedtoLink，forthefourthtimethatday，andgavehimthegaudyrosettewhichproclaimedChum\"bestdogintheshow。\"Aroarofapplausewentup。Linkfeltdizzy——andnumb。
Then，withagaspofrapture，hestoopedandgatheredtheboredChuminhislongarms，inabearlike，ecstatichug。
\"Wedoneit，Chummie!\"hechortled。\"WEDONEIT!\"
Stillinadaze，hefollowedthestewardtothetrophycase，wherehereceivednotonlytheshiningsilvercup，buta\"sovereignpurse，\"whereinwereensconcedtenten—dollargoldpieces。
Itwasalladream——awonderdreamfromwhichpresentlyhemustawaken。Linkwascertainofthat。Butwhilethegoldendreamlasted，heknewthenamelessjoysofparadise。
Chumcloseathisside，hemadehiswaythroughthecongratulatingcrowdtowardtheoutergateofthecountryclubgrounds。Hehadalmostreachedthewicketwhensomeonetouchedhim，withunnecessaryfirmness，ontheshoulder。
Notrelishingthefamiliarity，Linkturnedascowlingvisageontheinterrupterofhistriumphalhomewardprogress。Athiselbowstoodastockily—builtman，dressedwithsevereplainness。
\"You’reLincolnFerris？\"queriedthestranger，moreasifstatingaggressivelyafactthanmakinganinquiry。
\"Yep，\"saidLink，crossatthisannoyingbreak—inuponhistranceofhappiness。\"Whatd’j’want？\"headded。
\"Pleasestepbacktotheclubhouseaminutewithme，\"returnedthestranger，civillyenough，butwiththesamebossyfirmnessinhistonethathadjarredFerrisinhistouch。\"Oneortwopeoplewanttospeaktoyou。Bringalongyourdog。\"
Linkglowered。Hefanciedheknewwhatwasinstore。SomeoftheultraselecthadgatheredintheholyinterioroftheclubhouseandwantedaprivateviewofChum，unsulliedbythenoisypresenceofthecrowdoutside。TheywouldtalkpatronizinglytoLink，andperhapseventrytocoaxhimintosellingChum。ThethoughtdecidedFerris。
\"I’mgoin’home!\"hesaidroughly。
\"You’recomingwithme，\"contradictedthemaninthatsamequietvoice，butslippinghismusculararmintoLink’s。
Withhisotherhandheshiftedthelapelofhiscoat，displayingapolicebadgeonitsreverse。Stillavoidinganyoutwardappearanceofforce，heturnedabout，withhisarmlockedinFerris’sandstartedtowardtheclubhouse。
\"Here!\"expostulatedpoorLink，withallatruemountaineer’shorrorofthepolice。\"What’sallthis？Iain’tbrokenolaw!
I——\"
AnuglygrowlfromChumpunctuatedhisscaredplea。Notingtheterrorinhismaster’stoneandthegripofthestrangeronLink’sarm，Chumhadspunroundtofacethetwo。
Thecollie’seyeswerefixedgrimlyupontheplainclothesman’stemptinglythickthroat。OnecornerofChum’supperlipwascurledback，displayingabusinesslikeifsnowyfang。Hisheadwaslowered。Deepinhisfurrythroatasuccessionoflegatogrowlswereborn。
Theplain—clothesmanknewmuchaboutdogs。Heknew，forexample，thatwhenadogholdshisheadhighandbarksthereisnospecialdangertobefearedfromhim。Buthealsoknewthatwhenadoglowershisheadandgrowls，showinghiseyetooth，hemeansbusiness。
Andthemanshrankfromthemenace。Onehandcreptbackinstinctivelytowardhishippocket。
Linksawthepurelyinvoluntarygesture，andheshookinhisboots。ItwasthusaHamptonconstablehadoncereachedbackwhenastraycursnappedathim。Andthatconstablehadcompletedthemovementbydrawingapistolandshootingthecur。Perhapsthisnon—uniformedstrangermeanttodothesamething。
\"Holdon!\"beggedLink，interveningbetweenthemanandthedog。
\"I’llgoalongwithyoupeaceful。Quit，Chum!It’sallright!\"
Thedogstilllookedundecided。Hedidnotlikethisnewnoteinhisgod’svoice。Butheobeyedtheinjunction，andfellintostepatLink’ssideasusual。Ferrissufferedhimselftobepiloted，unresisting，throughthetatteredremnantofthecrowdanduptheclubhousesteps。
Therehisconductorledhimthroughthesacredportalsanddownawidehallwaytothedoorofacommitteeroom。Throwingopenthedoor，heusheredinhiscaptiveandthedog，enteringbehindthemandreclosingtheheavydoor。
Intheroom，roundatable，satseveralpersons——allmenexceptone。TheexceptionwasthegirlwhosecolliehadhadthebenchnexttoChum’s。Atthetablehead，lookingverymagisterialindeed，satColonelMarden。Besidehimloungedalargerandoldermaninaplaidsportsuit。
Link’sescortrangedhisprisonersatthefootofthetable；ChumstandingtightagainstFerris’sknee，asiftoguardhimfrompossibleharm。LinkstoodgloweringinsullenperplexityattheColonel。Mardenclearedhisvoicepompously，thenspoke。
\"Ferris，\"hebeganwithmuchimpressiveness，\"Iamamagistrateofthiscounty——asyouperhapsknow。YoumayconsideryourselfbeforetheBarofJustice，andreplytomyquestionsaccordingly。\"
Awedbythisthunderedpreamble，Ferrismadeshifttomutter：
\"Iain’tbrokenolaws。Whatd’j’wantofme，anyhow？\"
\"Firstofall，\"proceededMarden，\"wheredidyougetthatdog？\"
\"Chumhere？\"saidFerris。\"Why，Icomeacrosthim，earlylastspring，onthepatchofstateroad，jes’outsideofHampton。Hewasa—layin’inaditch，withhislegbust。Throwedoff’naauto，Ifiggeredit。Itookhimhomean’——\"
Hepaused，asthesport—suitedmannexttoMardennoddedexcitedlytothegirlandthenwhisperedtotheColonel。
\"Youtookhimhome？\"pursuedMarden。\"Couldn’tyouseehewasavaluabledog？\"
\"Ic’dseehewasasufferin’an’dyin’dawg，\"retortedLink。\"I
c’dseehewasagoner，’lessItookhimhomean’’tendedhim。Ifyou’reaimin’atfindin’outwhyIwentonkeepin’himafterthat，Idonesobecausenooneclaimedhim。Iputupnotices’bouthim。Iputoneupatthepost—officehere，too。I——\"
\"Hedid!\"interruptedthegirl。\"That’strue!Isawit。Only——thenoticesaiditwasabirddog。That’swhywedidn’tfollowitup。
He——\"
\"MissGault，\"suggestedMardeninloftyreproof，\"supposeyouleavetheinterrogatorytome，ifyouplease？Yes，Irecollectthatnotice。Myattentionwascalledtoitatthetime。But，\"
againaddressingLink，\"whydidyoucall’GlenmuirCavalier’a’BIRDdog’？Wasittothrowusoffthetrackor——\"
\"Don’tknownoWhat’s—His—NameCav’lier!\"snappedFerris。\"Thisdawg’snameisChum。Likeyouc’nseeinmyentryblank，what’slayin’onthetableinfrontofyou。Iadv’tisedChumasabirddawgbecauseIs’posedheWASabirddawg。Iain’tasharpondawgs。He’sthefustoneeverIhad。Ifheain’tabirddawg，’tain’tmyfault。Helooksmorelikeonethanlike’totherbreedsI’dseen。SoIcalledhimone。\"
\"Thereisnoneedtoraiseyourvoiceatme!\"rebukedthecolonel。\"Iamdisposedtoacceptyourexplanation。Butifyoureadthelocalpapersyoumusthaveseen——\"
\"Ididread’em，\"saidFerris。\"Iread’emsteadyforamonthormore，toseewastherewasadv’tisementferalostdawg。Naryanadv’tisementdidIseeexcep’onefera’sable’collie。’Sable’
means’black。’Iknow，becauseourdominietoldmeso。Iaskedhim，whenIseethatpieceinthepaper。Chumain’tblack，nornowheresnearblack。SoIknoweditcouldn’tbehim。Whatd’j’
wantofme，anyhow？\"hedemandedoncemore。
\"Again，Iamdisposedtocredityourexplanation，\"boomedthecolonel，frowningdownarippleofgigglesthathaditsriseinMissGault。\"AndIamdisposedtoacquityouofconsciouslydishonestintent。Iamgladtodoso。Hereisthesituation：
Earlylastspring，Mr。Gault，\"indicatingthesport—suitwearerathisleft，\"boughtfromthefamousGlenmuirCollieKennels，ontheHudson，anunusuallyfineyoungcollie——adogforwhichconnoisseurspredictedagreatfutureintheshowring。Hepurchaseditasagiftforhisdaughter，MissMarionGault。\"
Heinclinedhisheadslightlytowardthegirl；thenproceeded：
\"AsMr。Glenmuirwasdisbandinghiskennel，Mr。Gaultwasabletosecurethedog——GlenmuirCavalier。HestartedforCraigswold，withthedogontherearseatofthecar。Atfirsthekeptahandonthedog’scollar，butasthecolliemadenoattempttoescape，hesoonturnedaround——hewasinthefrontseat——andpaidnomoreattentiontohim。JustoutsideofSuffern，helookedback——tofindCavalierhaddisappeared。Headvertised，andmadeallpossibleeffortstolocatethedog。Buthecouldgetnoclewtohim，untilto—day。Seeingthisdogofyoursintheshowring，herecognizedhimatonce。\"
Thepompouslyboomingvoice，withitsstilteddiction，ceased。
AlleyeswereuponLinkFerris。Themountaineer，stungtolifebythesilenceandthemultiplegaze，cameoutofhistranceofshock。
\"Then——then，\"hestuttered，forcingthewordsfromathroatsandedbysuddendread，\"thenChumrightlyb’longstothisman？\"
\"Quiteso!\"assentedMarden，insomerelief。\"Iamgladyougraspthepointsoreadily。Mr。Gaulthastalkedthematteroverwithme，andheistakingaremarkablybroadandgenerousviewofthecaseifImaysayso。Heisnotonlywillingthatyoushouldkeepthecupandthecashprizewhichyouhavewonto—day，butheisalsoreadytopaytoyoutheseventy—fivedollarrewardheofferedforthereturnofGlenmuirCavalier。Irepeat，thisstrikesmeasmostgener——\"
\"NO!\"yelledLink，aspasmofforeseenlonelinesssweepingoverhim。\"NO!!Hecan’thavehim!Nobodycan!WhyChum’smydawg!
I’velearnedhimtofetchcowsan’shakehandsan’——an’
everything!An’hedrugmeout’nthelake，whenIwasa—drowndin’!An’hedoneaheapmore’nthatferme!He’sdrugmeuptomyfeet，out’nwuthlessness，too；an’he’slearnedmethatlivin’iswuthwhile!He’smy——my——he’smydawg!\"hefinishedlamely，hisscaredeyessweepingthecircleoffacesinpanicappeal。
\"Thatwilldo，Ferris!\"coldlyexhortedthecolonel。\"Wewishnosceneshere。YouwilltakethisseventyfivedollarcheckwhichMr。Gaulthassokindlymadeoutforyou，andyouwillgo。\"
\"Leavin’Chumbehind？\"babbledFerris，aghast。\"Notleavin’Chumbehind？PLEASEnot!\"
Hepulledhimselftogetherwithaneffortthatdrovehisnailsbitinglyintohispalmsandlefthisfacegray。Hesawtheuselessnessofpleadingwiththesepeopleofpolishediron，whocouldnotunderstandhisfearfulloss。ForthesakeofChum——forthesakeoftheself—respectingmanhehimselfhadbecome——hewouldnotlethimselfgotopieces。Forcinghisshakenvoicetoadrysteadiness，headdressedtheuneasilysquirmingGault。
\"Whatd’j’youpayforChumwhenyouboughthimoff’nthatHudsonRiverfeller——thatGlenmuirchap？\"hedemanded。
\"Why，asamatteroffact，\"respondedGault，\"asColonelMardenhastoldyou，Icouldn’thavehopedtogetsuchapromisingcollieatanypriceit——\"
\"Whatd’j’youpayforhim？\"insistedLink，hisvoiceharshandunconsciouslydomineeringasavaguenewhopedawnedonhistroubledmind。
\"Ipaidsixhundreddollars，\"answeredGaultshortly，inannoyanceattheboor’smanner。
\"Good!\"approvedLink，\"Thatgivesussuthin’togoon。I’llpayyousixhundreddollarsferhimback。Thishundreddollarsingoldan’thisyersilvercupan’sevendollarsmoreIgotwithme——tobindthebargain。An’asecondmortgageonmyfarmfertherest。Ferasmuchoftherest，\"heamended，\"asIain’tgotreadycashfor。\"
Inhisstarkearnestness，Link’sroughvoicesoundedmorehectoringandunpleasantthanbefore。Gault，unusedtosuchtalkfromthealleged\"peasantry，\"resolvedtocutshortthehaggling。
\"Sellforsixhundredadogthat’scleanedup’bestintheshow？’\"herasped。\"No，thankyou。LeightonsaysCavalierwillgofar。Oneman，tenminutesago，offeredmeathousandforhim。\"
\"Athousan’？\"repeatedFerris，scaredatthemagnitudeofthesum——then，rallying，heasked：
\"WhatWILLyouletmehavehimfer，then？Setaprice，can’tyou？\"
\"Thedogisnotforsale，\"curtlyrepliedGault，busyinghimselfwiththelightingofacigarette。