CHAPTER II
_Concerning the Behaviour of Billy Topsail and His Dog in the Water When the Never Give Up Went to the Bottom, and Closing With an Apology and a Wag of the Tail_
IT chanced that Billy Topsail was a strong swimmer. He had learned toswim where the water is cold--cold, often, as the icebergs stranded inthe harbour can make it. The water was bitter cold now; but he did notfear it; nor did he doubt that he could accomplish the long swim whichlay before him. It was the unaccountable behaviour of the dog whichdisturbed him--his failure in obedience, which could not be explained.The dog was now within three yards, and excited past all reason.
"Back, sir!" Billy screamed. "Get back with you!"
Skipper was not deterred by the command. He did not so much ashesitate. Billy raised his hand as if to strike him--a threateninggesture which had sent Skipper home with his tail between his legs manya time. But it had no effect now.
"Get back!" Billy screamed again.
It was plain that the dog was not to be bidden. Billy threw himself onhis back, supported himself with his hands and kicked at the dog withhis feet.
BILLY RAISED HIS HAND AS IF TO STRIKE HIM.]
Skipper was blinded by the splashing. He whined and held back. Thenblindly he came again. Billy moved slowly from him, head foremost,still churning the water with his feet. But, swimming thus, he wasno match for the dog. With his head thrown back to escape the blows,Skipper forged after him. He was struck in the jaws, in the throat,and again in the jaws. But he pawed on, taking every blow withoutcomplaint, and gaining inch by inch. Soon he was so close that the ladcould no longer move his feet freely. Then the dog chanced to catch onefoot with his paw, and forced it under. Billy could not beat him off.
No longer opposed, the dog crept up--paw over paw, forcing the boy'sbody lower and lower. His object was clear to Billy. Skipper, frenziedby terror, the boy thought, would try to save himself by climbing onhis shoulders.
"Skipper!" he cried. "You'll drown me! Get back!"
The futility of attempting to command obedience from a crazy dogstruck Billy Topsail with force. He must act otherwise, and thatquickly, if he were to escape. There seemed to be but one thing to do.He took a long breath and let himself sink--down--down--as deep as hedared. Down--down--until he retained breath sufficient but to strike tothe right and rise again.
The dog--as it was made known later--rose as high as he could forcehimself, and looked about in every direction, with his mouth open andhis ears rigidly cocked. He gave two sharp barks, like sobs, and along, mournful whine. Then, as if acting upon sudden thought, he dived.
For a moment nothing was to be seen of either boy or dog. There wasnothing but a choppy sea in that place. Men who were watching thoughtthat both had followed the _Never Give Up_ to the bottom.
In the momentary respite under water Billy perceived that his situationwas desperate. He would rise, he was sure, but only to renew thestruggle. How long he could keep the dog off he could not tell. Untilthe punts came down to his aid? He thought not.
He came to the surface prepared to dive again. But Skipper haddisappeared. An ejaculation of thanksgiving was yet on the boy's lipswhen the dog's black head rose and moved swiftly towards him. Billy hada start of ten yards--or something more.
He turned on his side and set off at top speed. There was no betterswimmer among the lads of the harbour. Was he a match for a powerfulNewfoundland dog? It was soon evident that he was not.
Skipper gained rapidly. Billy felt a paw strike his foot. He put morestrength into his strokes. Next the paw struck the calf of his leg.The dog was upon him now--pawing his back. Billy could not sustain theweight. To escape, that he might take up the fight in another way, hedived again.
The dog was waiting when Billy came up--waiting eagerly, on the alertto continue the chase.
"Skipper, old fellow--good old dog!" Billy called in a soothing voice."Steady, sir! Down, sir--back!"
The dog was not to be deceived. He came, by turns whining and gasping.He was more excited, more determined, than ever. Billy waited for him.The fight was to be face to face. The boy had determined to keep himoff with his hands until strength failed--to drown him if he could.All love for the dog had gone out of his heart. The weeks of close andmerry companionship, of romps and rambles and sport, were forgotten.Billy was fighting for life. So he waited without pity, hoping onlythat his strength might last until he had conquered.
When the dog was within reach Billy struck him in the face. A snarl andan angry snap were the result.
Rage seemed suddenly to possess the dog. He held back for a moment,growling fiercely, and then attacked with a rush. Billy fought as besthe could, trying to clutch his enemy by the neck and to force his headbeneath the waves. The effort was vain; the dog eluded his grasp andrenewed the attack. In another moment he had laid his heavy paws on theboy's shoulders.
The weight was too much for Billy. Down he went; freed himself, andstruggled to the surface, gasping for breath. It appeared to him nowthat he had but a moment to live. He felt his self-possession goingfrom him--and at that moment his ears caught the sound of a voice.
"Put your arm----"
The voice seemed to come from far away. Before the sentence wascompleted, the dog's paws were again on Billy's shoulders and the waterstopped the boy's hearing. What were they calling to him? The thoughtthat some helping hand was near inspired him. With this new courage toaid, he dived for the third time. The voice was nearer--clearer--whenhe came up, and he heard every word.
"Put your arm around his neck!" one man cried.
"Catch him by the scruff of the neck!" cried another.
Billy's self-possession returned. He would follow this direction.Skipper swam anxiously to him. It may be that he wondered what thisnew attitude meant. It may be that he hoped reason had returned to theboy--that at last he would allow himself to be saved. Billy caught thedog by the scruff of the neck when he was within arm's length. Skipperwagged his tail and turned about.
There was a brief pause, during which the faithful old dog determinedupon the direction he would take. He espied the punts, which had bornedown with all speed. Towards them he swam, and there was somethingof pride in his mighty strokes, something of exultation in his whine.Billy struck out with his free hand, and soon boy and dog were pulledover the side of the nearest punt.
Through it all, as Billy now knew, the dog had only wanted to save him.
* * * * *
That night Billy Topsail took Skipper aside for a long and confidentialtalk. "Skipper," said he, "I beg your pardon. You see, I didn't knowwhat 'twas you wanted. I'm sorry I ever had a hard thought against you,and I'm sorry I tried to drown you. When I thought you only wanted tosave yourself, 'twas Billy Topsail you were thinking of. When I thoughtyou wanted to climb atop of me, 'twas my collar you wanted to catch.When I thought you wanted to bite me, 'twas a scolding you were givingme for my foolishness. Skipper, b'y, honest, I beg your pardon. Nexttime I'll know that all a Newfoundland dog wants is half a chance totow me ashore. And I'll give him a whole chance. But, Skipper, don'tyou think you might have given me a chance to do something for myself?"
At which Skipper wagged his tail.
The Adventures of Billy Topsail Page 5
