Dan examined it carefully , then putting it into his pocket , walked off , saying with a wink , `` Keep it up till you learn , that 's all . '' A howl of wrath from Tommy was followed by a general uproar , which did not subside till Dan , finding himself in a minority , proposed that they should play stick-knife , and whichever won should have the treasure . Tommy agreed , and the game was played in a circle of excited faces , which all wore an expression of satisfaction , when Tommy won and secured the knife in the depth of his safest pocket . `` You come off with me , and I 'll show you round , '' said Nat , feeling that he must have a little serious conversation with his friend in private . What passed between them no one knew , but when they appeared again , Dan was more respectful to every one , though still gruff in his speech , and rough in his manner ; and what else could be expected of the poor lad who had been knocking about the world all his short life with no one to teach him any better ? The boys had decided that they did not like him , and so they left him to Nat , who soon felt rather oppressed by the responsibility , but too kind-hearted to desert him . Tommy , however , felt that in spite of the jack-knife transaction , there was a bond of sympathy between them , and longed to return to the interesting subject of somersaults . He soon found an opportunity , for Dan , seeing how much he admired him , grew more amiable , and by the end of the first week was quite intimate with the lively Tom . Mr. Bhaer , when he heard the story and saw Dan , shook his head , but only said quietly , `` The experiment may cost us something , but we will try it . '' If Dan felt any gratitude for his protection , he did not show it , and took without thanks all that was give him . He was ignorant , but very quick to learn when he chose ; had sharp eyes to watch what went on about him ; a saucy tongue , rough manners , and a temper that was fierce and sullen by turns . He played with all his might , and played well at almost all the games . He was silent and gruff before grown people , and only now and then was thoroughly sociable among the lads . Few of them really liked him , but few could help admiring his courage and strength , for nothing daunted him , and he knocked tall Franz flat on one occasion with an ease that caused all the others to keep at a respectful distance from his fists . Mr. Bhaer watched him silently , and did his best to tame the `` Wild Boy , '' as they called him , but in private the worthy man shook his head , and said soberly , `` I hope the experiment will turn out well , but I am a little afraid it may cost too much . '' Mrs. Bhaer lost her patience with him half a dozen times a day , yet never gave him up , and always insisted that there was something good in the lad , after all ; for he was kinder to animals than to people , he liked to rove about in the woods , and , best of all , little Ted was fond of him . What the secret was no one could discover , but Baby took to him at once gabbled and crowed whenever he saw him preferred his strong back to ride on to any of the others and called him `` My Danny '' out of his own little head . Teddy was the only creature to whom Dan showed an affection , and this was only manifested when he thought no one else would see it ; but mothers ' eyes are quick , and motherly hearts instinctively divine who love their babies . So Mrs. Jo soon saw and felt that there was a soft spot in rough Dan , and bided her time to touch and win him . But an unexpected and decidedly alarming event upset all their plans , and banished Dan from Plumfield .
Tommy , XXXXX , and Demi began by patronizing Dan , because the other lads rather slighted him ; but soon they each felt there was a certain fascination about the bad boy , and from looking down upon him they came to looking up , each for a different reason .
Bhaer Dan Danny Franz Nat Plumfield Tommy day left stick-knife