But they wanted me to drink gin to keep me small , and I would n't , 'cause father did n't like that kind of thing . I used to ride tip-top , and that just suited me till I got a fall and hurt my back ; but I had to go on all the same , though I ached dreadful , and used to tumble off , I was so dizzy and weak . '' `` What a brute that man must have been ! Why did n't ` Melia put a stop to it ? '' asked Mrs. Moss , indignantly . `` She died , ma'am , and then there was no one left but Sanch ; so I run away . '' Then Ben fell to patting his dog again , to hide the tears he could not keep from coming at the thought of the kind friend he had lost . `` What did you mean to do ? '' `` Find father ; but I could n't , for he was n't at the ridin ' school , and they told me he had gone out West to buy mustangs for a man who wanted a lot . So then I was in a fix , for I could n't go to father , did n't know jest where he was , and I would n't sneak back to Smithers to be abused . Tried to make 'em take me at the ridin ' school , but they did n't want a boy , and I travelled along and tried to get work . But I 'd have starved if it had n't been for Sanch . I left him tied up when I ran off , for fear they 'd say I stole him . He 's a very valuable dog , ma'am , the best trick dog I ever see , and they 'd want him back more than they would me . He belongs to father , and I hated to leave him ; but I did . I hooked it one dark night , and never thought I 'd see him ag ` in . Next mornin ' I was eatin ' breakfast in a barn miles away , and dreadful lonesome , when he came tearin ' in , all mud and wet , with a great piece of rope draggin ' . He 'd gnawed it and come after me , and would n't go back or be lost ; and I 'll never leave him again , will I , dear old feller ? '' Sancho had listened to this portion of the tale with intense interest , and when Ben spoke to him he stood straight up , put both paws on the boy 's shoulders , licked his face with a world of dumb affection in his yellow eyes , and gave a little whine which said as plainly as words , -- `` Cheer up , little master ; fathers may vanish and friends die , but I never will desert you . '' Ben hugged him close and smiled over his curly , white head at the little girls , who clapped their hands at the pleasing tableau , and then went to pat and fondle the good creature , assuring him that they entirely forgave the theft of the cake and the new dinner-pail .
Inspired by these endearments and certain private signals given by Ben , XXXXX suddenly burst away to perform all his best antics with unusual grace and dexterity .
Ben Melia Moss Sanch Sancho Smithers dinner-pail left mornin ridin