But when Gabriel 's trump blows I expect my dog to rise with the rest of us , for he had as much soul as any durned Elliott or Crawford or MacAllister that ever strutted . ' Them was HIS parting words . As for Marshall , we 're all used to him , but he must strike strangers as right down peculiar-looking . I 've known him ever since he was ten -- he 's about fifty now -- and I like him . Him and me was out cod-fishing today . That 's about all I 'm good for now -- catching trout and cod occasional . But ` twere n't always so -- not by no manner of means . I used to do other things , as you 'd admit if you saw my life-book . '' Anne was just going to ask what his life-book was when the First Mate created a diversion by springing upon Captain Jim 's knee . He was a gorgeous beastie , with a face as round as a full moon , vivid green eyes , and immense , white , double paws . Captain Jim stroked his velvet back gently . `` I never fancied cats much till I found the First Mate , '' he remarked , to the accompaniment of the Mate 's tremendous purrs . `` I saved his life , and when you 've saved a creature 's life you 're bound to love it . It 's next thing to giving life . There 's some turrible thoughtless people in the world , Mistress Blythe . Some of them city folks who have summer homes over the harbor are so thoughtless that they 're cruel . It 's the worst kind of cruelty -- the thoughtless kind . You ca n't cope with it . They keep cats there in the summer , and feed and pet 'em , and doll 'em up with ribbons and collars . And then in the fall they go off and leave 'em to starve or freeze .
It makes my blood boil , Mistress XXXXX .
Blythe Crawford Elliott First Gabriel Jim MacAllister beastie life-book right