ing. The old man counted each as it rolled out, and the dog tallied with a paw.
"No more?" Certainly more, said War. A jerk, tenderly calculated, brought another among the seductive heap.
"All?" no—still the upraised paw. The old man chuckled.
"Ole 'en gets more b' scratchin'." This was the dog's opinion, and a series of little undulations produced another, and after still further shaking, yet another.
War was asked with ridiculous insincerity, "All?" and with ridiculous sincerity his solemn eyes and dropped paw said "All". Then there was the honest count straight through, next the side show with its pretence of "disrememberin'", or doubts as to the number—doubts never laid except by a double count. In the first, so intent was the man, that he forgot his mate; though his relief in being good friends again had made him ignore his fear.
But the dog had heard an outside sound, and, moving to the door, waited for certainty. At this stage the man missed his mate's eyes.
He lay face downward, covering his treasure, when he realized that his friend was uneasy.
