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wrench off them rods and make rain…holes in the roof； neither。' He
couldn't get no madder than he was then； an' fur a minute or two he
couldn't speak； an' then he says； 'I'll have satisfaction for
this。' An' says I； 'How？ 'An' says he； 'You'll see what it is to
interfere with a ordered job。' An' says I； 'There wasn't no order
about it；' an' says he； 'I'll show you better than that；' an' he
goes to his wagon an' gits a book。 'There；' says he； 'read that。'
'What of it？ 'says I 'there's nobody of the name of Ball lives
here。' That took the man kinder aback； and he said he was told it
was the only house on the lane； which I said was right； only it was
the next lane he oughter 'a' gone to。 He said no more after that；
but just put his ladder in his wagon； and went off。 But I was not
altogether rid of him。 He left a trail of his baleful presence
behind him。
〃That horrid bull…dog wouldn't let me come into the house！ No
matter what door I tried； there he was； just foamin' mad。 I let
him stay till nearly night； and then went and spoke kind to him；
but it was no good。 He'd got an awful spite ag'in me。 I found
something to eat down cellar； and I made a fire outside an' roasted
some corn and potatoes。 That night I slep' in the barn。 I wasn't
afraid to be away from the house； for I knew it was safe enough；
with that dog in it and Lord Edward outside。 For three days；
Sunday an' all； I was kep' out of this here house。 I got along
pretty well with the sleepin' and the eatin'； but the drinkin' was
the worst。 I couldn't get no coffee or tea； but there was plenty
of milk。〃
〃Why didn't you get some man to come and attend to the dog？〃 I
asked。 〃It was dreadful to live that way。〃
〃Well； I didn't know no man that could do it；〃 said Pomona。 〃The
dog would 'a' been too much for Old John； and besides； he was mad
about the kerosene。 Sunday afternoon； Captain Atkinson and Mrs。
Atkinson and their little girl in a push…wagon； come here； and I
told 'em you was gone away； but they says they would stop a minute；
and could I give them a drink； an' I had nothin' to give it to them
but an old chicken…bowl that I had washed out； for even the dipper
was in the house； an' I told 'em everything was locked up； which
was true enough； though they must 'a' thought you was a queer kind
of people； but I wasn't a…goin' to say nothin' about the dog； fur；
to tell the truth； I was ashamed to do it。 So as soon as they'd
gone； I went down into the cellar；and it's lucky that I had the
key for the outside cellar door；and I got a piece of fat corn…
beef and the meat…axe。 I unlocked the kitchen door and went in；
with the axe in one hand and the meat in the other。 The dog might
take his choice。 I know'd he must be pretty nigh famished； for
there was nothin' that he could get at to eat。 As soon as I went
in； he came runnin' to me； but I could see he was shaky on his
legs。 He looked a sort of wicked at me； and then he grabbed the
meat。 He was all right then。〃
〃Oh； my！〃 said Euphemia； 〃I am so glad to hear that。 I was afraid
you never got in。 But we saw the dogis he as savage yet？〃
〃Oh no！〃 said Pomona； 〃nothin' like it。〃
〃Look here； Pomona；〃 said I； 〃I want to know about those taxes。
When do they come into your story？〃
〃Pretty soon； sir；〃 said she； and she went on：
〃After that； I know'd it wouldn't do to have them two dogs so that
they'd have to be tied up if they see each other。 Just as like as
not I'd want them both at once； and then they'd go to fightin'； and
leave me to settle with some blood…thirsty lightnin'…rodder。 So；
as I know'd if they once had a fair fight and found out which was
master； they'd be good friends afterwards； I thought the best thing
to do would be to let 'em fight it out； when there was nothin' else
for 'em to do。 So I fixed up things for the combat。〃
〃Why； Pomona！〃 cried Euphemia； 〃I didn't think you were capable of
such a cruel thing。〃
〃It looks that way； ma'am； but really it aint；〃 replied the girl。
〃It seemed to me as if it would be a mercy to both of 'em to have
the thing settled。 So I cleared away a place in front of the wood…
shed and unchained Lord Edward； and then I opened the kitchen door
and called the bull。 Out he came； with his teeth a…showin'； and
his blood…shot eyes； and his crooked front legs。 Like lightnin'
from the mount'in blast； he made one bounce for the big dog； and
oh！ what a fight there was！ They rolled； they gnashed； they
knocked over the wood…horse and sent chips a…flyin' all ways at
wonst。 I thought Lord Edward would whip in a minute or two； but he
didn't； for the bull stuck to him like a burr； and they was havin'
it； ground and lofty； when I hears some one run up behind me； and
turnin' quick； there was the 'Piscopalian minister； 'My！ my！ my！'
he hollers； 'what a awful spectacle！ Aint there no way of stoppin'
it？' ' No； sir；' says I； and I told him how I didn't want to stop
it； and the reason why。 Then says he； 'Where's your master？' and I
told him how you was away。 'Isn't there any man at all about？'
says he。 'No；' says I。 'Then；' says he； 'if there's nobody else
to stop it； I must do it myself。' An' he took off his coat。 'No；'
says I； 'you keep back； sir。 If there's anybody to plunge into
that erena； the blood be mine；' an' I put my hand； without
thinkin'； ag'in his black shirt…bosom； to hold him back； but he
didn't notice； bein' so excited。 'Now；' says I； 'jist wait one
minute； and you'll see that bull's tail go between his legs。 He's
weakenin'。' An' sure enough； Lord Edward got a good grab at him；
and was a…shakin' the very life out of him； when I run up and took
Lord Edward by the collar。 'Drop it！' says I； and he dropped it；
for he know'd he'd whipped； and he was pretty tired hisself。 Then
the bull…dog； he trotted off with his tail a…hangin' down。 'Now；
then；' says I； 'them dogs will be bosom friends forever after
this。' 'Ah me！' says he； 'I'm sorry indeed that your employer； for
who I've always had a great respect； should allow you to get into
such habits。' That made me feel real bad； and I told him； mighty
quick； that you was the last man in the world to let me do anything
like that； and that； if you'd 'a' been here； you'd 'a' separated
them dogs； if they'd a…chawed your arms off； that you was very
particular about such things； and that it would be a pity if he was
to think you was a dog…fightin' gentleman； when I'd often heard you
say that； now you was fixed an' settled； the one thing you would
like most would be to be made a vestryman。〃
I sat up straight in my chair。
〃Pomona！〃 I exclaimed； 〃you didn't tell him that？〃
〃That's what I said； sir； for I wanted him to know what you really
was； an' he says； 'Well； well； I never knew that。 It might be a
very good thing。 I'll speak to some of the members about it。
There's two vacancies now in our vestry。〃
I was crushed； but Euphemia tried to put the matter into the
brightest light。
〃Perhaps it may all turn out for the best；〃 she said； 〃and you may
be elected； and that would be splendid。 But it would be an awfully
funny thing for a dog…fight to make you a vestry…man。〃
I could not talk on