sounds around him interested the home-bred collie. But when the
Master turned him over to the officer in whose charge he was to
be for the voyage, Bruce's deep-set eyes clouded with a sudden
heartsick foreboding.

Wrenching himself free from the friendly hand on his collar, he
sprang in pursuit of his departing deity,--the loved Master who
was leaving him alone and desolate among all these strange scenes
and noises. The Master, plodding, sullen and heavy-hearted,
toward the gangway, was aware of a cold nose thrust into his
dejected hand.

Looking down he beheld Bruce staring up at him with a world of
stark appeal in his troubled gaze. The Master swallowed hard;
then laid his hand on the beautiful head pressed so confidingly
against his knee. Turning, he led the dog back to the quarters
assigned to him.

"Stay here, old friend!" he commanded, huskily. "It's all right.
You'll make good. I know that. And there's a chance in a billion
that you'll come back to us. I'm--I'm not deserting you. And I
guess there's precious little danger that any one on The Place
will ever forget you. It's--it's all right. Millions of humans
are doing it. I'd give everything I've got, if I could go, too.
IT'S ALL RIGHT!"

Then Bruce understood at last that he was to stay in this place
of abominations, far from everything he loved; and that he must
do so because the Master ordained it. He made no further effort
to break away and to follow his god ashore. But he shivered