“That was stupid of you, little chap,” said Dick, when he had detached the terrier and was holding him firmly in both his hands, still snarling angrily.  “If you were mine, you’d probably get a hiding, my son.  As it is, you’ll stop that snarling.  You—­hear—­me?  Stop it!”

And reluctantly the terrier did cease his snarling.  One could see the little beast slowly calming down in Dick’s strong hands, like an excited patient under the spell of some mild anesthetic.  And then, having calmed him, Dick very carefully showed the terrier to Jan.

“Look at him, Jan, boy.  He’s privileged—­not to be hurt.  Never touch him, lad.  He belongs to us, you see.  Never hurt him.”

Then, rather ostentatiously stroking the terrier in full view of Jan, Dick put the little beast down and bade it run away.

“No more snarling at Jan, mind.  He belongs to us, you see.”

And whether or not the terrier understood, he did, at all events, walk off toward the veranda of his master’s quarters without further demonstrations of belligerency.  Captain Arnutt joined enthusiastically with Dick in bestowing praises upon Jan for his forbearance and docility.

“I made sure the little fellow’s number was up,” said the captain.  “One good bite from this chap would have about settled his business.  And, mind you, he bit hard, too.  There’s blood on Jan’s coat—­look.  A fine welcome we’ve given you, old chap.”

Dick had noticed the fleck of blood on the gray of Jan’s dewlap, which showed that the terrier had been very much in earnest.  Jan’s dense coat was thinner just there than in most spots; but even there a good deal of energy was required to yield flesh-hold to a terrier’s jaws.  But the wound was trifling, and Dick, knowing his hound, wasted no sentiment over a scratch of this sort.

“It’s just as well, sir,” said he to Captain Arnutt.  “There are some pretty tough huskies hanging about our quarters, and this little start will warn Jan to keep a sharp lookout.  He has to get used to more warlike conditions than he knew in Sussex, and the sooner he understands, the better for him—­and for the others.  I fancy he can take care of himself.”

“He’s certainly got the first essential—­discipline.  I never saw a more obedient dog.”

Dick looked his pleasure at this, and ventured upon the hope that Captain Arnutt would pass on this testimonial among his brother officers; for well Dick knew the value to a dog like Jan of a good reputation, more particularly in so well-ordered a little world as that of the R.N.W.M.P. barracks.

This opening incident ended, Dick was free to take Jan down to the stables and introduce him to his own horse and the other chargers in that division, as well as to their riders.  Dick devoted considerable time and care to this introductory process, because he realized its importance.  He had obtained permission to quarter Jan with his horse; and an hour’s work provided a rough bench for Jan at one end of Paddy’s manger—­Paddy being Dick’s charger.  Dick had another day and a half before having to report himself for duty, and had made up his mind so to instruct Jan during that period as to make it unnecessary that the hound should ever be called upon to suffer the indignity of being tethered, even during his, Dick’s, absence.