Rose is fond of me, and I'm very good to her when I have time," continued Jamie, calmly explaining.

"I let her cut out a fishhook, when it caught in my leg, with a sharp penknife, and you'd better believe it hurt, but I never squirmed a bit, and she said I was a brave boy.

And then, one day I got left on my desert island out in the pond, you know the boat floated off, and there I was for as much as an hour before I could make anyone hear.

But Rose thought I might be there, and down she came, and told me to swim ashore.

It wasn't far, but the water was horrid cold, and I didn't like it.