Thus it came to pass that Toozle attended the trial of Bumpus, entered his cell along with him, slept with him during the night, accompanied him to the gallows in the morning, and sat under him when they were adjusting the noose, looking up with feelings of unutterable dismay, as clearly indicated by the lugubrious and woebegone cast of his ragged countenance. But we are anticipating.
It was on the morning of his execution that Bumpus sat on the edge of his hard pallet, gazed at his manacled wrists, and gave vent to the sentiments set down at the beginning of this chapter.
Toozle sat down at his feet, looking up in his face sympathetically.
"No, I _don't_ believe it's possible," said Bumpus, for at least the hundredth time that morning. "It's a joke; that's wot it is. Ain't it, Toozle, my boy?"
Toozle whined, wagged his tail, and said, as plainly as if he had spoken:
"Yes, of course it is,--an uncommonly bad joke, no doubt; but a joke, undoubtedly; so keep up your heart, my man."
"Ah! you're a funny dog," continued Bumpus; "but you don't know what it is to be hanged, my boy. Hanged! why it's agin all laws o' justice, moral an' otherwise, it is. But I'm dreamin'; yes, it's dreamin' I am; but I don't think I ever did dream that I thought I was dreamin' an' yet wasn't quite sure. Really, it's perplexin', to say the least on it. Ain't it, Toozle?"
"Ah, here comes my imaginary jailer to let me out o' this here abominably real-lookin' imaginary lockup. Hang Jo Bumpus!--why, it's--"
Before Jo could find words sufficiently strong to express his opinion of such a murderous intention, the door opened, and a surly-looking man--a European settler--entered with his breakfast. This meal consisted of a baked breadfruit and a can of water.
"Ha! you've come to let me out, have you?" cried Jo, in a tone of forced pleasantry, which was anything but cheerful.
"Have I though!" said the man, setting down the food on a small deal table that stood at the head of the bedstead; "don't think it, my man; your time's up in another two hours. Hallo! where got ye the dog?"
"It came in with me last night,--to keep me company, I fancy, which is more than the human dogs o' this murderin' place had the civility to do."