They formerly belonged to an Italian, who, sick, penniless, and friendless, had sunk exhausted by the road-side a few miles from Dubuque.

Several persons passed him without heeding his feeble appeals for aid before Cap'n Cod happened along and discovered him.

The old soldier at once engaged a team, carried the dying stranger home, and there, with Sabella's pitying aid, cared for him until the end, which came a few days later.

During these last days his monkey was the man's inseparable companion.

It cuddled beside him in bed, and answered his feeble terms of endearment with voluble chatterings.