How Danny and his friends repaid the Pirate for his goodness. How Jesus Maria thought he had caught a cold.

The sun rose slowly, as it always did over Tortilla Flat. Danny came out onto his warm porch and mused dreamily on the happenings of the previous day. "How happy I am that my good friends Pilon and Pablo are so concerned about my well being. It is not just any friend that would drink four gallons of one's wine, lest one become drunk and ill of head."
Presently, he saw the Pirate and his dogs walking by.
"Hullo Pirate," called Danny.
The Pirate smiled up at his good friend and waved, then continued pushing his barrow of pitchwood towards the houses of Monterey. Danny sighed. "The Pirate is so good to me, I must find some way to repay him. I shall speak to Pilon, he will be able to think of something".
It did not take Danny long to find Pilon. He and Pablo could often be found by the docks, leaning against Torrelli's wall in the sunshine, sharing a quart of grappa.
By the time Pilon noticed Danny approaching, he felt it was too late to try and hide his grappa. "Hullo Danny," he called, "Come and join us, and have some grappa." Danny nodded appreciatively, and drank a polite amount from the jug before turning back to his friends.
"Pilon, Pablo, I have been thinking. Our friend the Pirate is so good to us. Every day he gets up with his dogs and works the whole day wheeling his barrow until night falls, whilst we idle our time in the sunshine. What right do we have to call ourselves his friends?"
"Yes", said Pilon, picking up Danny's thread and pulling it towards its inevitable destination, "All he asks is a corner of the cold stone floor to share with his dogs, whilst we enjoy our comfortable beds. The Pirate truly is the kindest friend one could want. We must repay him for his goodness in some way".
"We are dirty pigs of untrue friends,", continued Danny with conviction. "What can we do that would make our good friend the Pirate happy?"
"We could buy our friend some fine wine from Torrelli," suggested Pablo sleepily.
"Yes, that is a fine idea," agreed Pilon quickly, "The Pirate will be so happy!"
Danny eyed the pair accusingly. "But might the wine not travel to the Pirate's head, and cause him to become unwell? Might he not be laid in bed the next day whilst his barrow rots outside, only to be stolen by Portagee children? You ungrateful dogs! Some friends you are!"
"You are right, Danny", said Pilon thoughtfully. "If only there was some way that we could share the burden of his poor aching head...." Pilon toyed with the jug of grappa, as if in deep thought.
"If we were true friends," said Pablo, "We would help the Pirate drink his wine, that way we could be sure he would not lose his health and clear head".
"That would only be right," agreed Danny solemnly, "It would not do for us to bring illness and an aching head to our dear friend".
"Though I am worried," continued Pilon, "I have never seen the Pirate drinking wine, I fear he may not be used to it. He may be in bed for a week with the head of a sick pig after only a glass or two." The friends nodded solemnly.
"Then it is decided," said Danny, standing up. "We will go to Torrelli's this evening and buy eight gallons of wine, which we shall drink for our friend."
"It would be best not to tell him. Though the Pirate is our good friend, he is a simple man, who may not appreciate our wisdom, and concern for his wellbeing," said Pilon.
"He will be grateful in the fullness of time. We shall tell him of our kindness in a week or so", said Danny, though they all knew they wouldn't.
"How shall we pay Torrelli for eight gallons of wine?" asked Pablo.
"We shall have to sell the Pirate's dogs," said Danny.
"The Pirate will understand when he learns of the kindness of his friends," said Pilon, "He will be so happy!"
"I thought I had caught a cold", said Jesus Maria, "but I think it's probably just hay fever".