“‘Where may be his risidence?’ says I, not wan bit anxious, but with me best efforts to kape me heart from jumpin’ up in me mout’.
“‘He lives in a scow cabin up beyant there, at Ross Island,’ says he.
“‘He do, do he?’ says I.
“‘He do!’ says he. ‘Sure, ave I not talked wit him over that same bit ave bronze but yisterday?’”
“‘Will yees show me the scow cabin?’ says I.
“‘Indade I’ll do that same,’ says he, ‘and wan thing more,’ says he.
“Hist!” and Smith spoke very low and cautiously. “He heard a child cry—or maybe it was a cat. Kelly didn’t know which, not bein’ interested.”
The two stared at each other for a moment in silence, then Sam said: “How long has your friend Kelly known him?”
“I don’t knaw—sure, I didn’t ax him, but I thought it was impartant to tell yees at once. Kelly is waitin’ down be the shipyard. Will yees come?”
“I’ll meet both of you there in an hour. Sh! Aunty is coming. Mum is the word, Smith!”