As Jack's glance held the fellow casually for an instant, he was surprised to see him start and pale perceptibly.
"Funny," mused the boy, and turned his head to see what had caused the change in the other's demeanour.
It was another man—and a man, in his own way, quite as remarkable as the first. He was short and very broad, with an immense neck; his nose was twisted permanently to the right, as if he had been struck at some time, a terrific blow in the face.
Jack smiled to himself. "Retired pug," he thought, noting that the man also carried a cauliflower ear—the left, and that his eyes were the narrow, quick eyes of the boxer.
"By Jove," exclaimed the tall man, as the two came together, with mutual expressions of surprise, "what brings you here, Tiger? Thought you were in America."
"Business," said the bent-nosed man, shortly. "Business, my dear old Doctor Daw—do they still call you that?"
"Hush," said the tall man, abruptly; "... that name...."
The rest was lost to Jack, for Doctor Daw spoke in a low whisper. The man he had called Tiger laughed in a short, sharp manner.
"Anyhow, whither away?" he asked.
"Deepwater—down the coast. You getting this train?"