Chester brought the Deerfoot alongside with the skill that the owner of the launch would have shown. Alvin sprang lightly upon the structure, which sagged under his weight, caught the rope tossed to him by Chester, and fastened it around one of the rickety supports. The boat was made fast.
“I’ll walk up to the house and have a talk with the gintleman,” said Mike, stepping carefully out upon the boards. “Do I look hungry?” he asked of Alvin, who replied:
“You always have that expression.”
“I’m glad to hear it, fur I wish to impriss the gintleman that that’s my condition. I’ll assoom a weak, hisitating walk. Do ye abide here aginst me return and repoort.”
Detective Calvert retained his seat and lighted another cigar. Chester sat with his hand idly resting on the wheel. Alvin kept his place on the tiny dock, and all three watched Mike Murphy. They smiled, for the stooping shoulders of the Irish youth and his feeble gait were those of a man of four-score. The huge stranger sat like a statue, slowly puffing his pipe, his glowering eyes fixed on the approaching lad.
With each advancing step, Mike’s doubts increased. The nearer he came to the stranger, the more forbidding he appeared. Had the lad followed his inclination he would have turned back, but he knew his friends were watching him. Besides which, he was really hungry.
He had passed half the distance between the boat and the house, scrutinizing the scowling fellow all the time, when the latter made his first movement. He uncrossed his huge legs, took the pipe from between his lips and emitted a low whistle.
“He must be so cheered at sight of me that he is obleeged to give exprission to his feelings—Begorra!”
Around the end of the house dashed a mongrel dog, and halting abruptly with pricked ears, glanced at his master to hear his command. The canine was of moderate size, black and white in color, one eye wrapped about by an inky splash of hair that made him look as if the organ was in mourning.
Holding the pipe away from his lips, the man pointed the stem toward Mike, who had paused, and said to his dog: