"And how the dooce did he git that same chance? What were ye thinking of, Alvin, to let such a blunderhead manage yer craft? Aye, he's a blunderhead and the son of a bigger one."
"No one will deny what ye last said," remarked the wife in the door. Even the glum George smiled at the man who did not catch the full meaning of his own words.
"Wait till the spalpeen coomes home," added Pat, with a shake of his head, "and I'll squar' things wid him."
"You have seen nothing of him to-day?"
"I haven't saan a smell—bad cess to him!"
"Well, we hope to bring him home very soon."
"It's mesilf that is hoping ye'll soon do it."
Alvin gave the word to George, who set the engine going and headed to the northeast. "I wish I could find some one who met Mike and the Deerfoot after his father and Captain Williams saw her."
"I did," calmly spoke the boatman.
"You!" exclaimed the amazed Alvin; "what do you mean?"