“He didn’t––I got Stubbs.”
“But where–––”
“On the pier,” broke in Stubbs, “where I had gone with the note to your pal––an’ may I drop dead if he don’t give me the creeps. There I finds this gent––an’ I takes ’em where I finds ’em.”
“You got the note to Valverde all right?”
“I got the note to your long-legged friend, but––it’s his eyes, man! It’s his eyes! They ain’t human! I seen a man like him once what went mad from the heat an’––” he lowered his voice, “they found him at his mate’s throat a-sucking of his blood!”
“Don’t!” exploded Danbury. “No more of your ghastly yarns! Val is going to be useful to me or––I’m darned if I could stand him. I don’t like him after dark.”
“They shines in the dark like a cat’s––them eyes does.”
“Drop it, Stubbs! Drop it! I want to forget him for a while. That isn’t telling me how you chanced–––”
“That’s just it,” interrupted Wilson. “It was chance. I was looking for an opportunity to get to Carlina, and by inspiration was led to ask Stubbs. He made the proposition that I come with him, and I came. I had no more idea of seeing you than my great-grandfather. I was going back to thank you, but one thing has followed another so swiftly that I hadn’t the time.”