“Then you would find yourself in trouble directly. These big-gunners are a desperate lot of men, the first thing you know, and they will not submit to any interference in their business.”
“If the law says they shan’t follow that business, I don’t see how they are going to help themselves,” said Don.
“They can take revenge on any one who incurs their displeasure, can’t they? They can and they will. If a person renders himself obnoxious to them, the first thing he knows some of his buildings will go up in smoke, or his boats will be smashed, or the rigging of his yacht cut, or his oyster-bed will be fouled. Why, they don’t hesitate to make a fight with the police, if they are surprised at their business. That Baltimore detective, who worked his way into their good graces and joined them in their night excursions, said that the smack he went out in was as thoroughly armed as any little pirate.”
“I’d like to go out with them just once in order to see how they operate,” said Don, in whom the love of adventure was as strong as it ever had been. “They must see plenty of excitement.”
Egan, who was more than half asleep, replied that they probably did, especially while they were dodging the police-boats; but he did not believe that his friend Don would ever learn by personal observation how the big-gunners conducted their business. Well, he didn’t; but there were others of our characters who did, and who they were, and how they came to be permitted to accompany the poachers on one of their nocturnal expeditions, shall be told further on.
Don would have been glad to hear more of the big-gunners, but a gentle snore coming from the other side of the room told him that Egan had gone to sleep again; so he rearranged his pillow and prepared to go to sleep himself.
The morning dawned bright and clear, and with just enough frost in the salt air to make it invigorating, and to send the blood coursing through one’s veins with accelerated speed. The visitors, who had not been given much opportunity to look about them the night before, were up at the first peep of day, and their host led them out to show them what there was to be seen. As he opened the door and stepped upon the porch, he was greeted by four large, shaggy dogs, which fawned upon him with every demonstration of delight, but showed their white teeth to the other boys when they attempted to scrape an acquaintance with them.
“They are as ugly in disposition as they are homely in appearance,” said Curtis. “Egan, why do you keep such worthless brutes about you?”
“They are not worthless,” answered the ex-sergeant. “They would sell to-day for two hundred dollars apiece to any one of a dozen men whose names I could mention.”
“What makes them so valuable?” asked Curtis. “They don’t look as though they are worth feeding.”