“Was it a real dog?” cried Reivers before MacGregor could reply. “I saw something—he went into the river.”
“Speak, you!” said Moir to the Scotchman. “Speak quick.”
“He’s telling you straight,” replied MacGregor, with a nod toward Reivers. “The dog went into the river. I saw him go down, out of sight.”
“Out of sight,” muttered Reivers, swallowing the drink which Joey had brought him. “So it was a real dog, was it? He jumped at me, and then he jumped back, and I guess he broke his chain, because he went into the river and never came out.”
Moir stepped over and examined the rock from which Reivers had slipped the dog’s chain.
“Tammy,” he said quietly. Tammy came obediently, stopping a good two paces away from Moir.
“See that?” said Moir, pointing at the rock. Tammy nodded.
“You tied Tige out for tuh night, Tammy?”
“Yes, but——”
“And you tied so well tuh beast got loose, and into tuh river and is lost.”