"Come on in and have some."
Pete shuffled into the cabin. Mouth taut and eyes angry, Dan backed toward Pal. The dog growled savagely. Jeff's eyes caught Dan's and he tried to flash a warning. He and Dan had a pact which included no hasty or ill-timed moves and definitely no shooting of anyone. Jeff spoke sharply to the dog.
"Stop it, Pal!"
Pal subsided and Pete said nasally, "Blazer allus call't him Buster."
"He's Pal now."
Jeff set a plate of bacon and eggs on the table and put bread and butter beside it.
"You may as well start, Dan."
Unable completely to erase the anger from his eyes, not speaking, Dan sat down and began to eat. Jeff put the bacon and eggs he had intended for himself on another plate. Thoughtfully he set the plate on the other side of the table, two places away from the furious Dan.
"Here you are, Mr.—?"
"Whitney's the name. Pete Whitney."