The drooping man, who had watched the battle without a shadow of interest or excitement, betrayed no great change in manner as he came forward.
"'Kin I do fer yer?" he inquired.
"We want to get a room here. Not for very long; just for sufficient time in which to change into our uniforms," explained Ned. "We are expecting a Mr. Summerville of the United States Navy to meet us here."
"Be you in the navy?" inquired the drooping man, allowing himself to betray momentarily a slight, very slight accession of interest.
"We are. We can get a room, I suppose?"
"You kin, an' if you'll pardon my saying so, yer pardner sure needs a change."
Herc colored hotly. The hotel man must have noticed this, for he went on.
"You don't know that feller Rankin, then?"
"We do not," replied Ned shortly.