“He’s incapable of setting a mountain on fire and he is as gentle and courteous as possible.”
There was another laugh. This time it came from within the house and Billie and the doctor recognized the voice of Mr. Lupo.
“You’re a friend of Lupo, I see,” remarked the doctor looking very hard at the man.
“I guess that’s none of your affair,” answered the other angrily. “And nothin’ agin’ him nor me either, for the matter o’ that.”
The doctor lifted his eyebrows.
“I’d like to hire two or three guides. Are there any about?”
“There ain’t no guides connected with this here establishment goin’ to go huntin’ for crazy Frenchy,” announced the man roughly, “if that’s what you’re wantin’ with them. Most of ’em is fightin’ the flames anyhow.”
The doctor sat silently for a moment looking at the mountaineer, whose eyes shifted uneasily under his steady gaze.
“I would advise you and your friend, Lupo, not to meddle too much in this affair,” he said, as the inn keeper with a snarling laugh shuffled back into the house.