But just then a shadow darkened the doorway and,
“Ho, mates,” said a deep gruff voice, “makin’ yourselves to home I see!”
CHAPTER XVII
The Invader’s Retreat
The three boys started guiltily and stared in consternation at the figure in the doorway, whose wide shoulders stretched almost from lintel to lintel. With the light behind him, it was impossible to see the face distinctly, but there was no mistaking that voice nor that figure. It was Bill Glass himself. Hal, courageous in the conviction of his wrongs, recovered first.
“We were looking around,” he said with a suspicion of insolence that made Bee glance uneasily at the window. “You have so many interesting things here, Mr. Glass, and I’ve been wondering where you—” Bee made up his mind to sell his life dearly—“got them all.”
Bee in his relief subsided in the rocking chair. Bill Glass entered the cabin with a rumbling chuckle that seemed to start at his shabby boots and grow in volume all the way up.
“Interestin’s just the word, shipmate. Some o’ them things could tell stories what would make them eyes o’ yours stick plumb out o’ your head if they could talk. Sit ye down, mates, sit ye down. Nice kind o’ weather for the time o’ year.”