“What’s that?”
“That there watch dog o’ the Halseys. There was a fellow here once what was tellin’ about some dog that a man named Pluto kept. He said that dog had three heads and they all barked at the same time and all bit together.”
“Did he tell you where Mr. Pluto lived?” asked Fred soberly.
“No, he didn’t,” said Rufe. “Where does he live?”
“Not very far from Cockburn Island, you’ll find if you don’t quit breaking the laws.”
There were many conversations during the voyage similar to those which have been recorded, and the boys became more convinced that the strange skipper undoubtedly in some way was sharing in the experiences of the man whom they had met on Cockburn Island and whose name Rufe declared to be Halsey.
The little motor-boat stopped for a time on the shore of Mud Lake.
There the skipper cooked some of the potatoes and salt pork he had brought with him and the boys declared that never had they tasted food more delicious.
CHAPTER XXII
A PASSENGER FOR COCKBURN ISLAND
Neither George nor Grant was aware of the reason for their abrupt flight when the shout of the approaching man was heard.