"'Cause I told 'em," answered Pete, calmly.
Jimmy, his eyes fixed upon the lumberman's face, stepped back a pace or two and prepared to run.
But Captain Slater was controlling his temper splendidly.
"An' what fur, ye little sardine?"
"Was there anythin' ter prewent me, old feller?" Pete squared his shoulders aggressively. "Would they let me in on it? No, sir! Would any o' 'em give me a wrastle? No, sir!"
"Wal, yer even a little wusser'n I thought." Captain Slater's words were jerked out with angry emphasis. "Ye kin git now; an' git fast; an' don't never let me see yer ag'in!"
Pete's mouth flew open with astonishment; he saw the lumberman turn and begin striding hurriedly after Mr. Lovell, who was already well on his way up the cliff.
"If that ain't gratitood fur ye!" Pete clenched his fists and made a series of wild motions. Jimmy felt like taking it on the run again. "Kin ye beat it? What's a-git-tin' inter the old codger's head, anyway? Kin git, kin I? So I kin; an' it's after 'im!"
"Ye ain't goin' to hurt him none, are ye?" asked Jimmy, anxiously.
But Pete, striking the back of his hat a violent blow, and muttering angrily to himself, made no reply.