CHAPTER X
DEAD CATTLE
"What's the idea?" spluttered Snake, for he had his mouth set for a drink, and did not appear to like being balked.
"Better wait until you find out what's in the bottle before you sample it," advised Nort.
"Why, didn't the old gazaboo tell us what it was—Elixer of Life? Some sort of tonic, I reckon, and, believe me, boy, I need something right now!"
"What you need is grub!" broke in Sam. "I'm in the same boat. I'm getting my appetite back," he added with a look at Nort, whose turn it was to get the dinner.
"Well, maybe this will give me an appetite for baked beans," suggested
Snake.
"More likely to take your appetite away," went on Nort. "This may be a good, safe stomach medicine, and, again, it may be deadly poison. I want it analyzed by a chemist before I take any of it. And, even then, I don't believe I'll try any though it may be safe. I don't need it."
"Poison; eh?" mused Snake. "Do you think——"
"No, I don't think this harmless, crack-brained old man had anything to do with the deaths that are said to have taken place at Dot and Dash," interrupted Nort, guessing at Snake's implied question. "But a crank is a dangerous man to have mix your drinks. He may have brewed this from honest herbs, or it may be an extract of toadstools. I'm going slow at it."