“If we hurry——” The doctor was out the door, following Lady at an amazingly fast pace. Joe had to half run.
“Where are we going, Uncle David?”
“To the toll-bridge.”
Horseshoe Lake rippled with golden sun. Sid Malloy, the bridge-tender, collected toll and Captain Tucker, grim and dour, with a ghastly black hole in the top of his cap, inspected the inside of every car. He frowned at sight of Dr. Stone, the boy and the dog.
“Doctor,” he said bluntly, “this is no place for a blind man; and as for a boy——”
“Go inside, Joe,” the doctor said mildly. “Keep out of the way. If trouble starts, duck low and hug the floor. Is your gun handy, Captain?”
“I always have my gun,” Captain Tucker growled.
“Presently I may speak to one of the cars that stops to pay toll. Never mind questions. Have your gun out and cover that car.”
The captain had had a bad day and was nettled. “Wild west stuff?” he asked.
“You wouldn’t want the next bullet to go a little lower than your cap, would you, Captain?”