CHAPTER XI -- An Unsatisfactory Interview
Mike Murphy was never more astounded in his life.
"He oughter said good-bye before he took that dive," exclaimed theyouth, who was not the one to stand idle when a companion, even one whomhe did not specially fancy, was in danger. Mike's chivalry was roused,and with no thought of the consequences to himself, he ran to the helpof the other lad. His shillaleh was firmly grasped in his left hand, andheld ready for instant use, for nothing seemed more probable than thatthe weapon would be quickly needed.
Mike was sure that if he imitated Hoke, he would be seized in the sameway. He therefore hurried lightly to the opposite side of the pile,where as silently as he could, he thrust the toe of his shoe into thecrevice between the lower logs, gave a spring, caught hold of the uppertier, and drew himself upward.
Buzby Biggs, one of the tramps whom we have met, was sitting on theground inside the crude cabin and punching his stubby forefinger intothe bowl of his corncob pipe, with a view of tamping the tobacco andmaking it ready to light, when the sound of voices outside caused him tosuspend operations. He rose to his feet, intending to peep through asmall opening of which he knew when he heard the scratching made byHoke's shoes as he climbed the low wall. Angered by the intrusion uponhis privacy, he waited until the head of the lad rose to view, when heproceeded to act as has been described.
Hoke was too startled to make any outcry or resistance. The violence ofhis debut caused him to sprawl forward on his hands and knees and hishat fell off. He instinctively picked it up and replaced it on his head.
"What do yer mean by butting into a gentleman's private residencewithout ringing the bell or sending in your card?" demanded Biggs, whofinding himself confronted by only one lad, could feel no misgiving asto his own safety.
"Gee! I didn't know _you_ were here," replied Hoke, alarmed over thestrange situation in which he was caught.
"That don't make no difference," replied the hobo, who seemed to betrying to work himself into a passion; "yer showed yer ain't used toperlite sassiety and I allers makes a feller pay for the privilege ofcoming into the castle of the Duke de Sassy."
Poor Hoke was scared almost out of his wits. He began fumbling in hispockets.
"How much is the charge? I haven't got more'n two or three dollars withme."
"In that case, it will take all and that ere watch which I persoom istied to t'other end of the chain dangling in front."
"Why that would be robbery!" exclaimed the lad, indignant at theimpending outrage.
"I wouldn't call it that, younker; rayther it's the toll yer hef to payfor crossin' this bridge. So yer may as well shell out first as last."
As Hoke stood, his back was against the side of the wooden wall overwhich he had just tumbled, with the tramp scowling and malignant, facinghim. Thus, as will be noted, Biggs was on the side of the structure upwhich Mike Murphy had climbed so silently that no one heard him. Hoke infact began to rally from his panic and was on the point of shouting forhelp when he saw the end of Mike's buckthorn cane, gripped in his lefthand, slide up into view, instantly followed by the hat and red,freckled countenance of the Irish youth, who remained motionless for amoment, while he peered at the curious picture below him.
Before Hoke could utter the glad words on his tongue, Mike shook hishead as a warning for him to hold his peace. The other caught on and didnot look directly at his friend, but straight into the face of thetousled scamp. Mike was so clearly in his field of vision that Hoke sawevery movement and even the expression of the face which was never morewelcome.
The next instant one knee of Mike rested on the topmost log, then thefoot slid over and he perched firmly on the top with his shillalehtransferred to his right hand.
The sight of his friend heartened Hoke.
"You can't have my watch and chain, and I sha'n't give you a penny! Youhave no more right here than I, and you daresen't lay a hand on me."
"What's that? what's that?" demanded the other, taking a step forwardand thrusting out his ugly visage; "I guess it's time I teached yousomething."
"Aisy there, Misther Biggs; I think it's mesilf will hev something tosay 'bout this."
The hobo whirled about and confronted the Irish lad, seated on the topof the wall and grasping his heavy cane.
"Where did _yer_ come from?" growled the tramp, who ought not to havebeen frightened by the presence of two sturdy youths.
Mike made the Boy Scout salute.
"From Tipperary, county of Tipperary, Ireland. Would ye be kind enoughto exchange cards wid me?" and he pretended to search in his pocket forthat which he never carried. "Clarence, me noble friend," added Mike,addressing Hoke Butler, "ye may as well withdraw from this palatialresidence, as me friends used to say when laving our shanty at home."
Hoke was instant to seize the opportunity thus presented. He clamberedup the logs with the vivacity of a monkey, scooted over the wall,dropped to the ground and then made off at the highest bent of hisspeed. He did not seem to think he was deserting a friend in extremityand after that friend had been quick to rush to his relief.
A glance behind told Mike the truth, whereat he was displeased, thoughhe did not show it by his manner. It was not so bad, however, as atfirst appeared. Hoke had run only a little way when the cowardice ofwhat he was doing halted him as abruptly as he had started.
And then it was that an inspiration seized him. Questioning the wisdomof him and Mike bearding, as may be said, the lion in his den, Hoke madea pretence that help was near. He shouted at the top of his voice:
"Dr. Spellman! Here we are! Why don't you hurry up?"
It was pure good fortune that led Hoke thus to appeal to the only personwhom the hobo held in dread, for the youth knew nothing of what hadoccurred previously. He was doubtful about calling upon Uncle Elk, andanother Boy Scout did not seem a formidable enough reinforcement. ScoutMaster Hall would have served, but Hoke did not think of him.
Mr. Buzby Biggs heard the shouted words and could not forget that thephysician was the owner of firearms and did not seem reluctant to usethem. Although the two vagrants had been spared, it was doubtful whethermercy would be shown them again. Despite his attempt to bluff, the trampcould not repress a tremor in his voice.
"What's he calling that 'ere doctor fur?"
"I think he remarked a remark about telling him to hurry up. Av coorseye will be glad to meet the docther agin."
"Not by a blamed sight; him and me don't speak as we pass by."
"He prefers to spake wid his revolver, I belave."
Mike had been instant to read the trick of Hoke, and he helped all hecould. Biggs was in such a fright he could not hide it. The last personin the world whom he wished to meet was the medical man. He turned toimitate the action of Hoke Butler.
"Howld on! None of that!" commanded Mike in such a peremptory voice thatBiggs with hands on the logs in front and one foot raised, checkedhimself and looked around.
"What do yer want?" he growled; "hain't I a right to leave my home whenI please?"
"Which is what Jimmy Jones said when the sheriff stopped him as he wasbreaking-jail. You don't want to bump up agin the docther whin he hasthat pill box in his hand. See here, Biggs, I'll let you go on onecondition."
"What's that?" growled the other.
"Yesterday when ye and t'other scamp was paddling off in the canoe yestole, ye made a sudden dive overboord and swum fur shore; by yer mannerI knowed ye wouldn't run the risk of taking a bath if ye hadn't beenscared out of what little wits ye had."
"It would have been the same with yer, if yer'd seen what we did."
"If ye'll tell me what ye obsarved, ye may lave whin you choose and I'llgive ye me pledge that Docther Spellman won't harm ye."
"All right; I'll tell yer as soon as I git outside this place."
"You can't wait till then; ye must give me the sacret while ye arestanding there. If ye don't I won't interfare wid the docther workinghis will."
An expressio
n of dread passed over the repulsive face and the manactually shivered.
"Wai, whin me and Saxy was going along in the canoe we borrered wid mepaddling, I happened to look down into the clear water and my eyesrested upon--_the devil himself_!"
Mike Murphy was taken aback for the moment by this amazing reply. Hisfirst thought was that the hobo was trifling with him, but, if so, hisacting could not have been better. Astounding as was his declaration theman believed his own words which conveyed no meaning to the youth.
"Worra now, don't ye understand it?"
"No; do yer?"
"That clear water sarves like a looking glass. Whin ye looked down yeobsarved yer own image and I don't wonder ye took it for owld Nick."
"But Saxy seed the same as I did," replied the man, impressed by the notcomplimentary explanation of the lad who was perched on top of the logwall.
"It was his picter that he saan and aich of ye luks more like t'otherthan he does like himsilf."
Biggs shook his head. This wouldn't do.
"It wasn't like a man at all."
"What did it luk like?"
Mike was excited. He felt he was on the eve of clearing up the mysterywhich had baffled him and others, though not Uncle Elk, who would saynothing.
Instead of giving an intelligent reply to the question for a furtherbill of particulars, the tramp shuddered as before. There was a whine inhis voice when he spoke:
"Didn't I answer yer as I agreed? What are yer kicking about?"
"Ye've got to do more than that afore I asks the docther not to p'inthis gun this way and pull the trigger."
"Have yer ever seed the devil?"
"Not afore I looked upon yersilf."
"Then how do yer expict me to describe him? He was there right under thecanoe and almost close enough to grab us."
"Did he hev horns and a spiked tail?"
Mike had heard the sound of footsteps behind him on the leaves. Some onewas approaching and he was sure it was Hoke Butler coming back to hishelp.
Biggs made no reply to the frivolous question of the youth seated abovehim. The taint of superstition in his nature resented such treatment ofa theme which had nothing but terror to him. Mike, certain that hecommanded the situation and was about to learn that which he yearned toknow, felt that he need not haste.
"Ye'll hev to do better than that, Signor Biggs, but as ye saam toprefer that the docther should take ye in hand I'll turn ye over tohim."
And Mike turned to wink at Hoke Butler, but to his dismay, discovered inthe same moment that his friend was not in sight, and the one who hadcome up behind him was Saxy Hutt, the other tramp.