CHAPTER X
DINNER FOR TWO
The regret, politely expressed though it was, had the effect of athunderbolt on both Allan and Pete, neither of whom had heard or seenanything to suggest the presence of a third person on the scene.Allan's surprise was ludicrous enough, but the picture presented byPete--mouth and eyes wide open and the headless duck held stiffly atarm's length, his whole attitude suggesting that the icy water in whichhe stood had suddenly frozen him stiff--caused even the newcomer tosmile a little under his mustache.
The latter was a rather stout gentleman, of middle age, withruddy cheeks, piercing dark eyes, and an expression of extremeself-possession. He wore a suit of rough gray tweed and leatherleggings and carried a shot-gun. At his side, exhibiting two rows ofvery white teeth, stood a red and white setter. Allan liked neitherthe gun nor the dog, and envied Pete his chilly, but more distant,position. The newcomer glanced silently from Allan to Pete. It was thelatter who found his voice first.
"Those your ducks?" he asked.
The man nodded. Pete looked again at the drake in his hand.
"Oh!" he said.
The dog growled and Allan observed that the man's gun was cocked andthat it was held in a position that was far from reassuring. Peteregarded the man with a puzzled expression.
"Look here, partner," he asked, "are those _tame_ ducks?"
"They are, sir."
Pete's face cleared; a grin overspread his features, and he chuckledaloud as he waded back to shore.
"You seem amused?" said the man, politely but with a note ofinterrogation.
"Well, I'm mighty relieved, as the broncho said when he bucked the manoff. You see, I thought they were wild ducks, and when they wouldn'tfly, I was afraid they were degenerating. Of course, as they were tameducks, it's all right." Pete waded out of the water and the setter laidback his ears and growled suspiciously. "Hello, dog!" said Pete, as hewent toward where he had deposited his shoes, stockings, and rifle.
"Just stay where you are, please!" said the man. He waved toward Pete'spossessions. The dog trotted over to them and stood guard, watchingtheir owner intently. Pete's grin broadened. He tossed down the duck hehad rescued.
"There's another out there," he said. "Guess the dog could get it,couldn't he?"
"Where do you gentlemen belong?" asked the man. The gentlemen exchangedglances. Then--
"Centerport," answered Allan.
"Students?"
"Yes, sir."
"Humph!" said the owner of the ducks. "Want me to believe you thoughtmy ducks were wild ones, do you?"
"You don't suppose we'd walk six miles to shoot tame ones, do you?"asked Pete, scathingly. The man shrugged his shoulders.
"I suppose you're ready to pay for the pair you've shot?"
"Glad to," answered Pete. "How much?"
"Well, I guess a dollar will do. They were both Pekins."
"Can't say I've had a dollar's worth of sport," said Pete, "but here'syour money." He put a hand into his trouser pocket. Then he stoppedshort and looked with dismay at Allan. The owner of the ducks waitedsilently.
"Guess you'll have to trust us, partner," said Pete. "We both cameaway without any money." Allan, fearing arrest would follow thisannouncement, held his breath. But the man only smiled courteously.
"Very well," he answered. "There is no hurry."
"Thanks!" said Pete. He looked inquiringly toward the dog. "How aboutmy shoes and stockings? It's a bit chilly."
"I fancy your walk back will warm you up," said the man. Pete whistled.
"Going to keep 'em for security, eh?" he asked. The other noddedgravely.
"Couldn't compromise, I suppose?" Pete insinuated. "That carbine'sworth a good bit more'n a dollar. It's hard walking without any shoes."
"I dare say," was the reply. "But maybe if you stub your toe a fewtimes, it'll remind you to find out whether a duck is domestic or wildbefore you shoot it."
"Look here, Mr. Whatever-your-name-is," said Allan, explosively,"you'll get your old dollar. We're not thieves. But you've got to lethim have his shoes and stockings."
"If I don't?" asked the man, with a flicker of appreciation in hiseyes.
"Why--we'll just take them, that's all."
"I wonder if you could do it?" said the other, measuring the two withhis eyes. "I almost believe you could."
"Well, then--" began Allan.
"But of course you'd get damaged in the process," continued the other,cheerfully. "Now, look here; you've killed my ducks, and it's onlyright that you should pay for them. Isn't that so?"
"Yes; but if we have no money----"
"That's it," was the answer. "It doesn't seem probable that you twostudents would come six miles from college without any money. Where areyou going to get your dinner?"
"There isn't going to be any dinner," said Pete. "You can believe us ornot, just as you like, and be hanged to you! If you'll put down yourgun, I'll lick you."
"That's an honest offer," said the man, smiling outright for the firsttime, "but it isn't just practical. I rather think you could do it, andI don't see why I should be licked merely because you have killed myducks. Do you?"
"I guess that's so, partner," Pete answered. "But something's got to bedone. I can't walk home without any shoes."
The man received this assertion in silence, glancing thoughtfully fromPete to the articles in discussion. The dog looked suspiciously fromPete to Allan. Allan scowled at the dog's master. The latter spoke:
"Here, Jack!"
Jack went to him unwillingly. Pete picked up his shoes and stockings.
"Thanks!" he said. Then he put them on. The man watched him smilingly.When the last lace was tied, Pete got up.
"My name's Burley," he said. "I'll come over with your money to-morrowor next day. Come on, Allan. Good day, sir."
"You're forgetting your rifle," said the man. Pete looked puzzled.Then--
"Do I get that, too?" he asked.
"Yes, you might as well take that along, I guess." Pete went back andgot it. "Where you going now?" asked the man.
"Home," said Pete.
"But how about dinner?"
"Well, maybe we'll beg something to eat on the way. I guess thereain't any place around here where they'd take a Winchester carbineas security for a Thanksgiving dinner, is there?" asked Pete, with asmile. The stranger answered the smile.
"Hardly. But I tell you what you do. Strike straight up through thewoods here over the hill till you come to a lane. Keep along that fora quarter of a mile until you come to a big brown house standing backfrom the lane. You go there and tell 'em you're hungry, and you'll getplenty to eat. Ask for Mr. Guild. Don't forget, now; first house youcome to. There isn't another for a mile further, so you'd better followmy advice."
"Thanks!" said Pete. Allan echoed him.
"All right," said the man, smiling kindly. "Good morning, gentlemen."
"Good morning," they answered. They started off through the woods inthe direction he had indicated, but after a few yards Allan turned andlooked back. The man, with the setter at heel, was moving along a pathat right angles to them. He glanced up and waved his hand.
"We're sorry about the ducks," called Allan.
"That's so," Pete shouted.
The man nodded good-naturedly. Then the trees hid him.
Allan and Pete walked on in silence for a ways. Then--
"Say, he wasn't such a bad sort, was he?" asked Allan.
"No, he's all right. I don't believe he was going to do any more thanscare us, anyway. Guess he was just having some fun with us."
"Wasn't it funny about the ducks being tame ones?" asked Allan,presently, as they left the woods, climbed over a stone wall, andstruck off up a lane.
"That's a joke on me," said Pete, laughing. "Ginger! How was I to knowthat folks left their old ducks floating around loose all over thecountry here? Out our way, when you see a duck in a lake or on theriver, it's a wild duck, and you just naturally go ahead and shoot it.That's what bothe
red me--those fool ducks sitting there and lettingme throw rocks at 'em. Next time-- Say, I guess that's our ranch overthere."
Allan's gaze followed the other's.
A turn in the lane laid bare a broad expanse of lawn, interspersed withornamental trees and shrubbery, beyond which stood a long, ramblinghouse of brown-shingled walls and numerous red chimneys. Farther offwere stables and barns. From the chimneys the smoke arose straight intothe still air, suggesting warmth and good cheer. The boys paused andlooked longingly across the lawn.
"Shall we try it?" asked Allan.
"Sure!" Pete said. "I'm so hungry I could eat cedar bark."
"But what will they think?" Allan demurred. "It isn't as though it werea farmhouse, you know."
"_That's_ all right; the sweller the folks the better the rations. Comeon; let's cut across here."
"We'll just ask for some bread and a glass of milk," suggested Allan.
"Bread and milk? Ginger! I've got to have pie and hot coffee!"
"But we'll go to the back door, won't we?"
"Like tramps? Not a bit of it. We'll go to the front. What was the namehe told us?"
"Guild."
"That's right; Guild. Hello! look there; there's another one of thosesetter dogs. Looks just like the beast the fellow back there had,doesn't it?"
But this dog only observed them indifferently from a respectfuldistance, and then trotted around the corner of the house as theymounted the broad steps, crossed a wide veranda, and pushed the ivorybutton beside the big oaken door. Allan strove to appear at ease, butin reality looked as though he had come to steal the family silver. Aneatly-aproned maid opened the door.
"Is Mr. Guild in?" asked Pete, with unruffled composure.
"Yes, sir. Will you please walk in?" They followed her into a library,in which a wood fire was crackling merrily in the chimney-place. Allanfelt like an impostor. Pete calmly selected the easiest chair andlowered himself into it with a deep sigh of contentment.
"This is something like!" he said. "I'll bet we'll get two or threekinds of pie, Allan."
But Allan, sitting uncomfortably on the edge of a straight-backedchair, only smiled distressedly and listened to the footsteps comingnearer and nearer down the uncarpeted hall. The footsteps reached thedoor; Pete and Allan got to their feet as the door swung open.
"Mr. Guild--" began Pete. Then he stopped short.
Before them was the owner of the ducks!