CHAPTER IV
A LOAN TO CAPTAIN LANDON
The elder Murphy looked at his son with a quizzical expression and thenglanced at the hat which had been hung on a peg behind the door.
"And where did ye get that?"
"Traded me owld one for it, but I had to go through a foight before theither chap would give his consint."
The father's face brightened.
"So ye've been in anither foight, have ye, and only well landed inAmeriky."
"I niver had a foiner one," replied the son, still standing in the opendoor which led to the kitchen; "it makes me heart glad when I think ofthe same."
"And which licked?"
Mike was quick to seize the opportunity for which he was waiting. With adowncast expression, he humbly asked:
"Do ye expict me to win _ivery_ time, dad?"
"Av coorse I do; haven't I trained ye up to that shtyle of fightin'?"
"Suppose, dad, the ither chap is bigger and stronger--what do ye ixpictof me?"
"Ye know yoursilf what to expict when ye disgraces the name of Murphy."
Laying his pipe on the table beside which his wife was sitting, theparent grimly rose and moved toward the door on the other side of theroom that opened into the small apartment where the firewood was storedfrom wetting by rain. The three knew the meaning of the movement: he wasseeking the heavy strap that was looped over a big spike. He had broughtit from Tipperary two years before and must have kept it against thecoming of his heir, knowing he would have use for it.
"Have done wid yer supper," he said to Mike, "and after the same, I'lldo me dooty by ye."
The grinning lad was still standing in the kitchen door. The action ofhis father turned his back toward the youth, who winked at Alvin,stepped across the threshold and sat down at the end of the table wherehe was in sight, but the greater portion of the table itself was hidden.
Although the moonlight had given the visitor a good view of his youngfriend, the glow of the lamp now showed his face and features with thedistinctness of midday. Alvin was sure he had never seen so homely ayouth. The countenance was broad and covered with so many freckles thatthey showed on the tips of his large ears. The nose was an emphatic pug,and the mouth wide and filled with large white teeth, upon which nodentist could have found a pin speck. His short hair was the color of awell burned brick, stood straight up from the crown and projected likequills from the sides of his head, his complexion being of the same hueas the hair.
Although of stocky build, being hardly as tall as Alvin, the frame ofthe Irish youth was a model of strength and grace. There were few of hisage who in a rough and tumble bout could hold their own with him. Thenight being sultry, he wore no coat or waistcoat, but the shirt,guiltless of tie, was clean, as were the trousers supported by a beltencircling the sturdy waist. His dusty tan shoes were neatly tied andthe yellow socks which matched them could not have been less soiled.
The best "feature" about Mike Murphy was his good nature. His spiritswere irrepressible, and he was always ready with quip and wit. Lookinginto the broad shining face one was reminded of the remark made aboutAbraham Lincoln: he was so homely that he crossed the line and becamehandsome.
Alvin's chair being near the front door with Mike in plain sight, hekept his eyes upon him for a minute or two. He saw him reach his forkacross the table and bring a huge baked potato to his plate. He twistedit apart in the middle so as to expose the flaky whiteness and thensnapped the fingers of both hands at his sides. With a grin he looked atAlvin and asked:
"Do ye know what's the hottest thing in the wurruld?"
"How about a live coal of fire?"
"Arrah, now, it's the inside of a baked pratie; a coal of fire is acooling breeze alongside the same. Be the same towken, can ye tell methe cowldest thing on airth?"
"A piece of ice will do very well."
"Ye're off: it's the handle of a pitchfork on a frosty mornin'; if yedon't belave it try the expirimint for yersilf. But I must attind toplaisure, as me cousin said whin he grabbed his shillaleh and attackedhis loved brother."
Mike now gave his whole attention to the meal. When it is rememberedthat he was ravenously hungry and the provision bountiful, enough issaid. His father came back into the sitting room, tossed the heavy strapon the stand, beside which his wife was still serenely sewing, picked uphis pipe and by sucking vigorously upon it renewed the fire that hadnearly gone out. He crossed his legs and slowly rocked to and fro,glancing hospitably at Alvin.
While the latter was greatly amused by what he had seen and heard, hewas also distressed for his friend Mike, whose idea of a joke wasunique. There could be no mistaking the meaning of his father'sactions. The son was due for a sharp castigation and was certain toreceive it unless the caller interposed with a truthful statement of therecent occurrence.
Alvin rose from his chair and stepping to the kitchen door, gentlyclosed it. Mrs. Murphy looked up through her spectacles.
"I don't wonder that ye wants to shet out the noise Mike makes whinaiting, fur the same is scand'lous."
"It isn't that, but I don't wish him to hear what I say to you."
"Shall I tell him to hold a finger of aich hand in his ears while he'saiting?" asked the mother without a smile.
"He might find that inconvenient. Mike told you the truth when he saidhe was in a fight to-night."
"I don't doubt the same, but I demands to know why he 'lowed himself togit licked?" said the father, with no little heat.
"He wasn't licked: it was the other fellow who got the worst of it."
"Why, thin, did the spalpeen say it was himself that was bested?"
"Begging your pardon, Pat, he did not. He stated a general truth, whichno one can deny, to the effect that a fellow like him takes a chance ofbeing defeated now and then. Listen to my story."
Thereupon Alvin related the incidents with which you are familiar,adding:
"If it hadn't been for Mike's arrival and his brave fight in my behalf,I should have been badly beaten and robbed. The first wretch even fireda pistol during the rumpus."
"Did he kill aither of ye?" asked the startled father.
"The shot was not aimed at me or him, but was meant to scare me intostopping and giving up. If I had thought of it I should have taken theweapon from him and given it to Mike. Let me tell you," added Alvinimpressively, "both of you ought to be proud of such a son as Mike."
"So we are," quietly remarked the mother, without looking up or checkingher flying needle.
"There isn't a pluckier lad in the world. He came to my help like awhirlwind, and the way he sailed into the fellow who struck me frombehind showed Mike to be a hero."
The father reached out and grasped the loop of leather lying on thestand. Rising to his feet he passed into the small room where the stovewood was piled and hung the strap again upon the metal peg. As he cameback and resumed his seat he sighed. It looked as if he wasdisappointed.
"What do you intend to do with him, Pat?"
"Train him up in the way he should go. Whin the school opens atSouthport he will attind there, and whin he's at home I'll find enoughto kaap him out of mischief."
"School will not open until September, which is several weeks away. Iwant you to lend Mike to me until then."
Mrs. Murphy stopped her sewing for the moment and looked at theirvisitor. Her husband removed the pipe from his mouth and also stared athim.
"Lind him to ye!" he repeated. "And phwat would you do wid him?"
"You know father bought me a motor boat, which arrived a few days ago.Chester Haynes and I have had great fun cruising up the Kennebec anddifferent bays and streams, and we are going to keep at it until we haveto go home. We want Mike to join us and share our sport, just as long asChester and I are in this part of the world. You won't refuse me thefavor?"
It was evident that the parents were pleased with the request. The proudmother said:
"Mike is so gintle that he'll be a good companion for anyone."
"Yis;
because of his gintleness," repeated the father grimly. "But itsaams to me ye're too kind, Alvin; he won't be able to airn his kaap andthe indulgence ye'll give him."
"Won't earn them! Why, we don't intend to hire him; it's the pleasure weshall have in the company of such a good fellow as Mike. Besides," addedAlvin, lowering his voice, "I have a feeling that we're not through withthose two fellows who attacked me to-night. Mike won't be satisfieduntil he has paid the one who ran away from him and left his hatbehind."
"Ye're wilcome to the lad," assented his father, "and I take it as verygood on yer part, which is what ivery one has a right to ixpict fromyersilf and father."
"No blarneying, Pat," protested their caller. "I am obliged to you forgranting my request, for the favor will be wholly given to us."
"Now it's yersilf that's blarneying," said Pat.
The kitchen door softly opened and the grinning, red-faced Mike cameinto the room and sat down near his young friend.
"I overheerd ivery word that was said, Captain, and it's Mike Murphythat's thankful for yer kindness. I'm wid ye to the ind."
The others laughed at the use of the title by the Irish youth, whoexplained:
"Av coorse it's 'Captain Landon,' being that ye're the owner of themotor boat, as ye calls the same."
"And you shall be my first mate," said Alvin.
"Won't Chister, as ye name him, be jealous and indulge in mootiny?"
"No fear of that; we'll satisfy him by making him second mate, while allthree will form the crew. And now I must bid you good night. I shallcall for you as soon as we are through breakfast to-morrow morning."
With which our young friend went to his own home.