Part 17 (1/2)
”This flood's knocked honest laborers out of their jobs right along, boys,” the taller hobo continued, unable to repress a slight grin as he spoke, for he must have been pretty positive that he had not deceived the young fellows by such an absurd suggestion; ”and we're trying to git acrost country so's to find work in another quarry. If now youse could only let us have a snack it'd be doin' a real kindness, and we'd thank you straight; wouldn't we, Bill?”
”Sure thing, Pepper, we would; got to have somethin', or we'll cave in; and like enough you wouldn't want our spooks to come back and ha'nt ye allers, kids. So here's hopin' ye'll give us a hand-out without more parleyin'.”
Max did not fancy the manner of the two men. It smacked of a demand rather than a request for a.s.sistance; as though they would not take no for an answer, but might be expected to make trouble if refused.
While something within him rebelled against being compelled to accede, at the same time Max was ready to make allowances. He fancied that when men were really very hungry they might be excused for showing an irritable disposition. On that account then he repressed his desire to speak sharply.
”You've struck a party of flood sufferers, and we're not overly well supplied with grub,” Max went on to say; ”but I guess we can spare you something to keep the wolf from the door. Just sit down there, and we'll cook you a little supper, though you might call it breakfast, because it must be long after midnight.”
The men exchanged low words, and then sat down. Max noticed that they seemed to choose their places as with some motive in view, and he did not like it at all. He even saw them glance toward the shelter shack, as if wondering what might be inside, for the girls were awake, and low whispering could be heard within.
The food had been taken from the shack and hung from the limb of a tree, where it would be safe from any prowling animal; so that Max did not have to disturb the inmates of the rude shelter when he wished to cut some more of the ham, and get the coffee in the pot.
It was a strange experience, this cooking a supper at such an hour of the night for a pair of ugly-looking trampish customers; but Max was so thankful over the wonderful run of good luck that had followed himself and chums that he felt willing to put himself to considerable trouble in order to a.s.sist any other sufferer. In times like that it was really a duty they owed to the community to stretch out a helping hand to every one who professed to be in need.
Bandy-legs, Toby and Shack Beggs wanted to a.s.sist as best they could, but probably their main object was to keep moving, and in this way find chances for the exchange of a few sentences half under their breath, when it happened that their heads came close together.
”Look like tough nuts to me!” Bandy-legs told Max the first opportunity he had, as he poked the fire and induced it to burn more brightly.
”That's right,” replied Max, in the same cautious manner; ”so keep your eyes about you all the while; and be ready to swing your club if it turns out to be necessary.”
”Bet you I will, Max!” muttered the other; ”I wonder now if they've got any gun between 'em? Gos.h.!.+ if we ain't meetin' up with a trail of happenings these days and nights! I say, Max?”
”What is it, Bandy-legs?”
”Hope now you ain't never give that jolly little automatic back to the lady?” continued Bandy-legs, eagerly.
”I've still got it handy, make your mind easy on that score,” was what the other told him, and Bandy-legs evidently breathed considerably easier on that account.
”Keep shy of 'em when you go to hand over the grub, Max; 'cause I wouldn't put it past that crowd to try and grab you. They just understand that you're the boss of this camp, and if they could only get their hands on you it'd be easy to make the rest of us kowtow to 'em.”
”You've got a knife in your pocket, haven't you?” asked Max, as he leaned over to give the fryingpan another little shove, as though wis.h.i.+ng to hurry matters along, because the two intruders were hungrily watching the preparation of the midnight meal, and looking as though they could hardly wait for the call.
”Yes, I always carry one, you know, Max.”
”Pretty good edge, has it?” pursued the other.
”Sharp as a razor, right now,” was Bandy-legs' a.s.surance.
”All right, then,” Max told him; ”keep staying close to where the dog's tied, and if you hear me shout out to you, draw your knife blade across the rope when he's drawn it taut. I've got an idea he'll look on all of us as friends, and make for one of the men like a flas.h.!.+”
”Fine! I'll do it, see if I don't!”
”Well, get away now, and take up your station,” cautioned Max. ”Keep watching how they act, but don't give it away that you're looking too close. That's all!”
Upon that Bandy-legs moved off. Presently he had pa.s.sed over to where Bose was tied to the tree. The bulldog had ceased to strain at his leash. He lay again with his ma.s.sive square head resting on his forepaws, a favorite att.i.tude with him; and his bulging eyes seemed to be fixed on the two newcomers. Evidently he did not trust the ragged tramps, but as his protectors seemed to be granting them the privileges of the camp, far be it from him to interfere; all the same he was going to watch them closely.
Max was becoming more and more disturbed. From the manner of the men he felt positive that they would refuse to quietly quit the camp after they had been duly fed. That would mean they must be told to go away, and such an order coming from mere boys would be apt to arouse their evil natures so that trouble must ensue.