The blind man shrugged. "I'd like to know what story the ravine could
tell. Give it a look, Joe, and keep out of sight."
Lady, out of her harness, drowsed in a patch of sun, but Dr. Stone sat
with a perplexed pucker between his sightless eyes. By and by familiar
footsteps came hurriedly along the dirt road, and he arose and went to
the porch door.
"Somebody's been messing under the bridge," Joe reported. "A lot of
rock's been knocked out and a lot of dirt dug away. Does it mean
anything, Uncle David?"
"Perhaps," the blind man said, and took the dog's harness down from a
peg. "It's time we looked in at the party."
Allan Robb's house was gay with noise and with laughter. Young people
seemed to be everywhere--on the porch, on the lawn, back toward the
stables. Joe, walking with his uncle and the dog, was conscious of
curious glances and voices that flattened out and became silent. And so
they went up to the porch to be met by Allan in the great hall.
"Glad you came, Doctor. Joe, I'll show you the mare--" His voice broke
off. "Bruce, here's an old friend."
Joe edged back a step. Bruce Robb, proud and imperious, had often driven
him from Allan's acres, and he was still a little in awe of the man. But
the Bruce he met today was morose and restless, and given to a habit of
gnawing on a clipped, black mustache.
Alec Landry surged down the hall. "Hi, Doctor. A party to be remembered.
Well, why not? It isn't every day a man comes of age."
"Aren't you a day early?" Dr. Stone asked mildly.
"Why wait for the day to arrive. Meet it; greet it; welcome it on the
threshold. The old Indian tribes had the right idea."
Joe wondered what Indians had to do with Allan's birthday.
"Symbolism," Alec Landry roared heartily. "At midnight Allan becomes of
age, and immediately he begins to exercise the prerogatives of a man. At
a minute past the hour he walks into the library with two witnesses and
signs his will. At four tomorrow morning he'll saddle the mare Bruce gave
him and ride it for the first time. Ride it, Doctor, in the dark of the
night and on his own land. Ride it through the woodland to the bridge,
and over the ravine, and up East Hill. And then, alone on the hilltop,
he'll meet his manhood in the dawn."
"Quite an idea," the blind man said. And then: "Might I trouble either of
you gentlemen for a pipeful of tobacco?"
Joe thought they must all hear the breath that rattled in his throat. A
man, smoking a pipe, had hidden--. Did his uncle suspect somebody here?
His hot eyes watched to see who would bring forth tobacco.
"All the pipefuls you want, Doctor," Alec Landry roared, "and welcome.
Bruce and I smoke the same brand. Take your pick of either pouch."
The doctor filled his pipe, and a merry group came through the hall and
Alec was swept away.
"Skipper's certainly putting on a show for the golden crown," Bruce said
tartly.