"Nao." Pete spoke with a high nasal twang. "You live here?"
"Since yesterday," Jeff said. "Dan and I are here together."
"I swan!" Pete ejaculated. "I swan!"
Jeff saw that he was obviously frightened. In spite of the fact that he
seemed to be a man who would take fright easily, he might need help.
"Are you in trouble?"
"Nao. It's jest that I was passin' up the raoad an'--an'--" He blurted
out. "I swan I saw Johnny Blazer's big dog!"
Jeff thought swiftly. Why should seeing Johnny Blazer's dog be cause for
such alarm? He asked casually, "Where'd you see him?"
"Down thar on the raoad! I swan--a ha'nt dog!"
Jeff understood and relaxed. Many of the mountain people believed
firmly in haunts, spirits and witchcraft. And everybody around
Smithville had reason to believe that Pal must be dead. With an effort,
Jeff concealed his amusement. A man such as this, thinking Johnny
Blazer's dog dead and coming suddenly upon him, might tremble easily.
"You did see him," Jeff said. "He's here."
"He be?"
For a split second, Pete's eyes lost their lack-luster appearance and
venom flooded them. A cold finger brushed Jeff's spine. Any man able to
look like that was a dangerous one. Jeff thought of his pack and of the
shotgun in its corner. Then he decided that he could handle Pete, and
meanwhile there were the amenities to be observed.
"Had breakfast?"
"Nao."
"Come on in and have some."
Pete shuffled into the cabin. Mouth taut and eyes angry, Dan backed
toward Pal. The dog growled savagely. Jeff's eyes caught Dan's and he
tried to flash a warning. He and Dan had a pact which included no hasty
or ill-timed moves and definitely no shooting of anyone. Jeff spoke
sharply to the dog.
"Stop it, Pal!"