“What’s that? “said a customer.

The landlord, who was glancing at the paper, put it down and listened.  “Sounds like old Todd at it again,” he said, coming round to the front of the bar.

The noise came closer.  “It is old Todd,” said another customer, and hastily finishing his beer moved with the others to the door.  Captain Brisket, with a fine air of indifference, lounged after them, and peering over their shoulders obtained a good view of the approaching disturbance.

His three patrons, with a hopeless attempt to appear unconcerned, were coming down the road, while close behind a respectable-looking old gentleman with a long, white beard and a voice like a foghorn almost danced with excitement.  They quickened their pace as they neared the inn, and Mr. Chalk, throwing appearances to the winds, almost dived through the group at the door.  He was at once followed by Mr. Tredgold, but Mr. Stobell, black with wrath, paused in the doorway.

[Illustration:  “His three patrons, with a hopeless attempt to appear unconcerned, were coming down the road”]

“FETCH’EM out,” vociferated the old gentleman as the landlord barred the doorway with his arms.  “Fetch that red-whiskered one out and I’ll eat him.”

“What’s the matter, Mr. Todd? “inquired the landlord, with a glance at his friends.  “What’s he done?”

“Done?” repeated the excitable Mr. Todd.

“Done?  They come walking on to my wharf as if the place—­fetch him out,” he bawled, breaking off suddenly.  “Fetch him out and I’ll skin him alive.”

Captain Brisket took Mr. Stobell by the cuff and after a slight altercation drew him inside.

“Tell that red-whiskered man to come outside,” bawled Mr. Todd.  “What’s he afraid of?”

“What have you been doing to him?” inquired Captain Brisket, turning to the pallid Mr. Chalk.

“Nothing,” was the reply.

“Is he coming out?” demanded the terrible voice, “or have I got to wait here all night?  Why don’t he come outside, and I’ll break every bone in his body.”

Mr. Stobell scratched his head in gloomy perplexity; then, as his gaze fell upon the smiling countenances of Mr. Todd’s fellow-townsmen, his face cleared.

“He’s an old man,” he said, slowly, “but if any of you would like to step outside with me for five minutes, you’ve only got to say the word, you know.”

Nobody manifesting any signs of accepting this offer, he turned away and took a seat by the side of the indignant Tredgold.  Mr. Todd, after a final outburst, began to feel exhausted, and forsaking his prey with much reluctance allowed himself to be led away.  Snatches of a strong and copious benediction, only partly mellowed by distance, fell upon the ears of the listeners.

“Did you offer him the seventy?” inquired Captain Brisket, turning to Mr. Tredgold.

“I did,” said Mr. Chalk, plaintively.