The grocery wagon rolled out of the yard.  The forsaken Job sent a roar of regret after him.  Also, he “humped us his back,” and the nails holding the slats in place started and gave alarmingly.  John Brown hastened to the house in quest of a bone.

CHAPTER V

THE GOING OF JOSHUA

He found one, after a time, the relic of a ham, with a good deal of meat on it.  Atkins, economical soul, would have protested in horror against the sinful waste, but his helper would cheerfully have sacrificed a whole hog to quiet the wails from the box in the yard.  He pushed the ham bone between the slats, and Job received it greedily.  The howls and whines ceased and were succeeded by gnawings and crunchings.  Brown returned to the kitchen to inspect his neglected fire.

This time the fire was not out, but it burned slowly.  The water in the wash boiler was only lukewarm.  The big lobster in the net balanced on the chair clashed his claws wickedly as the substitute assistant approached.  The door had been left open, and the room hummed with flies.  Brown shut the door and, while waiting for the water to heat, separated a dozen sheets of the sticky fly paper and placed them in conspicuous places.  He wondered as he did so what some of his former acquaintances would say if they could see him.  He—­he—­a cook, and a roustabout, a dishwasher and a scrubber of brass at Eastboro Twin-Lights!  How long must he stay there?  For months at least.  He should be thankful that he was there; thankful that there was such a place, where no one came and where he could remain until he was forgotten.  He was thankful, of course he was.  But what a life to live!

He wondered what Atkins thought of him; how much the lightkeeper guessed concerning his identity and his story.  He could not guess within miles of the truth, but he must indulge in some curious speculations.  Then he fell to wondering about Seth himself.  What was it that the light-keeper was hiding from the world?  Odd that two people, each possessing a secret, should come together at that lonely spot.  Where was it that Seth went almost every afternoon?  Had these daily absences any connection with the great mystery?

He distributed the sheets of fly paper about the room, in places where he judged them likely to do the most good, and had the satisfaction of seeing a number of the tormenting insects caught immediately.  Then he tested the water in the boiler.  It was warmer, even hot, but not boiling.

He had almost forgotten the dog, but now was reminded by the animal itself, who, having apparently swallowed the bone whole, began once more to howl lugubriously.  Brown decided to let him howl for the present, and, going into the living-room, picked up an old magazine and began listlessly to read.

The howls from the yard continued, swelled to a crescendo of shrieks and then suddenly ceased.  A moment later there was a thump and a mighty scratching at the kitchen door.  The substitute assistant dropped the magazine and sprang from his chair.