“This is my place,” said Bartlett shortly.
“I wish you had told me a few minutes ago,” replied the professor, springing off, “so that I might have called to my friend.”
“I’m not frettin’ about him,” said Bartlett, throwing the reins to a young man who came out of the house.
Renmark ran to the road and shouted loudly to the distant Yates. Yates apparently did not hear him, but something about the next house attracted the pedestrian’s attention, and after standing for a moment and gazing toward the west he looked around and saw the professor beckoning to him. When the two men met, Yates said:
“So we have arrived, have we? I say, Stilly, she lives in the next house. I saw the buggy in the yard.”
“Why, that good-looking girl we passed on the road. I’m going to buy our supplies at that house, Stilly, if you have no objections. By the way, how is my old friend 1812?”
“He doesn’t seem to harbor any harsh feelings. In fact, he was more troubled about the Revolution than about the blow you gave him.”
“News to him, eh? Well, I’m glad I knocked something into his head.”
“You certainly did it most unscientifically.”
“In the delivery of the blow. I never saw a more awkwardly delivered undercut.”
Yates looked at his friend in astonishment. How should this calm, learned man know anything about undercuts or science in blows?
“Well, you must admit I got there just the same.”
“Yes, by brute force. A sledge hammer would have done as well. But you had such an opportunity to do it neatly and deftly, without any display of surplus energy, that I regretted to see such an opening thrown away.”
“Heavens and earth, Stilly, this is the professor in a new light! What do you teach in Toronto University, anyhow? The noble art of self-defense?”
“Not exactly; but if you intend to go through Canada in this belligerent manner, I think it would be worth your while to take a few hints from me.”
“With striking examples, I suppose. By Jove! I will, Stilly.”
As the two came to the house they found Bartlett sitting in a wooden rocking chair on the veranda, looking grimly down the road.
“What an old tyrant that man must be in his home!” said Yates. There was no time for the professor to reply before they came within earshot.