Whatwashedoing？Whatwasanygentlemandoing？Hewasn’tanymolly-coddletogotobedatteno’clock！Whatwashedoing？
Well——he’dbeenwithmenwhodidn’tshuttheirdoorsandturntheboysoutjustintheshankoftheevening。Hewasn’tanyBarkertobewet-nursedbyDemorest。
\"Someoneelsewashere！\"saidDemoreststernly，withhiseyesfixedonWhiskeyDick。Thedullglazewhichseemedtoveiltheouterworldfromthedrunkard’spupilsshiftedsuddenlywithsuchalookofdirecthorrorthatDemorestwasfaintoturnawayhisown。
Buttheveilmercifullyreturned，andwithitDick’sworked-upsenseofinjury。Nobodywasthere——not\"ashole。\"DidDemorestthinkiftherehadbeenanyofhisfriendstheretheywouldhavestoodbylike\"dogsh\"andseenhiminsulted？
Demorestturnedawayandre-enteredthecabinasDicklurchedheavilyforward，stillmuttering，downthetrail。Theexcitementover，asickeningrepugnancetothewholeincidenttooktheplaceofDemorest’sresentmentandindignation。Therehadbeenacowardlyattempttorobthemoftheirmiserabletreasure。Hehadmetitandfrustrateditinalmostasbrutalafashion：thegoldwasalreadytarnishedwithblood。Tohissurprise，yetrelief，hefoundhispartnersunconsciousoftheoutrage，stillsleepingwiththephysicalimmobilityofover-excitedandtiredmen。Shouldheawakenthem？No！Heshouldhavetoawakenalsotheirsuspicionsanddesireforrevenge。Therewasnodangerofafurtherattack；