"Perhaps not," said Frank; "but it may not do any hurt to say it." "And it may do some hurt--to you," muttered Diamond under his breath. "I will kick this fellow!" But, to the surprise of all, the superstitious man cackled out a short, broken laugh, and said: "Oh, I was going to--to warn you--that's all. It--it's liable to be a pretty--stiff game. I thought it would be a--good thing for you to--keep out of it. It started--light, but it's working--up--right along. Almost any time somebody is liable to--to propose throwing off the--the limit, and then somebody is going to get--hurt. If you are--not in it, why you won't be in any--danger." There was a silence. The four youths looked at the visitor and then at each other. What did it mean? If he was playing them for "suckers," surely he was doing it in a queer manner. "Thank you," said Frank, stiffly. "You are kind!" "More than kind!" muttered Diamond. "Don't mention it," said the little man, trying to look pleasant, but making a dismal failure. "I--I dont' like to see respectable young men caught in a--trap. That's all. Thought I'd tell you. Didn't know that you would--thank me. Took my chances on that. Well, I think I'll--be going." He turned, falteringly, seemed about to say something more, opened the door part way, hesitated, then said "good-day," and went out. CHAPTER VI. THE CARGO OF THE "EAGLE." "Well?" "Well!" "Well!" The same word, but from three different persons, and spoken in three different inflections. "Will somebody please hit me with something hard!" murmured Jack. "What does it mean, Merry?" asked Rattleton. "You may search me!" exclaimed Frank, in rather expressive slang, something in which he seldom indulged, unless under great provocation. Browning had said nothing. He was pulling steadily at his pipe, quite unaware that it had gone out. "What do you make of Mr. Peddington Slush?" asked Jack. "I don't know what to make of him," confessed Frank. "About the only thing of which I am sure is that he has a corker for a name. That name is enough to make any man look sad and dejected." "What did he come here for, anyhow?" asked Rattleton. "To find out about Raymond Bloodgood--he said." "I know he said so, but I don't stake any talk--I mean take any stock in that. What difference does it make to him who Bloodgood is?" "That was something he did not make clear." "He didn't seem to make anything clear," declared Jack. "I thought for sure that he was going to throw out some hooks to drag us into that game of poker. If he had, I should have known he was sent here, and I'd kicked him out, whether you had been willing or not, Merry!" "I'd opened the door and held it wide for you," smiled Frank. "What do you think of him, Browning?" asked Harry. "His way of talking made me very tired," yawned the big fellow. "He seemed to work so hard to get anything out." "I'll allow that we have had two rather queer visitors," said the Virginian.