For a second it stood there, swishing its tail and staring at us out of its bloodshot eyes, then in a menacing fashion it began to advance rapidly up the path. With undignified haste Ross let go the chain and scrambled back into his seat. Freed from this check, the head of the boat promptly swung round, and the next moment we were drifting broadside on, with several feet of water between us and the shore. "Don't be frightened," I said soothingly. "It's only his fun. He doesn't bite." Before Ross could answer there was the sound of a step on the gravel, and the figure of a man came hurriedly round the bend leading from the house. "Come 'ere," he shouted. "Come 'ere at once." The dog pulled up as if he had been shot, and, casting a disappointed glance at us, stalked away solemnly from the bank. With a couple of strokes I managed to regain our former position. "Good morning," I said. "Are you Bascomb?" The newcomer, a dark, heavily built, clean-shaven man of about thirty-five, advanced quickly across the open space. "That's me, sir," he replied. "You're Mr. Dryden, I suppose?" I shipped my sculls and stepped up on to the landing-stage, followed by Ross. "Yes," I said, "I'm Mr. Dryden. Did you get my wire?" "It come along yesterday afternoon, sir. I got some lunch ready for you." He tied up the painter to an iron ring, and then glanced round at the dog, who was sitting on his haunches a few yards away, surveying us with sombre interest. "I'm sorry 'e run at you like that. 'Taint 'is fault exac'ly. He's bin trained not to allow no strangers on the island." "He seems to have picked up the trick very nicely," I replied. "What's his name?" "Satan, sir." I turned to Ross. "No wonder he wanted to get hold of you," I said, laughing. Ross stooped down and snapped his fingers. "Come on, Lucifer," he called out coaxingly. "We're all pals here." The huge animal rose slowly to his feet, and in a very deliberate fashion strolled across to where we were standing. "'E won't 'urt you now," observed Bascomb. "'E only wants to take stock of yer like." As if to confirm his statement, Satan came up to each of us in turn, and sniffed enquiringly at the legs of our trousers. His inspection was evidently a success, for with a prodigious yawn he sat down between us, and stared out indifferently at the landscape. "We've passed all right," said Ross, "but I don't think we've taken honours." "Well, we shan't be chawed up, anyhow," I returned. "That's something to be grateful for." "You won't 'ave no more trouble with 'im," put in Bascomb. "'E'll be as friendly as a kitten now 'e understands you belong 'ere." Then, as if anxious to change the conversation, he added quickly: "Will ye come inside straight away, sir, or would you like to take a walk round the island first?" "Oh, we may as well see the house," I said. "There will be plenty of time for exploring after lunch."