Graves, wondering vaguely what sort of telephone system was in use on Cape Cod, heard his prospective pilot ring the instrument for a full two seconds, repeating the ring four times altogether. This he followed with two sharp tinkles. Then came a series of shouted "Hellos!" and, at last, fragments of one-half of a dialogue.
"That you, Shattuck? Know who this is, don't you? Yes, that's right . . . Say, how many folks listen every time a bell rings on this line? I've heard no less'n eight receivers come down so far . . . Two of 'em went up then, did you hear 'em? . . .
Sartin . . . I want to hire a team to go over home with . . .
To-night--Sartin . . . I don't care . . . Yes, you will, too . . .
YES, you WILL . . . Send my man back with it to-morrow . . .
I don't care WHAT it is, so it's got four legs and wheels . . ."And so on for at least five minutes. Then the captain hung up the receiver and came back to the waiting room.
"Bargain's made, Mr. Graves," he announced. "Pete'll have some sort of a turn-out alongside soon's he can get it harnessed. If you've got any extra storm duds in that satchel of yours, I'd advise you to put 'em on. We're goin' to have a rough passage."Just how rough it was likely to be, Graves realized when he emerged from the station to board the Shattuck buggy. "Pete" himself had driven the equipage over from the livery stable.
"I wouldn't do this for anybody but you, Cap'n," he vouchsafed, in what might be called a reproachful shout. Shouting was necessary, owing to the noise of the storm.
"Wouldn't do what?" replied the captain, looking first at the ancient horse and then at the battered buggy.
"Let this horse out a night like this."
"Humph! I should think night would be the only time you would let him out. . . . There! there! never mind. Get aboard, Mr. Graves.
Put your satchel on the floor between your feet. Here, let me h'ist that boot for you."The "boot" was a rubber curtain buttoned across the front of the buggy, extending from the dashboard to just below the level of the driver's eyes. The lawyer clambered in behind it, the captain followed, the end of the reins was passed through a slit in the boot, Mr. Shuttuck, after inquiring if they were "all taut," gave the command, "Gid-dap!" and horse and buggy moved around the corner of the station, out into darkness.
Of the next hour Graves's memories are keen but monotonous,--a strong smell of stable, arising from the laprobe which had evidently been recently used as a horse blanket; the sound of hoofs, in an interminable "jog, jog--splash, splash," never hurrying; a series of exasperated howls from the captain, who was doing his best to make them hurry; the thunderous roar of rain on the buggy top and the shrieking gale which rocked the vehicle on its springs and sent showers of fine spray driving in at every crack and crevice between the curtains.
The view ahead, over the boot, was blackness, bordered by spidery trees and branches whipping in the wind. Occasionally they passed houses sitting well back from the road, a lighted window gleaming cozily. And ever, as they moved, the storm seemed to gather force.