ght be asleep.

As the boat ran up on a shelving beach, Tony was the first one to jump
out. In rapid succession Phil, Larry, and finally McGee himself, stood
on the shore.

Their coming had been already noted. Several yellow mongrel dogs came
bounding toward them, barking loudly; but at one word in the heavy
voice of McGee it was astonishing to see how quickly they cowed down,
and with tails between their legs, skulked away.

"Why, even the dogs fear him like the devil does holy water!" whispered
Larry, in the ear of his chum.

"He's a wonder, that's what!" muttered Phil; for despite the apparent
violent nature of the big man, there was something attractive about
McGee; and Phil really believed that once he gained the good will of
the other, the squatter head of the clan would prove to be a different
sort of a man from what rumor pictured him.

After the dogs came a swarm of dirty children of all ages. Many were
in rags, all of them barefooted, and the girls had unkempt hair that
made them look all the wilder.

Evidently when the light had been seen, and the men went forth in
obedience to the signal, the balance of the inhabitants of the village
had been aroused, and remained up ever since, waiting to see what would
be the result.

Somehow Phil felt deeply stirred at seeing how poverty stricken the
women and children were. Money must be a scarce thing among them these
days. Perhaps it was the fault of the men, who would work only when
the humor seized them; or again it might be that they got such a small
price for their shingles by the time they reached market that it was
only with difficulty they kept the wolf from the door.

And yet these wretched people cared for their homes here in the midst
of the great swamps; yes, so much so that they were ready to fight for
them, wretched hovels that they seemed to be in Phil Lancing's eyes.

Wondering looks were cast upon the two boys as they followed McGee up
the bank, and into the midst of the village. Perhaps they might even
have been a target for more or less abuse only that McGee was along.
When some of the boys began to call out, and thrust their hands toward
Larry, as if threatening to pinch him, because he was so very plump,
the giant only needed to turn and glare at the offenders to make them
slink away, thoroughly cowed.

Several old men seemed to be the only ones about the place, all of the
others having hastened to obey the signal when McGee led of