"I'd have bust his blanked tires for him, anyway!" blustered Duff,
though his face and voice showed that he had received a shock.

"Yes, and you might have been a murderer by this time, and heading for
the pen, but for Dunbar here. You owe him more than you can ever pay,
you blanked fool!"

Duff made no reply, but busied himself with his horses. Nor did he speak
again till everything was in readiness for the road.

"Get in," he then said gruffly, and that was his last word until they
drove into the village.

At the store he drew up.

"Thank you for the lift," said Barry. "I should have had a tough job to
get back in time."

Duff grunted at him, and passed on into the store.

"I am very glad to have met you," said Bayne, shaking hands warmly with
him. "You have done us both a great service. He is my friend, you know."

"I am afraid I have offended him, all the same. But you see I couldn't
help it, could I?"

Bayne looked at his young, earnest face for a moment or two as if
studying him, then said with a curious smile, "No, I don't believe you
could have helped it." And with that he passed into the store.