"What's all this ruction about?" he asked in a very cross tone.
The big policeman said something to him in a low voice, and they
both stepped out on the veranda. The first thing that the sleepy
policeman started to do was to cuff all of us boys. But Mr.
Daddles spoke up sharply, threatening to get him into trouble for
it, and even Eb protected us.

"No call to do that, Mister," he said, "we'll see to gettin' these
young fellers put where they belong for tonight. Tomorrer we'll
hold Court, an' find out what's what."

Everyone began to talk at once. It came out that the policemen had
been sent there from the town on the mainland, at the request of
Mr. Littlefield, who owned the house. He had gone away the day
before, and as there had been two burglaries in Bailey's Harbor,
or its vicinity, he did not like to leave his place unprotected.
Eb and Gregory the Gauger wished to enter the house, "an' go over
it to see if it's all right." The policemen refused to allow them
to enter,--probably because they did not wish it to be seen how
they had been keeping watch.

This made Eb very angry. He seemed to feel that the dignity of his
office, "Kunsterble of this here island," was not getting its
proper respect. But I think that the uniforms and brass buttons of
the policemen rather frightened him. The only sign of his high
station was a badge, pinned to his suspenders. The two policemen
ended the discussion by going inside the house once more,--"to
make up their lost sleep" suggested Mr. Daddles. They retired
within and shut the window.