Bernard Brooks' Adventures: The Experience of a Plucky Boy

“What shall I do? What can I do?” he moaned. “If I only had a revolver.”

The more he struggled, the more the dog felt that he had done right in attacking him.

The professor could stand it no longer. He gave utterance to a succession of piercing shrieks, which aroused the house. He did not succeed in terrifying the dog, however, who hung on with remorseless tenacity.

The cries of the professor roused the house. The guests poured out of their rooms, among them Nelson Sturgis and Bernard. Last, but not least, the stout, rubicund landlord, a typical Englishman, made his appearance.

As all were attired in their night clothes, the effect was picturesque, to say the least, “What is the matter?” asked the landlord.

“Call off the dog! Don’t you see he is tearing me to pieces?” roared Puffer.

“Bless my soul!” ejaculated the landlord, in bewilderment. “Where did he come from?”

“Take off the dog!” roared the professor again. Nelson Sturgis was the only one present who appeared to have his wits about him.

He approached, and seizing the animal by his collar, he forcibly pulled him away from his victim. The professor, whose leg had been badly torn, bent over and clasped his hands about the wounded place.

“Where did the dog come from, and how did he happen to attack you?” asked Sturgis.

“He was lying in wait here,” said the professor. “Won’t somebody kill him?”

“But how did you happen to be here?” asked Sturgis pointedly. “Is this your room?”

“No, it is the boy’s room.”

“Then how did you happen to be here?” persisted Sturgis.

“I heard a noise,” answered Puffer with some hesitation, “and thought the boy might be sick. I suppose it must have been the dog.”

Then he turned to Bernard.

“Why didn’t you sleep in the room?” he asked severely.

“Mr. Sturgis asked me to occupy his room. He has two beds.”

“Why didn’t you mention the matter to me, and ask my permission? Don’t you know that I am your guardian for the time being?”

“I had my reasons for not caring to sleep in this room,” said Bernard significantly. “Do you want to know what they are?”

“No,” answered Puffer, who feared that those reasons might compromise him. “Why did you admit the dog into the room?”

“I had no idea he was here. He must have slipped into the room when I left it.”

“That sounds very plausible,” sneered Puffer, “but I believe you called the dog into the room purposely.”

“What could have been my object in doing it?” asked Bernard quietly.

“To make an attack upon me.”

“But how could I know that you intended to enter the room?”

This was a question which Puffer found it difficult to answer.

The landlord had entered the room, and for the first time noticed the disappearance of the bureau.

“Young man, where is the bureau?” he inquired, addressing his inquiry to Bernard.

“I don’t know, sir.”

“Do you know, sir?” asked Boniface, turning to Puffer.

“I moved it into my room,” answered the professor in some confusion.

“Then, sir, you took a great liberty,” said the innkeeper in an irate tone. “It must be moved back.”

“I will attend to it to-morrow.”

The company prepared to disperse.

“Bernard,” said the professor, “I expect you to finish the night in your own room.”

“Excuse me, Professor Puffer,” replied Bernard firmly, “but I would rather not.”

Professor Puffer muttered something, but did not dare to press the demand.

And so the night wore on, and Professor Puffer was obliged to acknowledge that his cunning stratagem had failed.

CHAPTER XX. A LOST CLUE

What would you advise me to do, Mr. Sturgis?” asked Bernard as he was dressing the next morning.

“I advise you to leave Professor Puffer. He seems to be a thoroughly bad man. You will be in danger as long as you remain with him.”

“I will take your advice, though this will throw me upon my own resources. I think I can make a living in some way, though I should know better how to go about it in America.”

“How much money have you got?”

“About twenty dollars.”

“That won’t last you long. I must see what I can think of for you. First of all, you mustn’t stay in Liverpool. Professor Puffer would probably make an effort to get you into his clutches.”

“Where would you advise me to go?”

“To London. I shall leave directly after breakfast and you can go up with me.”

“I shall be glad to go with one who has been there before. But I must keep out of the way of the professor.”

“I will arrange matters for you. When you are dressed, go at once to the station of the London and Northwestern Railway. You will find a restaurant close by where you can get breakfast. Then go to the waiting room, where I will join you before the next train starts.”