A great sound of merry laughter from Morgan and Reeves went out over the still harbour.  Two or three fishermen in the fleet of sloops anchored there looked up at the house of the diablos Americanos on the hill and wondered.

“My dear Mr. Plunkett,” cried Morgan, conquering his mirth, “the dinner is getting, cold.  Let us sit down and eat.  I am anxious to get my spoon into that shark-fin soup.  Business afterward.”

“Sit down, gentlemen, if you please,” added Reeves, pleasantly.  “I am sure Mr. Plunkett will not object.  Perhaps a little time may be of advantage to him in identifying—­the gentleman he wishes to arrest.”

“No objections, I’m sure,” said Plunkett, dropping into his chair heavily.  “I’m hungry myself.  I didn’t want to accept the hospitality of you folks without giving you notice; that’s all.”

Reeves set bottles and glasses on the table.

“There’s cognac,” he said, “and anisada, and Scotch ‘smoke,’ and rye.  Take your choice.”

Bridger chose rye, Reeves poured three fingers of Scotch for himself, Morgan took the same.  The sheriff, against much protestation, filled his glass from the water bottle.

“Here’s to the appetite,” said Reeves, raising his glass, “of Mr. Williams!” Morgan’s laugh and his drink encountering sent him into a choking splutter.  All began to pay attention to the dinner, which was well cooked and palatable.

“Williams!” called Plunkett, suddenly and sharply.

All looked up wonderingly.  Reeves found the sheriff’s mild eye resting upon him.  He flushed a little.

“See here,” he said, with some asperity, “my name’s Reeves, and I don’t want you to—­” But the comedy of the thing came to his rescue, and he ended with a laugh.

“I suppose, Mr. Plunkett,” said Morgan, carefully seasoning an alligator pear, “that you are aware of the fact that you will import a good deal of trouble for yourself into Kentucky if you take back the wrong man—­that is, of course, if you take anybody back?”

“Thank you for the salt,” said the sheriff.  “Oh, I’ll take somebody back.  It’ll be one of you two gentlemen.  Yes, I know I’d get stuck for damages if I make a mistake.  But I’m going to try to get the right man.”

“I’ll tell you what you do,” said Morgan, leaning forward with a jolly twinkle in his eyes.  “You take me.  I’ll go without any trouble.  The cocoanut business hasn’t panned out well this year, and I’d like to make some extra money out of your bondsmen.”

“That’s not fair,” chimed in Reeves.  “I got only $16 a thousand for my last shipment.  Take me, Mr. Plunkett.”

“I’ll take Wade Williams,” said the sheriff, patiently, “or I’ll come pretty close to it.”

“It’s like dining with a ghost,” remarked Morgan, with a pretended shiver.  “The ghost of a murderer, too!  Will somebody pass the toothpicks to the shade of the naughty Mr. Williams?”