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Show 54 on his hips, showing his strong teeth in a laugh. He was old, with a beard nearly as white as Mrs. Sutherland's hair, and when he stepped inside he moved with a painful limp. "W-We're sorry," Josh stammered. "We thought. ..." "Never mind. It doesn't matter," the old man said with a flip of his hand. "Nothin' to steal here anyway. You boys stay for a bite of lunch? Who might you be anyway?" He regarded them with good-humored blue eyes that twinkled from the nest of hair that nearly hid his face. The crow came flying in through the open door then to drop fluttering on Abner Raintree's shoulder. The man reached to stroke the bird's throat. "Have you met our visitors, Socrates?" the man said. "They were about to tell me their names." "Gosh, he's neat," Josh exclaimed. "Oh, I'm Josh O'Tosh. That's Cap Mullins. And this is my dog, Chinook."' With a graceful nod, Abner Raintree reached to shake hands with each boy. Then he knelt, motioned for Chinook to sit, and shook hands with him. The dog reached to lick him. "Ahh, I see we understand each other, Mr. Chinook." He rose, and pushed the cabin door open wide. The crow stayed on Raintree's shoulder as he went humming to the bed, where he picked up the raccoon, gave a fond nuzzle, and set the animal on the floor. "Now be on your way, Abraham," he said, as if he talking to one of his older children. In complete awe, the boys stood back as the raccoon studied them briefly, then trotted obediently toward the door. But Chinook was near the door, and the raccoon halted, eyeing him with hesitation. |