Yet at the very door he paused and straightened; Byrne saw that he was staring towards Joe Cumberland; and the old man reached a bony hand out.
"Oh, lad," he said softly, "I been waitin' for you years an' years, seems like!" Barry crossed the room as noiselessly, as swiftly, as a flying shadow.
"Sit down!" he commanded, and Byrne caught a faint ring in the voice, like the shiver of metal striking steel.
Joe Cumberland obeyed without a word, and then lay back at full length upon the couch--a palsy had seized on him, and the hand which rested on the shoulder of Dan Barry was shaking.

By the couch came the tall dog, and crouched, staring up in the master's face; then the younger man turned his face towards Byrne and the girl.

Those thin-cut nostrils expanded, the lips compressed, and Byrne dared not look into the flare of the eyes.
"Who done this ?" asked Barry, and still the shiver of cold metal rang in his voice.

"Who's done this ?" "Steady, lad," said Joe Cumberland faintly.

"They ain't no call for fightin'.