It was hushed for a moment, and then I heard human voices.

The riders had tied up their horses to a tree and were coming nearer.
I sprawled gracefully on the counter, the empty bottle in my hand, and my eyes fixed anxiously on the square of the door, which was filled with the blue glimmer of the late twilight.

The square darkened, and two men peered in.

Colin growled from below the counter, but with one hand I held the scruff of his neck.
'Hullo,' I said, 'ish that my black friend?
Awfly shorry, old man, but I've f'nish'd th' whisky.

The bo-o-ottle shempty,' and I waved it upside down with an imbecile giggle.
Laputa said something which I did not catch.