He could see nothing of Nick Porter.
While Frank's eyes were searching the loft, Clancy nudged him with an elbow.

Frank turned, and Clancy made signs and pointed.

Looking in the direction indicated by Clancy's finger, Frank saw the slouching form of Porter, the prospector.
He was sitting on a keg in an angle of the wall.

He was leaning back against the boards behind him, a cob pipe between his teeth.

His eyes, peering out of the jungle of beard that covered his face, were fixed speculatively on the three boys.
Merry immediately stepped to the prospector's side.