"Aye," said Eli, "he were there."
Eli volunteered no further details for a moment. Then he added:
"I didn't kill he, thank the Lord, but he's got the silver. He said he had un, and he took my ca'tridges away from me."
"Said he had un? Now, that's strange—wonderful strange. Come in, Eli, supper's ready," Thomas invited, manifestly relieved that Eli had not succeeded in accomplishing his rash purpose. "You'll bide the night with us, and while you eats tell us about un, and the lads'll tell what were happenin' to they."
Margaret was setting the table. She greeted Eli cordially, and arranged a plate for him while he washed at the basin behind the stove.
"Come," invited Thomas, "set in. We've got a wonderful treat."
"What be that, now?" asked Eli as Margaret placed a dish of steaming, mealy boiled potatoes upon the table.
"Potaters," Thomas announced grandly. "Doctor Joe brings un on the mail boat from where he's been, and onions too. Margaret, peel some onions and set un on for Eli. They's fine just as they is without cookin'."
The onions came, and when thanks had been offered Eli tasted his first potato.
"They is fine, now! Wonderful fine eatin'," he declared.