"There must be some mistake," Sim said. "Do you say your uncle is alive now?"
"Certainly I do," Hugh replied, in turn surprised.
"Ah! then, it isn't the same man," Sim said. "Our Bill Tunstall was killed ten years ago. It is odd, too; Tunstall ain't a common name, at least not in these parts. If you had ever said your own name before I should have noticed it, and asked you about it; but Royce always called you Lightning, or Hugh, and one may know men here for years by the name they have got without ever thinking what name they might be born with."
"Is Tunstall a common name in England, Lightning?" the doctor asked.
"No, I don't think so, doctor. I never met any others. We came from the north of England, from Cumberland."
"So did English Bill," Sim said. "Never heard tell of a chap that came out from there of that name, a tall, straight, strong fellow like you? He must have come out before you wur born, though, of course, we didn't know him for years afterwards."
"My uncle came out here before I was born," Hugh said; "but I never heard of anyone else of the same name doing so; still, if your friend is dead, of course it isn't the same, for my uncle is alive. At least he was two years ago. He is strong, and active, and well knit; but he is not as tall as I am by two inches, I should say."
"Lift me up in bed, Sim," the doctor said excitedly. "How long ago did your uncle return?"
"Over six years ago," Hugh replied, surprised at this strange excitement upon the part of a man who, ten minutes before, had seemed to have no further interest in anything.
"Six years ago, Sim? You hear that; six years ago!"