"I understand," said Mr. Francis. "Make yourself easy, my son. Your mother shall be my care as much as if she were my own, and your sister also; and I am glad to see that your mind is so collected and settled. God bless you!"
Mr. Francis actually stooped and kissed Eben's forehead, and then hastily retired. He was met outside by Jeduthun.
"I think, sir, we had better raise the gate and let off the water," said he.
"Why so?" asked Mr. Francis.
"Why, you see—step this way, if you please, sir—that man I shot last night jumped right into the pond. I've been round the other side, and there's no sign of his having got out anywhere. He wasn't in a very good state to swim, neither, especially in ice water."
Mr. Francis recoiled in horror. "You don't think you killed him, do you?"
"Looks a good deal like it. If I didn't, the water finished him, I do expect, but I meant to hit him, and I guess I did."
"But a fellow-creature!"
"Well, Mr. Antis is a fellow-creature too, ain't he?" asked Jeduthun.
"To be sure!" replied Mr. Francis, recovering himself a little. "I don't mean to blame you, Jeduthun. You did right, of course, but, then, human life is so sacred."