He had entirely overlooked this point.
Pondering a moment, he took a chew of tobacco, and replied:
"I guess ther hole wuzn't smashed all ther way through."
"Don't you know whether it was or not?"
"No; how could I go below ter look at sich a time?"
"You ought to know best."
"Waal, let it pass an' I'll go on."
"No, you won't go on."
"Why not, sir?"
"Because I won't stay here and listen to you."