The big humpback looked out sidewise at the man standing in the road, with the child on his shoulder, its little arm around his neck, its little fingers on his face.
“Didn't you come into these mountains about the time that old Nicholas died?”
“On the very day that he died,” replied the School-teacher.
“I see,” said the humpback, “then he found it out through you.”
“No, man,” replied the School-teacher, “ever finds out anything about the affairs of my father except he find it out through me.”
“Then you're here to look after your father's business?”
“Yes,” replied the School-teacher, “that is it, I am here to look after my father's business.”
“An' so you moved in when old Nicholas died?”
“Yes.”
“I see,” said the humpback, “now I want to ask you another question. These lands belonged to the state. Old Nicholas bought from the state, and the state made him a deed. Do you contend that your father's title is older than that of the state?”