Skipper Harry nodded.
"Ay, my son," says he; "'tis quite true."
"Oh, my poor pa!"
Skipper Harry put a finger under the lad's chin an' tipped up his face.
"Who tol' you?" says he.
"I found a ol' newspaper, sir, in Sandy Spot's bureau, sir, where I was forbid t' pry, sir, an' I read all about it. My pa left one child named Samuel when he was hanged by the neck—an' that's me."
"You've told nobody what you learned?"
"No, sir."
"Why not?"
"I'd liefer pretend not t' know, sir, when they baited me, an' so save myself shame."