"You have alluded several times to some trouble that Jake had."
"Yes, he had a heap of trouble—yes, sir, a heap of trouble."
"How?"
"Jake was a quiet, inoffensive man, neither a fool nor a coward. No, sir, he saved many a man's life in his time at the risk of his own, but he was a man who did not like strife—a very quiet, inoffensive man, but he was no fool, and he knew just what he was about all the time, and don't you forget it. No, sir, he was only averse to war."
"But you do not tell me what his troubles really were."
"Oh, lots of men have the same troubles the world over, and it serves them right—yes, it does; but Jake was no fool, he knew what he was about, and don't you forget it."
The old man managed to avoid telling exactly what old Jake's troubles really were until Jack said:
"I reckon I know now what you mean."
"About what?"
"About Jake Canfield's troubles."