"Well, what is it you want of me—a—what is your name?"
"Ralph Granger," blurted forth the boy, then was sorry he had committed himself.
Captain Shard glanced sharply at Ralph's coarsely clad figure, and noticed the home made texture of his clothes.
"Granger—Granger," he muttered as if to himself. "From the mountains, ain't you?" he added quickly.
Ralph was so unaccustomed to lying that he said "Yes," notwithstanding the prickings occasioned by what Aunt Dopples had said.
"Who sent you to me?"
"A man by the name of Dopples, who married one of my kin folks."
"Tildy Dopples a relative of yours?" The captain appeared surprised.
Ralph, feeling that he was in for it, boldly told who and what he was, omitting any allusion to the feud, however. As he continued, the captain, who had been pondering as he listened, suddenly scowled.
"Was your father's name Ralph, too?" asked he, and when the boy nodded affirmatively, added: "And was his father's name Bras Granger?"