finally to a vacant corner lot where they began to unload.

"Do you know of a man here called Captain Shard?" asked the boy, at
length remembering the individual he desired to find.

"Reckon I does. Bless grashus! Ain't I a wukin' fer dat same man de
bigger heft er de time?"

"What kind of a man is he?"

"Fust rate; fust rate. Dat is if he don't hab nuttin' begainst yo'.
When he do, den--look out."

This rather supported the tenor of Mrs. Dopples' cautions, and Ralph
paused a moment before he asked:

"Where can I find him?"

"Yo' membah dat big liv'ry stable on de Main Street as we come erlong?"

"Where there were so many wagons and carriages around?"

"Yaas, suh. Dat's him. De cap'n he own um all. Disher team 'longs
ter de cap'n too. Dey some says--Hi yo! If he ain' a comin' right
now! Oh, cap'n! Say yo' wanter see him, suh?"

Ralph would have declined such a sudden meeting, but before he could
think of any excuse, a portly, fine looking man, with flowing chin
beard and dark, piercing eyes, stopped as he was sauntering by.

"What is it, Sam?" he demanded, at the same time scanning Ralph
casually.

"Dish yer white boy, he astin' where 'bout he kin find yo', suh. I up
an' tol' him, when--bless de land!--yere yo' is."

Sam gathered up his reins, cracked his whip, and tore away down the
street without another word.

Ralph, from the divided nature of his thoughts, could think of nothing
to say until the captain spoke again.

"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 Gr