ad could give him would only make him fight harder.
And he wouldn't talk politics at all; didn't seem to give a durn about
'em, one way or t'other. No, 'twas somethin' about that letter, the one
I forgot so long. He wanted to know why in time I hadn't given it to him
when it fust come. He was real ugly about it, for him, and kept pacin'
up and down the barn floor and layin' into me, till I begun to think he
was crazy. I guess he see my feelin's were hurt, 'cause, just afore he
left, he held out his hand and said I mustn't mind his talk; he'd been
knocked on his beam ends, he said, and wan't really responsible."

"Wouldn't he say what had knocked him?"

"No, couldn't get nothin' out of him. And when he quit he went off
toward home, slappin' his fists together and actin' as if he didn't see
the road across his bows. Now, you know how cool and easy goin' Whit
generally is. I swan to man, Ase! he made me so sorry for him I didn't
know what to do."

"Ain't you been up to see him sence?"

"No, Ketury was sot on havin' the barn cleaned, and she stood over
me with a rope's end, as you might say. I couldn't get away a minute,
though I made up more'n a dozen errands at Simmons's and the like of
that. You hold on till I sneak into the entry and get my cap and we'll
put for there now. I won't be but a jiffy. I'm worried."

They entered the yard of the Cy Whittaker place together and approached
the side door. As they stood on the steps Asaph touched his chum on the
arm and pointed to the window beside them. The shade was half drawn and
beneath it they had a clear view of the interior of the sitting room.
Captain Cy was in the rocker before the stove, holding Bos'n in his
arms. The child was sound asleep, her yellow braid hanging over the
captain's broad shoulder. He was gazing down into her face with a look
which was so full of yearning and love that it brought a choke into the
throats of the pair who saw it.

They entered the dining room. The captain sprang from his chair and,
still holding the little girl close against his breast, met them at
the sitting-room door. When he saw who the visitors were, he caught his
breath, almost with a sob, and seemed relieved.

"S-s-h-h!" he whispered warningly. "She's asleep."

The members of the Board of Strategy nodded understandingly and sat
down upon the sofa. Captain Cy tiptoed to the bedroom, turned back the
bedclothes with one hand and laid Bos'n down. They saw him tuck her
carefu