"Has he any idea of doing it?" asked Dean, quickly. "Not if you behave yourself—that is, not at present." "Thank you! You are very kind to give me warning." In the evening Dean spoke to his uncle about the matter. "Uncle Adin," he said, "Squire Bates holds a mortgage on this place, doesn't he?" "Yes, Dean," answered his uncle, sadly. "For how much?" "Eight hundred dollars. I meant to pay off the mortgage with the thousand dollars that I was robbed of. I always feel uneasy when I think of our home being at the mercy of any one, no matter who it is." "Do you think the squire wants you to pay up the mortgage?" "No; he said he was satisfied to have it remain, as it paid fair interest." "Brandon Bates let drop a hint that his father might call it in, if I didn't treat him with more respect." "Is there any quarrel between you two boys?" asked Adin, somewhat anxiously. "Well, we don't agree very well. He wants me to bow down before him, and I don't mean to do it." "I hope you won't quarrel seriously, Dean. His father holds me in his power, and it's best to keep on good terms with him." "Uncle Adin, I wish you had been able to pay up that mortgage," said Dean, earnestly. "I don't like the squire much better than his son." [Illustration: DEAN SPRANG INTO THE BOAT AND PUSHED OFF FROM THE SHORE.] "I am afraid there is no hope of it now, Dean," said Adin Dunham, sighing, "unless I can get my lost money back." "Uncle Adin, I want to help you pay the mortgage, and for that reason I want you to let me leave home." "What have you got in your head, Dean? What good will it do to leave home?" "I can earn some money. Here in Waterford there is no chance for a boy like me to get hold of any." "It's a risky thing for a boy as young as you to start for himself, Dean. Besides there's John Roberts, the shoemaker, will take you into his shop and teach you the business. He told me last week he'd give you three dollars a week." "I want to earn money faster than that, uncle. It would take all that to pay my expenses." "What do you want me to do, Dean?" "To let me leave home if a good chance offers." "I'll see about it, Dean; but I'm afraid you're miscalculatin' your strength." "Thank you, uncle, other boys have succeeded, and I think I can." A day or two afterwards, Brandon said to his father, "What do you think Dean Dunham says?" "I am sure I can't imagine," answered the squire, with a shade of uneasiness. He feared that Dean might have been speaking out his suspicions in relation to the robbery of his uncle. "He says his uncle has consented to let him leave home if a good job offers. He wants to go out into the world to seek his fortune." "It might not be a bad idea," said Bates. "I don't think he'd meet with any success," said Brandon, sharply. "He thinks he is awful smart, and would come home with a fortune in six months." "Boys are apt to be sanguine," said his father, smiling.