"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 Granger?" "Yes," replied Ralph. "I lived with him after--after----" he hesitated, conscious of speaking too frankly. "After a Vaughn killed him!" interposed the captain with emphasis, then added: "Did you know my mother was a Vaughn, boy? And that a brother of hers was killed in a duel by a cousin of your father's?" "So--I have--heard," faltered Ralph, feeling that he was by no means beyond the reach of that wretched feud yet. "Finally, did you know that this brother of my mother was the man who shot your father?" "I--never knew until Aunt Dopples told me. I call her aunt." "Yet, knowing this, they sent you to me. I like Dopples; would do nearly anything for him I could. His wife was always rather distant. If she is a Granger that accounts for it."