"'Pologise. I don't want him to say he's sorry."

"Why not, lad?"

"'Cause he isn't."

"How d'ye know that?"

"His face and eyes say he isn't. If I was sorry for anything, you
wouldn't have to make me 'pologise. I'd be only too glad to do it."

There was a dead silence when Rod finished speaking, for all were now
anxiously waiting to see what would follow. Even Captain Josh, always
so ready with his tongue, was at a loss for words. He stared first at
Rod and then at Tom.

"Well, I never!" he at length ejaculated. "What d'ye want me to do
with him, then?" and he pointed to the man upon the ground.

"Let him go," Rod quickly replied, "He doesn't want to 'pologise, and
I don't want him to do it, so there."

"All right, then," the captain assented, "I'll do as ye say. Git up,
Tom Bunker, and git out of this. When ye say yer prayers
to-night--that is, if ye say them, which I doubt--thank the Lord that
ye got out of this scrape without any bones broken."

With that, Captain Josh picked up his stick, and started for home,
while the on-lookers went back to the store to discuss Tom Bunker's