"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."

"She told me you might not like me if you knew who I was, but I--I am
so sick of that useless old feud, that I thought you might not remember
it against me. Down here it seems as if you have too much else to
think of to be always wanting to shoot somebody."

"Right you are, my boy." Captain Shard now shook Ralph's hand
cordially, though his eye held a rather sinister gleam. "What is the