Part 8 (1/2)

Aleck was silent, and the sailor's advice suddenly came to mind: ”Tell him you won and thrashed your man”

But the words would not coain, very sternly now:

”Do you hear me, sir?”

”Yes, uncle,” said the boy, desperately

”Then answer my question You say it was not because you were pelted and called naht?”

”It was because--no, no, uncle,” cried the boy, through his teeth, which were cohtly as if he was afraid that the simple truth would escape; ”I--I can't tell you”

”Then there is so more?”

”Yes, uncle”

”What is it, then?” cried the oldthe mastery ”Speak out, sir, and let me hear whether you have any decent excuse to offer for your conduct Do you hear?”

”Yes, uncle,” faltered the lad

”Then speak, sir”

”I--I can't, uncle Don't ask me, please”

”What! I will and do ask you, sir,” cried the old man, furiously: ”and what is e of your conduct

How dare you refuse to speak--how dare you tell me almost to my face that you will not answer my question?”

”I don't tell you that, uncle,” cried the boy, passionately ”I only say I can't tell you”

”You obstinate young scoundrel! How dare you!” roared the old e ”Tell raceful encounter?”

Aleck darted an i him piteously not to press for the answer, but in his furious outbreak the old ht--could only set it down to stubbornness--and, co up to his brain, he started to his feet and pointed to the door, but only to dash his hand down upon the table the next et your duty to ry, but quite cool Now, sir,” he cried, with his face looking congested and his heavy grey brows dran over his glowing eyes, while his voice sounded hoarse and strange ”Aleck, tell me at once I'll have an answer before you leave this rooht?”

”I can't tell you, uncle,” said the boy, in a hoarse whisper

”Ha! That means, sir, that you are obstinately determined not to speak?”

”It isn't obstinacy, uncle”

”Don't contradict me, sir I say it is obstinacy Now, once more, for the last ti, low, hissing breath and stood fast for a fewthe while:

”I can't tell you, uncle”

There was a dead silence in the room for a few moments then; so dead was the silence, in fact, that if the proverbial pin had dropped it would have sounded loudly on the polished oaken boards