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"And didn't you go to join hiet a lot of o?" he thundered

I was silent

"Do you hear, sir?"

"Yes, Sir Francis"

"Then speak, sir"

I rearden to join that man?"

I looked at poor Ike, and felt that if I spoke it would be to get hied, so I preferred to remain silent, and said not a word

"Will you speak, sir?" cried Sir Francis, beating the table with his

fist

"I can't tell you, Sir Francis"

"You mean you won't, sir?"

"Yes, Sir Francis"

"Why not tell the whole truth, Grant?" said Mr Solomon, reproachfully

"Because I can't, sir," I replied sadly

"Be silent, Brownsood a mate to tell," said Ike stoutly "Here, I may as well

make a clean breast of it, and here it is I'ot hold ofto eat I had a lot to drink, having had some salt herrin' for

breakfast, and I suppose I took too , my man?"

"No, your worship, beer; and I went to sleep down a the bushes

There, that's the honest truth, Mr Brownsmith's brother Fact as

fact"

"I believe you, Ike," said Mr Solomon "He's a very honest workman,