He was not beyond fourteen years of age, though he looked more, so tall and straight and self-possessed was he.
His tears having ceased soon, he began to think of what he was to do in the future.

He would never go back to his father's house, or be dependent on him for aught.

Many plans came to his mind.

He would learn his trade of ship-building, he would become a master-builder, then a shipowner, with fishing-vessels like the great company sending fleets to Gaspe.
At the moment when these ambitious plans had reached the highest point of imagination, the upper half of the door beside him opened suddenly, and he heard men's voices.

He was about to rise and disappear, but the words of the men arrested him, and he cowered down beside the stone.