"Rogue Riderhood," he says, "words passed betwixt us on the river tonight." Which they had; ask his daughter! "I threatened you," he says, "to chop you over the fingers with my boat's stretcher, or take a aim at your brains with my boathook.

I did so on accounts of your looking too hard at what I had in tow, as if you was suspicious, and on accounts of your holding on to the gunwale of my boat." I says to him, "Gaffer, I know it." He says to me, "Rogue Riderhood, you are a man in a dozen"-- I think he said in a score, but of that I am not positive, so take the lowest figure, for precious be the obligations of a Alfred David.

"And," he says, "when your fellow-men is up, be it their lives or be it their watches, sharp is ever the word with you.

Had you suspicions ?" I says, "Gaffer, I had; and what's more, I have." He falls a shaking, and he says, "Of what ?" I says, "Of foul play." He falls a shaking worse, and he says, "There WAS foul play then.

I done it for his money.