Mother must have something to eat, and the only way I can get it is by making a friend of Silas by paying him this debt father owes him.

I don't care for myself, and as for Dan--let him look out for number one.

That's what he makes me do." While David was soliloquising in this way he heard a footstep near him, and looking up saw his brother Dan, whose appearance and actions surprised him not a little.

His face wore a smile instead of the usual scowl, he had no coat on, his sleeves were rolled up, and he carried a frow in one hand (a frow is a sharp instrument used for splitting out shingles), and a heavy mallet in the other.

He really looked as if he had made up his mind to go to work, and David could not imagine what had happened to put such an idea into his head.