His father went to sea as the captain of a ship, two years before, and had never been heard from.

He had rich relatives, who wanted him to go to West Point and be a cadet, but he did not like to study, and had persuaded them to let him and Stephen go and live with their uncle at the west, who had no boys of his own, and wanted somebody to help him to manage his immense farm.

Such, in brief, was Joseph's story.
On their return route, the boys were careful to avoid passing by the cellar from which Joseph had stolen the nuts.

With all his pluck and bravery, he did not care about meeting the man whose displeasure he had excited a few hours before.
It was twelve o'clock before the boys reached the hotel.

Oscar, during the latter part of the walk, had been unusually silent.