After supper he went into the sitting-room to look over his lumber accounts, and I stole in after him.
"You remember Jotham's oxen, gramp ?" I began.
"Why, yes," said he, looking up.
"Well, I know where they are," I continued.
"Where ?" he exclaimed in astonishment.
I then told him where Willis had found them and about the yard and the moose and deer we had seen with the oxen.

"Willis doesn't want Jotham told," I added.

"He says Jotham has abused those oxen enough, and that he is glad they got away from him.

He made me promise not to tell any one at first, but finally he said that I might tell you, and that we should do as you think best." The old Squire gave me an odd look.

Then he laughed and resumed his accounts for what seemed to me a long while.