"I don't reckon to live with you always," faltered Sam.
"No; but you ain't a-goin' to leave us just yet. There's a little matter I've got to inquire into."
"What did you go into Locke's store for?" demanded his uncle, searchingly.
"I just went in to look round," answered Sam, evasively.
"You went to look at a fishing-pole," said Aaron Wolverton, sternly.
"What if I did?" asked Sam, plucking up a little courage.
"Which you stole from me!" asserted Wolverton, with the air of a judge about to sentence a criminal to execution.
"No, I didn't. It didn't come from your house."
"Mrs. Burton gave it to me--for my birthday."
"I don't believe it. It's one of your lies. Give it to me this instant."
Poor Sam became desperate. What! was he to lose the only money of any account which he ever possessed? He was not brave, but he made a stand here.
"You have no right to it," he said, passionately. "It's mine. Mrs. Burton gave it to me."
"I tell you it's a lie. Even if she had done so I should have the right, as your uncle, to take it from you. Give it to me!"
"Won't, hey?" repeated Wolverton, grimly. "Well, we'll see about that."
He raised the horse-whip, and in an instant Sam's legs--he was standing now--felt the cruel lash.
"Won't, hey?" repeated his uncle. "We'll see."
"Help!" screamed Sam. "Will no one help me?"
"I reckon not," answered his uncle, mockingly, and he raised his whip once more.
But before the lash could descend, it was snatched from him, and, turning angrily, he confronted Bob Burton, fierce and indignant, and saw Clip standing just behind him.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself, you brute!" exclaimed Bob.
"Do you want me to thrash you, too?" snarled Wolverton, angrily.
"You can try, if you want to," returned Bob, contemptuously.
"Sam, what was he going to whip you for?" asked Bob, turning to his unfortunate friend.
"I'll answer that question," said Wolverton, "though it's no concern of yours. The boy has been robbing me."
"What do you charge him with taking, Mr. Wolverton?"
"To be sure! I saw her give it to you myself."
"He lies, and you swear to it," said Wolverton, with a sneer.
"Mr. Wolverton, you have brought a false charge against your nephew, and you know it. If you don't care to take his word or mine, you can come over to our house and ask my mother whether Sam's story is true."