For the first time he uttered that name before me--and yet we have sailed together for nearly three months." The half-breed's voice was so changed that I could hardly hear him.
"It seemed to me," he resumed, "that in Martin Holt's mind--no, I was not mistaken--there was something like a suspicion." "But tell me what he said! Tell me exactly what he asked you.

What is it ?" I felt sure that the question put by Martin Holt, whatsoever its bearing, had been inspired by Hearne.

Nevertheless, as I considered it well that the half-breed should know nothing of the sealing-master's disquieting and inexplicable intervention in this tragic affair, I decided upon concealing it from him.
"He asked me," replied Dirk Peters, "did I not remember Ned Holt of the _Grampus_, and whether he had perished in the fight with the mutineers or in the shipwreck; whether he was one of the men who had been abandoned with Captain Barnard; in short, he asked me if I could tell him how his brother died.

Ah! how!" No idea could be conveyed of the horror with which the half-breed uttered words which revealed a profound loathing of himself.
"And what answer did you make to Martin Holt ?" "None, none!" "You should have said that Ned Holt perished in the wreck of the brig." "I could not--understand me--I could not.

The two brothers are so like each other.