Now he was a singularly smart boy, the son of a very clever man and a very sensitive woman, with a fine resolute temper that systematic spoiling had nearly turned to mulish obstinacy.

He looked at the other men, and saw that even Dan did not smile.

It was evidently all in the day's work, though it hurt abominably; so he swallowed the hint with a gulp and a gasp and a grin.

The same smartness that led him to take such advantage of his mother made him very sure that no one on the boat, except, maybe, Penn, would stand the least nonsense.

One learns a great deal from a mere tone.