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172 half cheerful, "who might you be? An' where's the inmates o' this here shanty, I want to know?" Then suddenly, his eyes staring wider and a grin of foolish astonishment spreading over his brown face,—"Well, if it ain't the kid, by James Rice!" And with surprising quickness for a man of his bulk, he was out of the chair and wringing Marden by the hand, with roars of laughter that made the windows rattle. "Ho, ho, ho! I would n't 'a' knowed ye, Mard, my boy,—I would n't 'a' knowed ye, honest! O-oh, ho, ho!"

Marden let him go on shaking the hand, but could not trust himself to speak. The other suddenly stopped and stared.

"He don't know me! By the Lord Harry, he don't know me!" he cried, and burst into enormous guffaws.

"Yes, I do," said Marden quietly, pulling his hand away, for he too had a strong arm. "You 're Lee." He added with an effort, "You 're my brother."

"Right you are, boy," cried Lee, laughing still, "Lee Sebright, otherwise Bat.— But