he letter from
the bag, and imprinted another stamp upon it. Oscar paid the three
cents, and departed, with his uncle.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE RECALL.

Oscar was bent upon going a-gunning. He had allowed his mind to dwell
upon the idea, until it seemed to him as though he could no longer
resist the impulse to play the sportsman, without a sacrifice of his
happiness. His uncle, it is true, had tried to dissuade him from it,
and had positively refused to lend him his gun. But there were other
guns in Brookdale, and everybody was not so particular as Mr. Preston
about trusting boys with fire-arms. Why could n't he borrow a gun of
somebody else? So he asked himself; and by-and-bye he put the same
question to Jerry. Jerry heartily entered into the proposal. He
thought Jim Oakley would lend him a gun. At any rate, he was not
afraid to ask him. Jim was a famous gunner, in that region. He had
several fowling-pieces; and if he would not lend them his best rifle,
it was not likely that he would refuse them one of his old guns. So
Jerry reasoned, and Oscar fully agreed with him. They went to see Jim,
that very afternoon, and by dint of teasing, they got the gun, together
with a small quantity of powder and shot. Thus armed, they set out for
the woods, in quest of game.

They had been in the woods but a short time, and had not yet shot
anything, though they had fired several charges, when a dispute arose
between them about the gun. Jerry claimed a right to it half the time,
on the ground that he had borrowed it. Oscar was willing that he
should use the gun occasionally, but he resisted his claim to it half
the time. He contended that the gun was loaned to him, and besides, he
had agreed to pay the owner for all the ammunition they used. The
dispute waxed warmer and warmer. Oscar was obstinate, and Jerry grew
sulky. It was the first serious difficulty that had arisen between
them. Neither of them, as yet, knew the other's temper, but now they
were in a fair way of finding each other out. It was the clashing of
two strong wills. Oscar soon saw that their sport was at an end for
that day, and throwing down the gun and powder flask upon the grass, he
said, in an angry tone:

"There, take the old thing, and do what you please with it; and when
you carry it back, see that you pay for the powder, for I won't."

So saying, he turned upon his heel and walked off. He had not gone far
when Jerry, who had picke