he money to take a position at less. I can make more than that fishing,
counting the good days and the bad as they run. And I'm afraid there
might be trouble for me if once Archibald Graylock had me under his
thumb. He would find some opportunity to accuse me of something I hadn't
done and discharge me in disgrace. I'll go and see him all right, but if
we fail to come to terms I won't be much disappointed. I'll keep
everlastingly at it until I strike my gait, just as Grant did when he
was fighting the battles of the Wilderness. And I'm going to get there,
I must, _I will_!"

Again he stopped in town to make some purchases.

The store of Ezra Squires was well patronized, for he kept a pretty fair
assortment of necessities in the line of groceries, sometimes exchanging
tea and coffee with the country people for butter and eggs, which he
shipped into Boston when he had a quantity.

Ezra and Dick had never gotten on very well together somehow.

To tell the truth, the grocer had once played a very small game with the
widow, and when Dick learned of it he had come and told Mr. Squires just
what he thought of such contemptible actions; at the time several
persons heard all that was said, and Ezra felt that he was in rather bad
odor in certain circles.

That was a good while back, and people had forgotten the circumstances;
but he had never quite forgiven the lad who in defense of his mother had
so boldly taken him to task before some of his customers.

Ezra had a small nature, and it harbored the spirit of a mean revenge;
so that he was forever looking for a chance to get even with the boy.

"You don't happen to want any help, Mr. Squires," asked Dick, as he was
about to leave the store, and the old man came to the door to open it,
seeing how the boy was laden down with bundles.

"Not just now. I might be changing any time, though, that Abner is sore
tryin' on a man's patience. He never does anything right, it seems,"
replied the other, looking at Dick keenly.

"What wages do you pay, in case you needed anyone, and I applied for the
job?"

"Four dollars and find yourself, and no snacking in the store out of the
cracker barrel and cheese bin," came the quick response.

"It strikes me that's pretty small pay for the long hours here, and the
heavy work you require," remarked Dick.

"Kin get lots of help at that price. This ain't Boston, you understand,
and wages is low in Riverview. I'm not askin' anybody to come her