see Zeph treated that way? Why don't ye pitch
in?"

"That's a game two can play at," said Jack. "Hands off, Dud, my boy."
And he stood by to see fair play.

"My boy had a right on that land; it's by good rights mine to-day!"
exclaimed Peakslow.

"We won't discuss that question; it has been settled once, neighbor,"
replied Betterson. "Rufus, I think you've done enough for that boy; his
face is blacker than I ever saw it, which is saying a good deal. Let him
go. Mr. Peakslow,"--with a bow of gracious condescension over the frayed
stock,--"you are welcome to as much of this disputed territory as you
can shake out of that youngster's clothes,--not any more."

"That seems to be a good deal," said Jack, laughing to see Zeph scramble
up, gasping, blubbering, flirting soil from his clothes and hair, and
clawing it desperately from his besmeared face.

"That's for daring me to fight you," said Rufe, as he let him go. "I'll
pay you some other time for what you did to Cecie"; while Zeph went off
howling.

"No more, Rufus," said Betterson. "Come and put up this fence."

"I'll do that," said Jack. "I'm bound to leave it as I found it; if Mr.
Peakslow will please step either forward or back."

Peakslow concluded to step back; and Jack and Rufe laid up the corner,
rail by rail.

"Don't you think you've played me a perty shabby trick?" said Peakslow,
glaring at Jack.

"You are hardly the man to speak with a very good grace of _anybody's_
shabby tricks," Jack replied, putting up the top rail before the hooked
nose.

"I didn't think it of you!" And Peakslow cast longing eyes after the
horse.

"You must have forgotten what you thought," said Jack. "You didn't dare
turn the horse out till Zeph told you I'd gone home; and it seems you
kept pretty close watch of him then."

Peakslow choked back his wrath, and muttered,--

"Ye might 'a' gi'n me suthin for my trouble."

"So I would, willingly, if you had acted decently."

"Gi' me suthin now, and settle it."

"I consider it already settled,--like your land-claim dispute," said
Jack. "But no matter; how much do you want? Don't bid too high, you
know."

"Gi' me a dollar, anyhow!"

Jack laughed.

"If I should give you enough to pay for the charge in your gun, wouldn't
that satisfy you? Though, as you didn't fire it at me, I don't quite see
that I ought to defray the expense of it. Good day, Mr. Peakslow."

Jack went to find the chicken that had been shot; and Peakslow