vented
his rage upon his neighbor across the fence.

"What a pattern of a man you be! stuck-up, struttin',--a turkey-gobbler
kind of man, I call ye. Think I'm afraid o' yer gun?"

"I have no answer to make to remarks of that nature," said Lord
Betterson, retiring from the fence.

"Hain't, hey?" Peakslow roared after him. "Feel above a common man like
me, do ye? Guess I pay _my_ debts. If I set out to build, guess I look
out and not bu'st up 'fore I get my paintin' and plasterin' done.
Nothin' to say to me, hey?"

Betterson coolly resumed his slow and stately march across the
buckwheat, looking for prairie chickens.

"You puffed-up, pompous, would-be 'ristocrat!" said Peakslow, more and
more furious, "where'd you be if your relations didn't furnish ye money?
Poorer 'n ye be now, I guess. What if I should tell ye what yer
neighbors say of ye? Guess ye wouldn't carry yer head so plaguy high!"

Two chickens rose from before Betterson's feet, and flew to right and
left. With perfect coolness and precision of aim he fired and brought
down one, then turned and dropped the other, with scarce an interval of
three seconds between the reports.

"This is a very pretty piece of yours," he observed smilingly, with a
stately wave of the hand toward Jack.

"I never saw anything so handsomely done!" exclaimed Jack, bringing the
chicken previously shot.

At the same time he could not help glancing with some apprehension at
Peakslow, not knowing what that excitable neighbor might do, now that
Betterson's two barrels were empty.

"I think I will stay and have one or two more shots," said Betterson. "A
very pretty piece indeed!"

The muttering thunder of Peakslow's wrath died away in the distance, as
he retired with his forces. Rufe picked up the last two prairie chickens
and followed Jack, who ran to overtake the dog and horse.

Lion still held the bridle-rein, letting Snowfoot nip the grass that
grew along the borders of the corn, but keeping him from the corn
itself. Jack patted and praised the dog, and stroked and caressed the
horse, looking him all over to see if he had received any fresh injury.

Then Rufe joined him; and presently Wad came bounding down the slope
from the barn, laughing, carrying Jack's coat; and Link appeared,
running and limping, having hurt his ankle in jumping down from the
cow-shed. Behind came Chokie, trudging on his short legs, and tumbling
and sprawling at every few steps.

The boys were ju