Jack, too, had a good flock of chickens in his barn-yard, so he had
plenty of eggs; but he stated that he had not killed a single chicken
since Fred and Terry had gone North, as he preferred quail and prairie
chicken. He also stated that he had been compelled to clip their wings
very close, as his cowboys told him that if they got out they would find
such abundant feed in grass seed and other products of the plain that
they wouldn't come back home again.

"Don't you believe that, Jack. If a hen raises a flock of chickens and
she and they are fed regularly, they will never leave the place; but
chickens who are allowed to run everywhere, as most ranchmen let their
chickens, will, of course, become wild like any other fowl."

There were about a score of little pigs on the lot that were as fat as
butter and gentle as kittens.

"By George, Terry," said Fred, "won't Evelyn be delighted with these
little fellows? But we will have to have ducks and turkeys."

"Yes, wye can keep the ducks in bounds all right; but it will be a
little difficult to keep the turkeys in, unless we have a wire fence
enclosure reaching up about fifteen feet high."

"Oh, we can do that. Turkeys are very fond of wandering over a wide
range; but I think we can keep them in bounds."

That night, they had a good supper of broiled beefsteak, good hoe-cake,
milk and butter, and coffee in abundance. The two boys praised Jack
highly for his skill in managing things, and, of course, he felt very
proud.

They told him that Broker Middleton had used some money belonging to his
mother, and had made about twenty thousand dollars for her, which she
had sent by them in a draft which she had purchased in the bank.

Jack fairly whooped with joy.

"It's just in time," said he, "for I haven't been able to sell any
cattle at this season of the year."

"Jack," said Terry, "don't you worry about the future. You just take
good care of that money and don't use it except for necessities. How are
the cattle on your place?"

"Mr. Olcott, they are the finest cattle I ever saw in my life. You would
he astounded to see how they have picked up flesh. The ranchman that we
bought them from must have had very poor ranges for them to feed on."

"Oh, well, the grass out here has never been fed on before, except by
stray cattle, so I don't wonder at their being fat. When cold weather
comes we'll have many thousands of pounds more than the ranches above
here."

After supp