"Well, I declare," thought Oscar, after he had read the letter over twice, in order to fully master the business terms it contained, "here's another windfall! They don't want me to buy of them, as I thought they did, but they want a chance to buy of me. They shall have it I wonder what gentleman it was who was good enough to recommend me to them."
While Oscar was turning this question over in his mind, he glanced at the price-current which had been inclosed in the letter, and, after noting the prices paid for the various kinds of game that were in demand in the Yarmouth market, he replaced it in the envelope, and began a little problem in mental arithmetic, with a view of ascertaining about how much his earnings would amount to each day, if he consented to shoot for Calkins & Son.
He based his calculation upon the amount of game he had bagged during some of his previous hunts, and in this way he obtained a tolerably fair idea of what his profits would be.
While he was thus engaged, he ran into the outstretched arms of his particular friend Sam Hynes, who had been home to dinner, and was hurrying back to school.
"Hallo, here!" exclaimed Sam. "You're just the fellow I want to see. What's that on your back?"
"Something of which to make a tree to put in a new case of birds I am setting up," answered Oscar, after he had returned his crony's cordial greeting.
"Say, Oscar," continued Sam, glancing up at the town clock to see how many minutes he could spend in conversation and still reach the school-house before the last bell rang, "what are you going to do next Saturday?"
"I shall be quite at your service on that day," replied Oscar, who knew very well what the question meant. "Are they coming in yet?"
"By hundreds!" exclaimed Sam, with great enthusiasm. "I have been making inquiries of some farmers who live down the river, and they all tell the same story. Hang that string out of your window, and I'll have you up at half-past three. We must be on the water at the first peep of day, you know. Good-by!"
This was all that passed between the two friends, but they understood each other perfectly.