"You don't say so!" exclaimed Sam. "I am glad to hear it."
He did not tell Oscar that he knew all about it, but such was the fact. He knew that Mr. Parker had been down to the city to attend to some legal business for that very firm; and it was when he was looking about their store and listening while Mr. Calkins expressed his regrets that he could not secure game enough to supply the demand, which was unusually great just then, that the lawyer happened to think of Oscar, whom he recommended as the best person Mr. Calkins could engage to shoot for him.
The latter, seeing that his visitor was interested in the boy, said he would try to secure his services, and if he succeeded, he would pay him for his game as soon as it was received, and not wait to sell it on commission.
Mr. Parker gave the merchant Oscar's address, and that was the way our hero came to be a market-shooter.
Sam, we repeat, knew all about it; but he listened while Oscar talked of the offer he had received, and acted as though everything he heard was news to him.
The fire was soon cracking away merrily, and, while waiting for the kettle to boil, Oscar busied himself in setting the table.
Bugle, finding that he was entirely neglected, called attention to himself by uttering a deafening bay.
"Silence!" exclaimed Oscar. "That will never do. He will disturb mother. We must shut him up. Bugle is no good for ducks."
"I'll fix him," said Sam.
"Take your gun with you," suggested Oscar, as Sam took the key of the shop down from its nail. "You'll never get him in there if you don't."