"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."