"I can, can I? That's a privilege!" thought Jack. He was perfectly willing to be a porter, or anything else, in a good cause; and it was a delight for him to do Vinnie a service; but why did the noble Betterson stand there and give directions about the trunk, in that pompous way, instead of taking hold of one end of it? Jack, who had a lively spirit, and a tongue of his own, was prompted to say something sarcastic, but he wisely forbore.
"I'll place it here for the present," he said, and set the trunk down by the doorstep. He thought it would be better for him to see Vinnie and bid her good-by a little later, after the meeting between the sisters should be well over; so he turned to Link, and asked where his big brothers were.
"I d'n' know," said Link; "guess they're down in the lot hunting prairie hens."
"Let's go and find 'em," said Jack.
Both Link and Lion were delighted with this proposal, and they set off in high glee, boy and dog capering at each side of the more steady-going Jack.
CHAPTER XIII.
WHY JACK DID NOT FIRE AT THE PRAIRIE CHICKEN.
"A well?" said Jack, as they passed a curb behind the house. "I thought you had to go to the spring for water."
"So we do," said Link.