"So shall I, mother."
"Does Mr. Wolverton ever take any notice of you, Robert?"
"He took some notice of me this morning," laughed Bob. "That reminds me. I just left three prairie chickens with Rachel in the kitchen."
"Did you shoot them this morning, Robert?"
"Yes, mother; you see I have my hunting dress on. But I shot two more. I was bringing them home across a field of Wolverton's, when the old fellow suddenly made his appearance, and, charging me with shooting them on his land, laid claim to them. I denied the charge and told him I proposed to keep them. With that he seized me by the collar, and we had a rough-and-tumble fight for five minutes."
"Oh, Robert, how imprudent!"
"Well, mother, it was more than flesh and blood could stand. The upshot of it was that I left him lying on his back trembling with rage. I threw down two of the chickens to appease him. I hope he'll have them for dinner, and Sam'll get a share of them. The poor fellow is half starved. I don't believe he gets a square meal once a week."
"I am afraid you have made an enemy of Mr. Wolverton, Robert."
"I can't help it, mother. Would you have me bow down to him, and meekly yield up my rights?"