"There's enough to be had for the catching," said Barby. "If I hadn't a man-mountain of work upon me, I'd start out and shoot or steal something."
"You shoot, Barby!" said Fleda, laughing.
"I guess I can do most anything I set my hand to. If I couldn't, I'd shoot myself. It wont do to kill no more o' them chickens."
"O no, now they are laying so finely. Well, I am going up the hill, and when I come home I'll try and make up something, Barby."
"Earl Douglass 'll go out in the woods now and then, of a day, when he ha'n't no work particular to do, and fetch hum as many pigeons and woodchucks as you could shake a stick at."
"Hugh, my dear," said Fleda, laughing, "it's a pity you aren't a hunter I would shake a stick at you with great pleasure. Well, Barby, we will see when I come home."
"I was just a-thinkin'," said Barby; "Mis' Douglass sent round to know if Mis' Rossitur would like a piece of fresh meat Earl's been killing a sheep there's a nice quarter, she says, if she'd like to have it."
"A quarter of mutton!" said Fleda, "I don't know no, I think not, Barby; I don't know when we should be able to pay it back again. And yet, Hugh do you think uncle Rolf will kill another sheep this winter?"
"I am sure he will not," said Hugh; "there have so many died."
"If he only knowed it, that is a reason for killing more," said Barby "and have the good of them while he can."