to look it all over,
and talk with the pump-maker, and do up some of the farm-work that is
behindhand."

"Why don't you take the farm of your father," said Jack, "and see what
you can make out of it? I never knew what it was to be really interested
in work till I took some land with another boy, and we raised a crop on
our own account."

Rufe brightened at the idea; but Wad said he wasn't going to be a
farmer, anyway.

"What are you going to be?"

"I haven't made up my mind yet."

"Till you do make up your mind, my advice is for you to take hold of
what first comes to your hand, do that well, and prepare yourself for
something more to your liking."

"I believe that's good advice," said Rufe. "But it is going to be hard
for us to get out of the old ruts."

"I know it; and so much the more credit you will have when you succeed."

Jack moved away.

"Where are you going now?" Rufe asked.

"To reconnoitre a little, and see what Peakslow has done with my horse.
I ride that horse home, you understand!"

CHAPTER XXIV.

PREPARING FOR THE ATTACK.

The boys showed Jack a way through the timber to a wooded hill opposite
Peakslow's house. There Link climbed a tree to take an observation.

[Illustration: OLD WIGGETT.]

"I can look right over into his barnyard," he reported to his companions
below. "There's old Wiggett with his ox-cart, unloading something out
of Peakslow's wagon; and there's Peakslow with him. Hark!" After a
pause, Link laughed and said: "Peakslow's talking loud; I could hear him
say, 'That air hoss,' and 'Not if I live!' Now old Wiggett's hawing his
oxen around out of the yard."

"I must head him off and have a word with him," said Jack. And away he
dashed through the undergrowth.

Reaching a clump of hazels by the roadside, he waited till the old man
and his slow ox-team came along.

"What's the news, Mr. Wiggett?" Jack said, coming out and accosting him.

"Whoa! hush! back!" the old man commanded, beating his cattle across the
face with a short ox-goad. He shook with laughter as he turned to Jack.
"It's dog-gone-ation funny! He had a quirk in his head, arter all.
Hankers arter that reward of twenty dollars!"

"What did you say to him?"

"Told him he had no shadder of a claim,--he might sue ye through all the
courts in seven kingdoms, he couldn't find a jury to give him the reward
for stolen prop'ty found in his hands. He said for that reason he meant
to hold ontew the hoss till