"He has as much business to be here as we have," Douglas defended, "and
don't you dare to touch him again. Take your hands off him, or you'll
go down quicker than you did up by the barn."

The memory of his recent defeat was so fresh in Jake's mind that
reluctantly he relinquished his hold upon the youth's arm.

"I'll let ye off this time," he growled, "but don't let me ever catch
ye hangin' around this place agin."

"I wasn't doin' nuthin'," the lad protested, speaking for the first
time.

"Ye've been up to some mischief," Jake charged.

"No, I haven't."

"What have ye been doin', then?"

"Fishin'; that's what I've been doin', and I came here to git a little
sleep."

"Where's yer net?"

"Out there," and the lad pointed with his finger across the water.
"Didn't ye know I was fishin'?"

"Naw, never heard of ye workin' before. Ho, ho, that's a good one! To
think of Empty Dempster workin'! What's goin' to happen!"

At that instant the blast of a tin horn fell upon their ears, which
caused Jake to start and look across the field.

"Great punkins!" he exclaimed. "It's Susie, an' I fergot all about
them cows!"

CHAPTER VI

DOWN BY THE RIVER

The neglected cattle had been having a fine time roving at will
wherever their fancy led. They had left the uninviting rectory grounds
and were revelling in their master's turnip patch when discovered by
Mrs. Jukes. When the men at last arrived and dislodged them from this
delectable spot, they scampered across the fields, trampling through
the young corn and potato patch until they reached the peas, beets and
carrots, where they stopped for another feast. Jake was almost in
despair. He shouted frantically, waved his arms, and hurled stones at
his wayward herd. It was only with the greatest difficulty that the
cattle were at last rounded up in the barn-yard, and the gate closed.

Mrs. Jukes had taken an important part in this affair, and now stood
facing her crestfallen husband, with her eyes ablaze with anger. The
presence of the stranger did not deter her in the least.

"Where have you been?" she demanded. "Breakfast has been ready for
half an hour, and if it hadn't been for me, the cows would have eaten
everything up on the place. Were you asleep?"

"I--I was gettin' a man to help with the work," Jake stammered. "He's
here now."

"H'm," and Mrs. Jukes tossed her head. "I guess there wouldn't have
been any need for a man to help with the wo