The Land Claim — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

16 THE LAND-CLAIM. But I think, after all, Ed, we ought to make you pay for the wolf-skins, ’cause we'd surely have trapped three or four, it was such a pretty night for them to be out.” “Moré likely that I ought to sue you all for damages,” groaned the victim, rocking himself to and fro in the darkness in a frantic manner. “Don’t be wrathy, Ed; of course, it was all a mistake. Doe shall do double duty now, and be cook for two days longer, as a punishment for his Carelessness.” This promise somewhat mollified Ed’s neseeineeay and he soon subsided into a doze: - An early breakfast was prepared, in order to give all a good start in the business of the day. It was pretty well understood that Newcome in remove some of the stakes which bounded a claim be ig to Squire and Doc, and the young men resolyed to be on the ground in time to intercept such irregular proceedings. Biare him several es from and keep him out until nightfall. Ed d his on to go hunting, if, after eating some breakfast, he felt able to carry his gun. “Then you can shoot the wolves you cheated us out of last night,” remarked Flag. “Confound you, Flag! I’ve half a mind to shoot you, or ever it was that put the strychnine on the meat, ‘Tm not sure but I could make tional poisoning, and have you all arrested.” ouldn’t Ed,” said Doc, with a provoking smile, “ because there wasn’t any strychnine on the wees You've just been cleverly sold, that’s all.” x Ed glanced at the faces of Squire and Flag, Sotitow thin they were on the point of “exploding.” Hastily finishing his single cup of coffee, the victim of the “ sell” arose from the table, took his gun from its rest, and left the shanty without a word. -“ Whew ! he’s as mad as a hornet,” said Flag. “T shouldn't wonder if he did something ugly in revenge.” “ Yes, wouldn’t he be enraged if the joke should get into e papers? His editorial dignity, and all that. He'll never us, you may be sure.” surveyors, which would os 5 Comlicbooks.con