Page:The Land Claim.pdf/16

Rh "He is real mean, I think," added Flag. "He always takes the best of everything that the rest of us have troubled ourselves to get; and he never gets any thing."

"That's just it," rejoined Doe; "he is lazy and selfish."

"Suppose we play him a trick?" said Squire.

"Agreed. What shall it be?"

" He'll be sure not to get himself any supper when he comes in, so it is easy enough to trick him. Just set the cold meat and bread on the table in a careless manner, as if it was intended to be thrown out. He won't mind that—he'd rather eat the pieces than cook any thing."

"But I don't see what joke there is in that—it's just what he always does," said Doc.

"Let me finish," said Squire. "We'll just step out long enough to give him time to come in and eat, and, when the fatal deed is done, we will reappear in time to assure him he has just eaten our wolf-bait, strychnine and all. Lord! won't it be fun to see his roaring and kicking? for he will be frightened to death."

" Good," cried Doc.

"Excellent," echoed Flag. "But we must hurry, for I hear his whistle already."

"There goes the stuff on the table. Let's run now, boys."

Doc quite forgot his back-ache, and was lively as a cricket, while the others were not behind.

"Where are you going?" called Ed, who at that moment came within hail.

"Going to see if old Newcome isn't staking his claim by moonlight," answered Squire, cheerfully; "be back again directly."

The three retired to a safe distance, and discussed the best manner of giving the alarm.

The unsuspecting Ed lunched off the broken remains of the supper with the relish of a hungry man, and then betook himself to a newspaper fresh from the "States," whose date made it two weeks old.

"You are late this evening, Ed," remarked Squire, as the conspirators returned; "got any news?"

"Not much; some interesting letters from the Crimea. That's pretty much all that's worth reading two weeks after printing. Confounded bore to be deprived of the daily news isn't it."

"'Tis so; but then a fellow soon gets used to it. It's all in habit."

"Yes like every thing else," rejoined Doc. "Had any supper, Ed?"

"Well, I helped myself to the leavings; guess that'll do."

The Doctor gave a start, and turned to survey the table.

"Good heaven! did you eat that stuff on the table? "

"I eat some meat and bread, to be sure I did. But what is the matter? You all look as if you had the palsy."

"You're a dead man!" exclaimed Doc, sinking upon one of the benches.