he expected to occupy the same position among the boys about Rochdale; but before he had been many weeks in the settlement he found that there were some fellows there who knew just as much as he did, who rode horses and wore clothes as good as his own, and who had some very decided opinions and were in the habit of thinking for themselves.  They wouldn’t “cotton” to him even if he was from the city, and so Lester made friends with those whom he regarded as his inferiors in every way.

Lester was not at all pleased with the task he had set himself on this particular day.  He never felt easy in Don’s presence and Bert’s, and nothing but the hope of compelling David to give up his contract and thus leave the way clear for Bob and himself, would have induced him to call upon them.  He rode slowly in order to postpone the interview as long as he could, but the General’s barn was reached at last, and the hostler, who came forward to take his nag, told him that Don and Bert had just gone into the house.  The latter opened the door in response to his knock, and Lester knew by the way he looked at him that he was very much surprised to see him.  But he welcomed him very cordially, and conducted him into the library, where Don was lying upon the sofa.

“That night in the potato cellar was a serious matter for you, wasn’t it?” said the visitor, after the greeting was over and he had seated himself in the chair which Bert placed in front of the fire.  “Haven’t you been able to take any exercise at all yet?”

“O, yes; I’ve been out all day.  I’ve had almost too much exercise, and that is what puts me here on the sofa.”

“We’ve had some excitement, too,” added Bert.

“Yes.  We went up the bayou to see if the ducks had begun to come in any yet, and we found a bear on Bruin’s Island.”

“Did you shoot him?”

“No.  He gave us notice to clear out and we were only too glad to do so.  Such growls I never heard before.”

“One’s nerves do shake a little under such circumstances, that is, if he is not accustomed to shooting large game,” said Lester, loftily.  “You ought to have had me there.  Perhaps I’ll go up some day and pay my respects to him.”

Don, who thought this a splendid opportunity to test Lester’s courage, was on the very point of telling him that he and Bert were going up there the next day to see if they could find the animal, and that they would be glad to have his assistance; but on second thought he concluded that he would say nothing about it.  He expected to have some sport as well as some excitement during the trip, and he didn’t want his day’s enjoyment spoiled by any such fellow as Lester Brigham.

“I came over to see you two boys on business,” continued the visitor, drawing an official envelope from his pocket.  “We talk of getting up a Sportsman’s Club here in the settlement:  will you join it?”

“Who are talking of getting it up, and what is the object of it?” asked Don.