“I am willing to do anything reasonable,” replied George, “but I can’t do two men’s work for the sake of pleasing you. Why don’t you make a start for yourself, as I did?” “It would take too long; and besides I don’t know anything about cattle.” “Yes, it will take years; but you will be learning the business all the while, and by the time you have a herd of your own you will know how to take care of it. I tell you there’s something back of this,” said George, to himself, as Ned jumped up and walked into the house, shaking his head and muttering to himself. “His offer to go into partnership with me is only a blind. He has another object in view, and I wish I knew what it is.” “There’s only one thing about this business, and you can bet high on that, my fine lad,” thought Ned, as he disappeared in the house. “You shan’t treat me with contempt if everybody else does. I’ll show you who is boss here.” George was certain that he had not heard the last of the matter, and in this he was not mistaken. When Ned had been gone about five minutes Uncle John came out, and before he had said a dozen words George knew just what he had to expect. “I have concluded to reduce expenses about eighty dollars a month by discharging two herdsmen,” said Uncle John. “All right, sir,” replied George cheerfully, “eighty dollars are worth saving; but do you think that those who are left will be able to do the work?” “O, yes. Of course I intend that the places of those I discharge shall be supplied by others.” “Then I don’t see how you are going to save anything. Besides, what’s the use of sending away good men and hiring others whom you don’t know anything about?” “I don’t intend to hire any others. I want you and Zeke to take their places.” “Oh! I thought that was what you were trying to get at,” said George, to himself. “Ned means to rule or ruin, but he shall do neither. Zeke and I can’t take their places,” he said, aloud. “We have all we can do now.” “I will tell you how I intend to arrange matters,” said Uncle John, and George thought he looked and acted as though he did not much like the business he had set out to perform. “I am going to bring your herd in and distribute it among the others. You two can take care of more than three hundred cattle.” “But I don’t want my herd broken up. I earned it without help; it belongs to me individually, and I am going to keep it. Zeke belongs to me, too; and while he is in my employ he shan’t herd cattle for anybody else.” “Why, George!” exclaimed Uncle John, who seemed to be very much astonished at the emphasis the boy threw into his words. “I never knew you to be so disobedient before.”