This was said just at the time when Beechnut and Stuyvesant were passing through the gate which led into the yard, and the barns and sheds were just coming into view. "The one with that square hole by the side of the door?" asked Stuyvesant. "Yes," said Beechnut, "that was Phonny's hen house. He bought some hens, and was going to be a great poulterer. He was going to have I don't know how many eggs and chickens,--but finally he got tired of his brood, and neglected them, and at last wanted to sell them to me. I bought them day before yesterday." "How many hens are there?" asked Stuyvesant. "About a dozen," said Beechnut. "I gave him a dollar and a half for the whole stock. I looked into his hen-house when I bought him out, and found it all in sad condition. I have not had time to put it in order yet." "I will put it in order," said Stuyvesant. "Will you?" said Beechnut. "Yes," said Stuyvesant, "and I should like to buy the hens of you, if I were only going to stay here long enough." "I don't think it is worth while for you to buy them," said Beechnut, "but I should like to have you take charge of them. I would pay you by giving you a share of the eggs." "What could I do with the eggs?" asked Stuyvesant. "Why you could sell them, or give them away, just as you pleased. You might give them to Mrs. Henry, or sell them to her, or sell them to me. If you will take the whole care of them while you are here, I will give you one third of the eggs, after all expenses are paid." "What do you mean by that?" asked Stuyvesant. "Why, if we have to buy any grain, for instance, to give the hens, we must sell eggs enough first to pay for the grain, and after that, you shall have one third of the eggs that are left." Stuyvesant was much pleased with this proposal, and was just about to say that he accepted it, when his attention was suddenly turned away from the subject, by hearing a loud call from Phonny, who just then came running round a corner, with a box-trap under his arm, shouting out, "Stuyvesant! Stuyvesant! Look here! I've got a gray squirrel;--a beautiful, large gray squirrel." CHAPTER IV. NEGOTIATIONS. It is necessary in this chapter to return to Phonny and Wallace, in order to explain how Phonny succeeded in getting his squirrel. He was quite in haste, as he went on after leaving the squirrel, in order to get down to the mill where Espy lived, before the squirrel should have gnawed out. The road, he was quite confident, led to the mill. "I should like to buy the squirrel, if Espy will sell him," said Phonny. "Do you think that your mother would be willing?" asked Wallace. "Why yes," said Phonny, "certainly. What objection could she have?" "None, only the trouble that it would occasion her," replied Wallace. "Oh, it would not make her any trouble," said Phonny. "I should take care of it myself."