"It is a quarter of a section of public land," answered the lad. "Every man or single woman of mature age--I think that is what the books say--who doesn't own several hundred acres of land elsewhere (I don't know just how many) is entitled to enter on and take up a quarter of a section of unoccupied public land, and have it for a homestead. That's all," and Charlie looked to his father for approval. "Pretty good, Charlie," said his uncle. "How many acres are there in a quarter-section of land?" "Yes, how many acres in a quarter of a section?" shouted Sandy, who saw that his brother hesitated. "Speak up, my little man, and don't be afraid!" "I don't know," replied the lad, frankly. "Good for you!" said his father. "Never be afraid of saying that you don't know when you do _not_ know. The fear of confessing ignorance is what has wrecked many a young fellow's chances for finding out things he should know." "Well, boys," said Mr. Bryant, addressing himself to the three lads, "all the land of the United States Government that is open to settlement is laid off in townships six miles square. These, in turn, are laid off into sections of six hundred and forty acres each. Now, then, how much land should there be in a quarter-section?" "One hundred and sixty acres!" shouted all three boys at once, breathlessly. "Correct. The Government allows every man, or single woman of mature age, widow or unmarried, to go upon a plot of land, not more than one hundred and sixty acres nor less than forty acres, and to improve it, and live upon it. If he stays there, or 'maintains a continuous residence,' as the lawyers say, for a certain length of time, the Government gives him a title-deed at the end of that time, and he owns the land." "What?--free, gratis, and for nothing?" cried Sandy. "Certainly," said his uncle. "The homestead law was passed by Congress to encourage the settlement of the lands belonging to the Government. You see there is an abundance of these lands,--so much, in fact, that they have not yet been all laid off into townships and sections and quarter-sections. If a large number of homestead claims are taken up, then other settlers will be certain to come in and buy the lands that the Government has to sell; and that will make settlements grow throughout that locality." "Why should they buy when they can get land for nothing by entering and taking possession, just as we are going to do?" interrupted Oscar. "Because, my son, many of the men cannot make oath that they have not taken up Government land somewhere else; and then, again, many men are going into land speculations, and they don't care to wait five years to prove up a homestead claim. So they go upon the land, stake out their claim, and the Government sells it to them outright at the rate of a dollar and a quarter an acre." "Cash down?" asked Charlie.