"That's professional advice, young man," returned the lawyer,
"smiling. But I will give it to you without charge.

"Merely go and pull the new posts up and replace them on the
line. If Dickerson interferes with you, come to me and we'll
have him bound over before the Justice of the Peace.

"You represent Mrs. Atterson and are within her rights. That's
the best I can tell you."

Now, Hiram was not desirous of starting any trouble--legal or
otherwise--with a neighbor; but neither did he wish to see
anybody take advantage of his old boarding mistress. He knew
that, beside farming for her, he would probably have to defend
her from many petty annoyances like the present case.

So he bought the wire he needed for repairs, a few other things
that were necessary, and drove back to the farm, determined to go
right ahead and await the consequences.

Among his purchases was an axe. In the workshop on the farm was
a fairly good grindstone; only the treadle was broken and Hiram
had to repair this before he could make much headway in grinding
the axe. Henry Pollock lived too far away to be called upon in
such a small emergency.

Being obliged to work alone sharpens one's wits. The young
farmer had to resort to shifts and expedients on every hand, as
he went along.