Pete was silent for a minute; meanwhile Hiram continued to dig
his hole, and finally set the first post into place.

"I tell you to take that post out o' there, Mister," exclaimed
Pete, suddenly approaching the other. "I don't like you, anyway.
You helped git me turned off up there to Bronson's yesterday. If
you wouldn't have put your fresh mouth in about the horse that
gal wouldn't have knowed so much to tell her father. Now you
stop foolin' with this fence or I'll lick you."

Hiram Strong's disposition was far from being quarrelsome. He
only laughed at first and said:

"Why, that won't do you any good in the end, Peter. Thrashing me
won't give you and your father the right to usurp rights at this
water-hole.

"There was very good reason, as I can see, for old Mr. Atterson
refusing to let you water your stock here. In time of drouth
the branch probably furnished no more water than his own cattle
needed. And it will be the same with my employer."

"You'd better have less talk about it, and set back them posts,"
declared Pete, decidedly, laying off his coat and pulling up his
shirt sleeves.

"I hope you won't try anything foolish, Peter," said Hiram,
resting on his shovel handle.

"Huh!" grunted Pete, eyeing him sideways as might an