Frank's Campaign or Farm and Camp Part 14

Pegging isn't a very interesting operation."

"No," said John, with remarkable affability. "I shouldn't think there'd be much fun in it."

"Fun! I guess not. For my part, I'd be willing to go barefoot, if other people would, for the sake of getting rid of pegging."

"I suppose you have some time to yourself, though, don't you?"

"Precious little. I ought to be in the shop now. Father sent me down to the store for some awls, and he'll be fretting because I don't get back.

I broke my awl on purpose," said d.i.c.k, laughing, "so as to get a chance to run out a little while."

"I suppose your father gives you some of the money that you earn, doesn't he?' inquired John.

"A few cents now and then; that's all. He says everything is so high nowadays that it takes all we can both of us earn to buy food and clothes. So if a fellow wants a few cents now and then to buy a cigar, he can't have 'em."

John was glad to hear this. He felt that he could the more readily induce d.i.c.k to a.s.sist him in his plans.

"d.i.c.k!" he said abruptly, looking round to see that no one was within hearing-distance, "wouldn't you like to earn a two-dollar bill?"

"For myself?" inquired d.i.c.k.

"Certainly."

"Is there much work in it?" asked indolent d.i.c.k cautiously.

"No, and what little there is will be fun."

"Then I'm in for it. That is, I think I am. What is it?"

"You'll promise not to tell?" said John.

"Honor bright."

"It's only a little practical joke that I want to play upon one of the boys."

"On who?" asked d.i.c.k, unmindful of his grammar.

"On Frank Frost."

"Frank's a pretty good fellow. It isn't going to hurt him any, is it?"

"Oh, no, of course not."

"Because I wouldn't want to do that. He's always treated me well."

"Of course he has. It's only a little joke, you know."

"Oh, well, if it's a joke, just count me in. Fire away, and let me know what you want done."

"You know that Frank, or his father, keeps pigs?"

"Yes."

"I want you to go some night--the sooner the better--and let them out, so that when morning comes the pigs will be minus, and Master Frank will have a fine chase after them."

"Seems to me," said d.i.c.k, "that won't be much of a joke."

"Then I guess you never saw a pig-chase. Pigs are so contrary that if you want them to go in one direction they are sure to go in another.

The way they gallop over the ground, with their little tails wriggling behind them, is a caution."

"But it would be a great trouble to Frank to get them back."

"Oh, well, you could help him, and so get still more fun out of it, he not knowing, of course, that you had anything to do with letting them out."

"And that would take me out of the shop for a couple of hours," said d.i.c.k, brightening at the thought.

"Of course," said John; "so you would get a double advantage. Come, what do you say?"

"Well, I don't know," said d.i.c.k, wavering. "You'd pay me the money down on the nail, wouldn't you?"

"Yes," said John. "I'll show you the bill now."

He took from his pocketbook a two-dollar greenback, and displayed it to d.i.c.k.

"You could buy cigars enough with this to last you some time," he said insinuatingly.

"So I could. I declare, I've a good mind to take up your offer."

"You'd better. It's a good one."

"But why don't you do it yourself?" asked d.i.c.k, with sudden wonder.

"Because father's very strict," said John glibly, "and if I should leave the house at night, he'd be sure to find it out."

"That's where I have the advantage. I sleep downstairs, and can easily slip out of the window, without anybody's being the wiser."

"Just the thing. Then you agree?"

"Yes, I might as well. Are you particular about the night?"

"No, take your choice about that. Only the sooner the better."

The two boys separated, John feeling quite elated with his success.

CHAPTER XIV. A RAID UPON THE PIG-PEN

The more d.i.c.k thought of the enterprise which he had undertaken, the more he disliked it. He relished fun as much as any one, but he could not conceal from himself that he would be subjecting Frank to a great deal of trouble and annoyance. As he had told John, Frank had always treated him well, and this thought made the scheme disagreeable to him.