"No, no," said the old farmer, hastily. "I can't spare them. They'll
bring a good price in the market by and by."

"Can't help it, Uncle Paul. Charity begins at home. Excuse me a minute,
I'll be back directly."

He strode to the door and out into the yard. Then, after a little
maneuvering, he caught a chicken, and going to the block, seized the ax,
and soon decapitated it.

"What have you done?" said Paul, ruefully, for the old man had followed
his nephew, and was looking on in a very uncomfortable frame of mind.

"Taken the first step toward a good dinner," said the other, coolly. "I
am not sure but we shall want two."

"No, no!" said Paul, hastily. "I haven't got much appetite."

"Then perhaps we can make it do. I'll just get it ready, and cook it
myself. I've knocked about in all sorts of places, and it won't be the
first time I've served as cook. I've traveled some since I saw you
last."

"Have you?" said the old man, who seemed more interested in the untimely
death of the pullet than in his nephew's adventures.

"Yes, I've been everywhere. I spent a year in Australia at the gold
diggings."