“Another reason why I can’t agree to your proposal is that I am working on a salary, and I am in duty bound to do the best I can for those who employ me,” said he. “What could you and I accomplish by roaming about among the hills without an experienced hunter to show us where the game is? You would catch no wolves, and I should find no specimens.”
“Yes, we would, for game of all kinds is so abundant that we couldn’t run amiss of it,” answered Tom.
Without stopping to argue this point, Oscar continued:
“There is still another reason. I am only on probation now, and unless I can show that committee that I am a hunter as well as a taxidermist, I shall have to step aside and give place to somebody else. You can see for yourself that it is to my interest to do the best I can at the start.”
“You seem to be full of excuses, but you needn’t offer any more,” said Tom, with suppressed rage. “If you don’t want to agree to my proposal, say it in so many words.”
“I don’t want to agree to your proposal,” returned Oscar. “I can’t.”
“You were ready enough to help Leon, who is nothing to you, and who did his best to injure you in every possible way while you lived in Eaton!” sneered Tom; “but when your brother asks you for a lift, you refuse to raise a finger. Lend me a hundred dollars to buy an outfit with. Can you do that?”
“There! What did I tell you?” Tom almost shouted. “A little while ago you said you had a thousand dollars.”
“But it doesn’t belong to me. I have to use it in paying my expenses.”
“And Leon’s too!” exclaimed Tom. “You must have paid his stage and railroad fare out of that fund.”
“I did; but I shall have to replace it out of my own pocket.”
“You couldn’t lend me a hundred dollars, and replace it in the same way, I suppose?”
“No, I could not, for two reasons: In the first place, that mortgage must be paid, so that mother can be sure of a home of her own; and in the next, I don’t know how much money I shall need this winter. I must feed my guide as well as myself, and when we come back to the fort I must pay him cash in hand for his services. Then I have a pony, mule, and wagon to buy, and it will cost a snug sum to transport myself and the specimens I hope to procure to Eaton. Wouldn’t I be in a pretty fix if I should find my money was running short?”