It was well for him he got a good start.
For long after that we turned the horses and cows into the little paddock at night, and if ever the dog barked Dad would jump up and go out in his shirt.
We put them back into the paddock again, and the first night they were there two cows got out and went away, taking with them the chain that fastened the slip-rails.

We never saw or heard of them again; but Dad treasured them in his heart.

Often, when he was thoughtful, he would ponder out plans for getting even with the Donovans--we knew it was the Donovans.

And Fate seemed to be of Dad's mind; for the Donovans got into "trouble,", and were reported to be "doing time." That pleased Dad; but the vengeance was a little vague.

He would have liked a finger in the pie himself.
Four years passed.