FENCED IN 65 



was handsome, square-jawed and strong. He 

 was good-natured, but easily roused, and when 

 angry was as fierce as fire. He had the reputa- 

 tion of being the hardest fighter in the country. 

 His name was William Jackson, so he was called 

 Bill. I had met Jackson often, and we had 

 taken kindly to each other. I admired his frank 

 manner and sturdy physique, and he looked 

 upon me as a good-natured tenderfoot, who 

 might be companionable, and who would cer- 

 tainly stir up things in the neighborhood. I 

 went in search of him that afternoon to discuss 

 the line fence, a full mile of which divided our 

 lands. 



" I want to put a fence along our line which 

 nothing can get over or under," I said. I am 

 willing to bear the expense of the new fence if 

 you will take away the old one and plough eight 

 furrows, four on your land and four on mine, 

 to be seeded to grass before the wires are 

 stretched. We ought to get rid of the weeds 

 and brush." 



That is a liberal proposition, Dr. Williams, 

 and of course I accept," said Jackson; "but I 

 ought to do more. I'll tell you what I'll do. 

 You are planning to put a ring fence around 

 your land, three miles in all. I'll plough the 

 whole business and fit it for the seed. I'll take 

 one of my men, four horses, and a grub plough, 

 and do it whenever you are ready." 



This settled the fence matter between Jackson 



