heat, I showered
blows on him. To my surprise, he fell back.

"Wait--wait," he protested in a small voice, "I--I was just fooling."

* * * * *

After Vinton left, my blood still pouring through my veins in a
triumphant glow, I sat on the ground by the side of my tent-floor and
composed a poem....

That afternoon Barton's office boy was sent to me, as an emissary of
peace.

"The boss wants to see you in his office."

"Tell your boss that my office is down here. If he wants to see me he
can come here."

The boy scurried away. I was now looked upon as a desperate man.

* * * * *

And I was happy. I sang at the top of my voice, an old ballad about
Captain John Smith, so that Barton could hear it through the open window
of his office....

"And the little papooses dig holes in the sand ...
_Vive le Capitaine John!_..."

I leaped into the lake, without even my gee-string on, and swam far out,
singing....

* * * * *

Late that evening, Barton came to my tent ... very gently and sweetly
... he no longer called me John or Johnnie ... I was now Mr. Gregory. He
asked me, if he rented the plot back from me, would I go in peace? I
replied, no, I meant to stay there till the middle of September, when
the fall term opened at Mt. Hebron.

Then he asked me, would I just join forces with him,--since we must put
the movement above personalities....

We had a long talk about life and "Nature" ideals. The man showed all
his soul, all his struggles, to me. And I saw his real greatness and was
moved greatly. And I informed him I would antagonise him no longer,
that, though I would not give up the desirable site, otherwise, I would
help him all I could.

Then he said he would be glad to have me stay, and we shook hands
warmly, the moisture of feeling shining in our eyes.

* * * * *

As the time for my return to school drew near, I was in fine physical
condition, better than ever before in my life. I was still somewhat
thin, but now it could be called slenderness, not thinness. And I was
surprised at the laughing, healthy, sun-browned look of my face.

I felt a confidence in myself I had never known before....

* * * * *

I had a flirtation with a pretty, freckle-faced girl. She worked in
Barton's "factory," and she used to come down to my tent where I sat
rea