age had
stiffened his joints. He looked at Jim with sullen suspicion. The
other was young and strongly made.

"I've come to give you an offer, Shanks," Jim began. "This house is
not fit to live in; I want you to use the cottage at Bank-end instead.
There's a good piece of garden and a row of fruit trees."

"Dabbin's bad, but it's mine," said Shanks. "You canna put me oot."

"I don't want to put you out; I want you to go. Anyhow, the dabbin
isn't yours. You have no title to the ground and I understand have
been warned off, but we won't bother about that. Bank-end cottage is
dry and comfortable and you can have it for your lifetime."

"I willun't gan."

Jim turned to the younger man. "This place is damp and falling down.
Can't you persuade your father?"

"I'm none for trying. He has t' right o' it."

There was silence for a few moments and then Shanks asked: "What for
do you want the bit hoose?"

"I want to pull it down. The dyke I'm going to build starts here and
the new cut for the creek must go through your garden."

Shanks looked at his son and remarked with dull surprise: "He's gan t'
dyke marsh!"

The other said nothing and Shanks turned to Jim. "If you were letten
dry out marsh, t' wild geese and ducks wad gan."

"It's possible. We'll raise good grass and corn instead. Dairy cows
are worth more than shellducks."

"But you'll niver be letten," Shanks replied doggedly.

"Shucks!" said Jim. "The marsh is mine. Although you have no claim to
this place, I'll give you Bank-end, the garden, and if needful the
small field. You and your son can make pretty good pay there if you
like to work. If you'd sooner loaf and shoot, there's the creek and
sands."

"'T' lag geese follow marsh," Shanks insisted.

Jim pondered and Jake studied the others. He had not seen men like
these in Canada, where some of the Indians owned good farms and those
who hunted had first-rate guns and canoes. Shanks and his son were
ragged and dirty. They slouched and looked slack and dull, although
now and then the younger man's eyes gleamed cunningly. Then Jim said:

"We won't argue about it. The dabbin must come down and when you're
ready to move to Bank-end you can tell my teamster to take your
household fixings along. If this doesn't meet the bill, I'll give you
a hundred pounds and you can go where you like."

Shanks said nothing and Jim went off. When they were out of hearing
Jake remarked: "I allow you