"That's right over yonder. You can see the roof if you stand up," said
Henry, quickly.

Hiram stood up and, in the light of the early sunset, he caught a
glimpse of the roof in question.

"Your folks going to buy it of the old lady Uncle Jeptha left it to?"
asked Henry, with pardonable curiosity. "Or are you going to rent it?"

"What do you think of renting it?" queried Hiram, showing that he had
Yankee blood in him by answering one question with another.

"Well--it's pretty well run down, and that's a fact. The old man
couldn't do much the last few years, and them Dickersons who farmed it
for him ain't no great shakes of farmers, now I tell you!"

"Well, I want to look the farm over before I decide what I'll do," said
Hiram, slowly. "And of course I can't do that to-night. They told me in
town that sometimes you take boarders?"

"In the summer we do," returned Henry.

"Do you think your folks will put me up overnight?"

"Why, I reckon so--Hiram Strong, did you say your name was? Come right
in," added Henry, hospitably, "and I'll ask mother."

CHAPTER VIII. THE LURE OF GREEN FIELDS

The Pollocks proved to be a neighborly family--and a large one. As Henry
said, there was a "whole raft of young 'uns" younger than he was. They
made Hiram very welcome at the supper table, and showed much curiosity
about his personal affairs.

But the young fellow had been used to just such people before. They were
not a bad sort, and if they were keenly interested in the affairs of
other people, it was because they had few books and newspapers, and
small chance to amuse themselves in the many ways which city people
have.

Hiram slept with Henry that night, and Henry agreed to show the visitor
over the Atterson place the next day.

"I know every stick and stone of it as well as I do ourn," declared
Henry. "And Dad won't mind my taking time now. Later--Whew! I tell you,
we hafter just git up an' dust to make a crop. Not much chance for fun
after a week or two until the corn's laid by."

"You know all the boundaries of the Atterson farm, do you?" Hiram asked.

"Yes, sir!" replied Henry, eagerly. "And say! do you like to fish?"

"Of course; who doesn't?"

"Then we'll take some lines and hooks along--and mother'll lend us a pan
and kettle. Say! We'll start early--'fore anybody's a-stir--and I bet
there'll be a big trout jumping in the pool under the big sycamore."

"That certain-sure sounds good to me!" cried Hiram, en