his hull
life. Maybe that's what ails him."

The child grinned. "I hain't afeared. Get me down on the ground oncet,
an' I c'n run faster'n he can."

"Suppose I duck him in the water trough yonder?"

"I reckon he needs it. He generally do," smiled Cassandra from the
doorway. "Come, son, go wash up." David allowed the child to slip to the
ground. "Seems like Hoyle is right enough about you, though. Don't go
away up the hill; bide here and have dinner first."

David dropped on the step for a moment's rest. "I see I must make a way
up to my cabin that will not pass your door. How about that? Was dinner
included in the rent, and the mule and the mule's dinner? And what is
Hoyle going to pay me for allowing him to ride Pete up and down while I
plough?"

"Yas, an' what are ye goin' to give him fer 'lowin' ye to set his hade
round straight, an' what are ye goin' to give me fer 'lowin' ye to set
me on my laigs again? Ef ye go a-countin' that-a-way, I'm 'feared ye're
layin' up a right smart o' debt to we-uns. I reckon you'll use that mule
all ye want to, an' ye'll lick him good, too, when he needs hit, an'
take keer o' yourself, fer he's a mean critter; an' ye'll keep that path
right whar hit is, fer hit goes with the farm long's you bide up
yandah."

"You good people have the best of me; we'll call it all even. Ever since
I leaped off that train in the snow, I have been dependent on you for my
comfort. Well, I must hurry on; since I've turned farmer I'm a busy man.
Can you suggest any one I might get to do that ploughing? Miss Cassandra
here may be able to do it without help, but I confess I'm not equal to
it."

"I be'n tellin' Cass that thar Elwine Timms, he ought to be able to do
the hull o' that work. Widow Timmses' son. They live ovah nigh the
Gerret place thar at Lone Pine Creek. He used to help Frale with the
still. An' then thar's Hoke Belew--he ought to do sumthin' fer all you
done fer his wife--sittin' up the hull night long, an' gettin' up at
midnight to run to them. Oh, I hearn a heap sittin' here. Things comes
to me that-a-way. Thar hain't much goin' on within twenty mile o' here
'at I don't know. They is plenty hereabouts owes you a heap."

"I think I've been treated very well. They keep me supplied with all I
need. What more can a man ask? The other day, a man brought me a sack of
corn meal, fresh and sweet from the mill--a man with six children and a
sick mother to feed, but what could I do? He would lea