Sabbath morning by those who were loitering,
after their custom, in the churchyard waiting for the service to begin,
it was generally agreed that the "Old King" with his usual shrewdness
had "put his money on the winning horse." Even Alec Murray, though
he kept a bold face, confided to his bosom friend, Rory Ross, that he
"guessed his cake was dough, though they would make a pretty big stagger
at it."

"If Dick only had Barney's weight," said Rory, "they would stand a
better chance."

"Yes. But Dick tires quicker. An' he'll die before he drops."

"But ten acres, Alec! And there's more than ten acres in that field."

"I know. But it's standing nice, an' it's lighter on the knoll in the
centre. If I can only get them goin' their best clip--I'll have to work
it some way. I'll have to get Barney moving. Dick's such an ambitious
little beggar he'd follow till he bust. The first thing," continued
Alec, "is to get them a good early start. I'll have a talk with Ben."

As a result of his conversation with Ben it was hardly daylight on
Monday morning when Mrs. Boyle, glancing at her clock, sprang at once
from her bed and called her sons.

"You're late, Barney. It's nearly six, and you have to go to Morrison's
to-day. Here's Ben with the horses fed."

"Why, mother, it's only five o'clock by my watch."

"No, it's six."

Upon comparison Ben's watch corresponded with the clock. Barney
concluded something must be wrong and routed Dick up, and with such good
purpose did they hasten through breakfast that in an hour from the time
the boys were called they were standing in the field waiting for Ben to
begin the day's work.

After they had been binding an hour Alec Murray appeared on the field.
"I'm going to shock," he announced. "They've got men enough up at
the thrashing, an' the 'Old King' wants to get this field in shock by
to-morrow afternoon so he can get it thrashed, if you hustlers can get
it down by then." Alec was apparently in great spirits. He brought with
him into the field a breezy air of excitement.

"Here, Ben, don't take all day oiling up there. I guess I'm after you
to-day, remember."

"Guess yeh'll wait till it's tied, won't yeh?" said Ben, who thoroughly
understood Alec's game.

"Don't know 'bout that. I may have to jump in an' tie a few myself."

"Don't you fret yourself," replied Dick. "If you shock all that's tied
to-day you'll need to hang your shirt on the fence at night."

"Keep cool, Dick, or