the rail;
and old Kate awoke with a start. Someone was coming along the road
below. Young Matt knew the step of that horse, as well as he knew
the sound of old Kate's bell, or the neigh of his own sorrel.

The brown pony stopped at the lower corner of the field, and a
voice called, "You'd better be at work. I don't believe you have
ploughed three rows since I passed."

The big fellow went eagerly down the hill to the fence. "I sure
ought to o' done better'n that, for it's been long enough since
you went by. I always notice, though, that it gets a heap farther
to the other side of the field and back about this time o' day.
What's new over to the Forks?"

Sammy laughed, "Couldn't hear a thing but how the champion strong
man was beaten at his own game. Uncle Ike says, 'Ba thundas! You
tell Young Matt that he'd better come over. A man what can ride
Wash Gibbs a bug huntin' is too blamed good a man t' stay at home
all th' time. We want him t' tell us how he done it. Ba thundas!
He'll be gittin' a job with th' gov'ment next. What!'"

The man crossed his arms on the top rail of the worm fence, and
laughed. It was good to have Sammy deliver her message in just
that way. "I reckon Uncle Ike thinks I ought to go dancin' all
over the hills now, with a chip on my shoulder," he said.

"I don't think you'll do that," she returned. "Dad Howitt
wouldn't, would he? But I must hurry on now, or Daddy's supper
won't be ready when he comes in. I stopped to give you these
papers for your father." She handed him the package. "And--and I
want to thank you, Matt, for what you did at the mill. All my life
you have been fighting for me, and--and I have never done anything
for you. I wish I could do something--something that would show
you how--how I care."

Her voice faltered. He was so big and strong, and there was such a
look of hopeless love and pain on his rugged face--a face that was
as frank and open as a child's. Here was a man who had no need for
the shallow cunning of little fox-like men. This one would go open
and bold on his way, and that which he could not take by his
strength he would not have. Had she not seen him in battle? Had
she not seen his eyes like polished steel points? Deep down in her
heart, the woman felt a thrill of triumph that such a man should
stand so before her. She must go quickly.

Young Matt climbed slowly up the hill again to his seat on the
stump. Here he watched until across the Hollow he saw the po