y in a level field like this, with the sun burning one's
neck brown as a leather glove, is apt to make one dream of cool river
pools, where the water snakes wiggle to and fro, and the kingfishers
fly above the bright ripples in which the rock bass love to play.

It was about four o'clock, and Lincoln was tired. His neck ached, his
toes were swollen, and his tongue called for a drink of water. He got
off the plow, after turning the horses' heads to the faint western
breeze, and took a seat on the fence in the shade of a small popple
tree on which a king-bird had a nest.

Somebody was galloping up the road with a regular rise and fall in the
saddle which showed the perfect horseman and easy rider. It was Milton
Jennings.

"Hello, Lincoln!" shouted Milton.

"Hello, Milt," Lincoln returned. "Why ain't you at home workin' like an
honest man?"

"Better business on hand. I've come clear over here to-day to see
you----"

"Well, here I am."

"Let's go to Clear Lake."

Lincoln stared hard at him.

"D'ye mean it?"

"You bet I do! I can put in a horse. Bert Jenks will lend us his
boat--put it right on in place of the wagon box--and we can borrow
Captain Knapp's tent. We'll get Rance to go, too."

"I'm with you," said Lincoln, leaping down, his face aglow with the
idea. "But won't you go up and break it gently to the boss? He's got
his mind kind o' set on my goin' through this corn again. When'll we
start?"

"Let's see--to-day is Wednesday--we ought to get off on Monday."

"Well, now, if you don't mind, Milt, I'd like to have you go up and see
what Father says."

"I'll fix him," said Milton. "Where is he?"

"Right up the road, mending fence."

Lincoln was so tickled he not only leaped the fence, but sprang into
the plow seat from behind and started on another round, singing,
showing how instantly hope of play can lighten a boy's task. But when
he came back to the fence, Milton was not in sight, and his heart
fell--the outlook was not so assuring.

It was nearly an hour later when Milton came riding back. Lincoln
looked up and saw him wave his hand and heard his shout. The victory
was won. Mr. Stewart had consented.

Lincoln whooped with such wild delight that the horses, swerving to the
right, plowed up two rows of corn for several rods before they could be
brought back into place.

"It's all O.K.," Milton called. "But I've got to come over with my
team and help you go through the corn the other way."

F