Hay-time 



and cattle below, and ample loft for fodder above, 

 with a windmill or small engine for drawing 

 water supply. Such structures are common in 

 the more settled districts, but quite usually 

 beyond the reach of the first homesteaders. 

 These barns can be fitted with various labour- 

 saving appliances. 



Where hay is put up in large quantities for 

 the market, special machinery is often used, 

 which would probably be a revelation to many a 

 British farmer suffering from the dearth of agricul- 

 tural labour, as indeed would the high wages paid. 



On the other hand, it is often a pathetic, if 

 inspiring, sight to see a homesteader alone, or 

 assisted only by his wife or young son, putting up 

 many tons of hay. 



However, in our case the work went on rapidly. 

 The centre of the big slough proving too damp to 

 hear the weight of the team. Bob went on cutting 

 the thickest of the prairie-wool round the out- 

 side, while the other four of us worked away. 



One morning, as Harry and I were thus busy 

 at the stack unloading, we noticed Bob hastily 

 unhitching his horses. Tom and Sunny Jim too 

 had left the bulls (who were swinging their heads 

 about more than usual), and were hastening 

 towards the house. 



" What's up now ? " said I. 



99 



