296 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



Regina if I have to drag you there in the stone-boat 

 myself." 



"Boys Alive! That's all right. No offence! No 

 offence." 



In spite of the dialogue Adam was as wax in my 

 hands before the advent of Mr. Oliver, then he 

 sulked, and was as unmanageable as an untamed 

 broncho. He rose at his usual hour — rather earlier 

 — and milked the cows, and then sat on the veranda 

 and talked to himself, and sang dirges until I called 

 him in to breakfast. 



" Why aren't you helping in the stable ? " I 

 inquired. " I won't have men sitting round doing 

 nothing before breakfast." 



" I ain't going to do the Englishman's work for 

 him. Guess it's his team now, not mine. And I 

 ain't going to work in the stable whilst he's there." 



" What has he done to you ? He doesn't interfere 

 with you in your work in any way," I said angrily. 



" Boys Alive ! Didn't he take away my ploughing 

 after the other feller up north had taken my team ? 

 Still he^s all right, I have not a word against him, 

 but this other greenhorn, he's too fond of chewing 

 the rag." 



We should probably have parted at that moment, 

 without further exchange of sentiments, but one of 

 my neighbours appeared at the gate. 



" Good morning, Adam," he said. " I guess you 

 haven't seen my cow round." 



" I see a cow so thin as a razor," said Adam. 



" That's my cow." 



" Boys Alive ! I shut her in the pasture long with 

 our bunch. Guess I'll come along and give you a 

 hand." 



