322 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



the eye for eye and tooth for tooth measure in their 

 judgment of others. 



He came to me in the evening. " Since it 

 seems my work's no longer suiting you, maybe 

 it's better I should be going at the end of my 

 month." 



" Your work suits me well when it's good work. 

 I can't risk the cattle getting into my neighbours' 

 crops, and I intend to say what I think when you 

 are inclined to let things slide," I answered. " My 

 engagement with you is through harvest. If you 

 leave, I pay you the original wage agreed upon 

 before you took Mr. Oliver's place and not a cent 



more." 



" I have done my work well. You've said so 

 yourself more than once." 



" I could get any number of men to work well 

 for me at a dollar a day between June and September. 

 If you leave before harvest, you will get that rate, 



no more." 



I knew the fifteen dollars' fine must have been a 

 hard hit, and he had asked for money more than 

 once to send home. I quite concluded that the 

 discussion had put an end to his intention. 



On September 3 I met my neighbour in his gate- 

 way. " What are you going to do about harvest 

 help ? " he inquired. 



" It will depend on the weather. If we escape 

 the frost, I shall hire stookers ; if not, I shall stook 

 myself." 



" Who is to drive the binder ? " 



" Pat. He is awfully keen about it. Si Booth 

 showed him exactly how it worked at barley-harvest, 

 and his bad leg gives out stooking." 



