FOUNDER OF HIS RACE 73 



When the song was finished Evans gave the singer 

 neighborly greeting and strode on to the mill, True fol- 

 lowing him, more like a dog than a horse. 



The sun was gone and the evening shadows were be- 

 ginning to fall, but tliere were still lingering along the 

 horizon long streaks of crimson and gold that tinged 

 the river with color. 



In evident discussion, near a log at the mill, stood a 

 group of farmers. 



Evans and True approached. 



Nathan Nye, friendly and jovial, whittling a birch 

 stick, looked up as Evans said : ''How be ye all ?" 



*'Why not give Bob's horse a show?" he asked, a 

 twinkle in his keen blue eyes, a smile brightening his 

 genial face. 



Horses and oxen were hitched to the limbs of trees 

 or grazed near at hand, quite without interest in what- 

 ever was taking place. Sledges and wagons rested their 

 shafts on the ground, seeming to wait patiently. 



"Is it a pulling bee?" asked Evans, leaning against 

 True's side. 



''Yaas, but I guess it's abeout over, now," drawled a 

 lank youth, coming out of the mill with a sack of meal 

 on his shoulder. 



''Anybody but you in a hurry to be going home- 

 along?" questioned Nye, crushingly. 



The youth did not answer, but went on to his sledge. 



"There's a jug of Medford rum in the store for the 

 owner of the horse that can get that there log on my run- 

 way this evening," explained Miher Chase to Evans. 



"Now I want to know !" exclaimed Evans, carelessly, 

 "Why didn't you say so before? You seem to be mak- 

 ing quite a chore of a very simple thing; I'll just have 

 my little horse do it for you in a jifify !" 



A shout of derisive laughter greeted his remark. 



