146 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



person named McEwan called on Saturday, and I 

 engaged him at thirty dollars a month, although I 

 didn't exactly like him. He was to come in on 

 Monday. A much nicer man called later in the 

 day, but I couldn't close with him as I had already 

 settled the matter, and didn't even bother to take 

 his address. And now neither word nor sign of 

 McEwan." 



" Nor ever will be," he answered. " Danny 

 McLeay's cousin, Roddy McMahon, is staying over 

 there, and he will come along for the seeding month, 

 at any rate, only he won't hire on without his 

 team." 



" What are his terms ? " 



" Three dollars a day, man and team, with board 

 and forage." 



" It seems rather a lot just as I have bought a 

 new horse," I said anxiously. " What do you advise 

 me to do ? " 



" They say he is a good man on the land. He 

 should be too, since he was born and bred on it and 

 could plough before he could read, I guess. You 

 see, if you hire him and his team to seed with Kit 

 and Jim, you can put Hardstaff on to the manure 

 pile or to do some stoning, or even harrowing. Your 

 second team can easily draw three sections. He 

 should be able to manage horses after being more 

 than a year on an English farm. However, I'll tell 

 Roddy McMahon to come over and see you." 



He came later in the day. I was writing in my 

 sitting-room when there was a very loud knock at 

 the door. 



" You are Mr. McMahon, I expect ? " I said. 



" I guess," said he. " Pleased to meet you." 



