166 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



cropland from my own stock ; and from May to 

 November herd law compels every one to keep 

 stock within bounds. In those days also one could 

 send cattle to graze on the lake-shore land in charge 

 of the local herd for a dollar a head, which included 

 their six months' run in good pasture, their collec- 

 tion and return. To-day the charge has increased 

 to a dollar a month. But through February, March, 

 and April bunches of vagabond horses and cattle 

 had called at the door of the cottage and tramped 

 round the veranda, in any hour of the twenty-four, 

 and helped themselves to the greater share of the 

 vanishing oat-straw stack. All this one might have 

 forgiven or forgotten but Dick and Nancy had gone 

 off with them on more than one occasion, and 

 were by no means eager to return even to the 

 loaves and fishes of an orthodox stable and generous 

 supply of oats ; and in consequence I made a two- 

 strand three-mile barbed-wire fence round the 

 farm when I could least afford it. 



Fencing in Canada is usually done by half-breeds. 

 They are peculiarly alert and clever in any task 

 which brings one into direct touch with nature and 

 elementary conditions. I sent Hardwick out to the 

 bluffs to get pickets, and grew tired waiting for his 

 return with less than a score. It seemed so long 

 and endless a business that I gladly made a deal 

 with Tom Klein to cut and point the pickets and 

 to put up the fence. 



The three miles of barbed wire cost about 

 one hundred and sixty dollars, including pickets and 

 Tom Klein's labour, but the cost now of a 

 two-strand fence is higher and works out as 

 follows : 



