206 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



round the little group of poplars that guards the 

 open-air pigsty alone. 



" What's wrong ? " I inquired. 



" That obstinate devil won't budge an inch 

 although the barrel is only three parts filled ! Look 

 at the state of my clothes ! On this place one has 

 literally to go to Hades for water. Of all the " 



" Oh, hush ! /'// come," I said indiscreetly in 

 the stress of the moment. 



" And you may come ! But I'll lay you a five- 

 pound note to this miserable farm, which I should 

 think you would be glad to get rid of at any price, 

 that you will not get that obstinate beggar to haul 

 in the barrel." 



Dick and I knew and liked each other better than 

 anyone in those early days on the farm. It was 

 during the first temporary absence of the big team 

 that I learned through him how to clean stables, 

 groom horses, feed and water them. I knew that 

 if I couldn't compel him to bring the barrel to 

 its destination, at least I could induce him to 

 try, and in two minutes back we were with our 

 splashing load. The same kind of tragedy occa- 

 sionally occurred with Nancy, who was an angel in 

 the saddle, but only submitted to harness, and now 

 and then didn't fail to let me as well as others know 

 how very far she was born above it. On one occa- 

 sion, before I understood her, we were half way up 

 Troy Hill when she suddenly started to travel back- 

 wards, and then stopped. I felt that only physical 

 pain or weakness could cause such behaviour, and 

 at once got out and led her to the top. To this 

 day she frequently stops at the foot of Troy Hill 

 and turns her head with the unmistakable request 



