226 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



A few days later Roddy McMahon came back 

 to consider hauling and fall-ploughing. 



" You mind that Englishman," he said, " him 

 that was on the tank ? " 



" Yes. What of him ? " I asked. 



" He's going to quit Redcliffe." 



" Quit ! But he hoped to be kept on for the 

 hauling ? " I said, not without concern. 



"Well, he's quitting all right, I guess. Alan 

 Redcliffe's only keeping on two. Jack thought 

 Redcliffe might have given him more money. 

 He was just a greenhorn when he came out. They 

 come over here and hire on for ten or fifteen 

 dollars a month, and when they find other fellows 

 who've been out here a long time getting good 

 money they kick. I said to him, ' Ain't no use 

 kicking, Jack, and threshing wellnigh through. 

 Keep quiet and stay on comfortable through the 

 winter, and you'll get good money I guess next year 

 all right. A fellow don't work for Alan Redcliffe 

 through a work season without learning something.' 

 But I guess he couldn't keep quiet like, and 

 maybe he'll suit you for chore-boy." 



" But he is almost a man, certainly not a boy," 

 I objected. " And after six months on a farm 

 like that, he should be earning a great deal more than 

 I can afford to pay." 



" I guess you've no call to pay him much. Offer 

 him fifteen dollars. He can give me a hand hauling the 

 wheat out. We shall soon get it out two loads a day, 

 and then maybe he can do that bit of ploughing." 



" I'll hire him for hauling," I said, " but I'd 

 rather you did the ploughing. He has only been 

 harrowing for Mr. Redcliffe, andjyou know the 



