THE FROZEN HARVEST OF 1907 331 



wasn't it ? So we will take the binder out to- 

 morrow, and if anyone has to do time, why I will 

 do it after harvest." 



He looked a little surprised, but quite determined. 

 " I ain't got any conscientious objections 'tisn't 

 that ! And I think what you say is the thing. 

 But I wouldn't be the first to do what none of 

 the neighbours do." 



" If you won't, then there's an end to the matter ; 

 but I think that in a year like this people should be 

 commanded by priest and parliament to go out 

 into the fields and save the harvest." 



" It sounds all right," he agreed. 



A killing frost should have supported my theory, 

 but the Sabbath night was exquisitely soft and 

 soothing and the new day dawned warm and fair. 

 We started on the six acres I had despised because 

 of the sandy element in the soil. I had decided 

 that I couldn't afford a stooker and must do it 

 myself. Si Booth shook his head ominously, but 

 I hoped by stocking by moonlight, when he wasn't 

 there, to convey the impression that I could keep 

 up with the binding. As I had to walk half a mile 

 to the field and then leave it an hour ahead of him, 

 to prepare meals, I knew I should have to feel my 

 way through, since I couldn't possibly see it. 



" This six acres is good and ripe," said he, as I fell 

 on a line of sheaves. " If it was only all as ready to 

 cut as this it would be all right. It's hardly frozen ; 

 with another day's sun on it, it would have been 

 shelling out. You got a bit of the best wheat of the 

 country just here." 



By the time I had washed up the dinner things 

 he had crossed the adjoining stretch of prairie 



