THE FROZEN HARVEST OF 1907 345 



the wagon, only it must go out first without the 

 box to haul in the load of wood." 



He hauled it in looking just a little below his 

 average degree of self-respect, which was always an 

 honest self-respect without a hint of complacency. 

 " It is an excellent load of wood," he said. He was 

 always just. 



" There are two more beyond. Try and get 

 them in to-morrow." They looked at each other, 

 and at the wood, and at me, and I tried to look as 

 unlike a person crowned with unusual honours as 

 possible, although victory was positively sitting on 

 every note of exaltation which time and event 

 had failed to break in my everyday heart. 



In the evening they returned. Both were very 

 quiet, and obviously down-hearted. I learned 

 about everything in due course. Houses were 

 appalling dear fuel at least four dollars a load. I 

 held every card. 



" I expect you would like to reconsider your 

 decision to leave me," I said. 



" If you are able to get fuel I certainly ought to be 

 able to do so," allowed Mr. Wilton. " You say very 

 sharp things when you are out of temper," he added, 

 " but even then you allowed that on the whole we 

 gave you satisfaction and that you trusted us. If 

 matters could be arranged " 



It was my very own moment and I could have 

 backed out of the salary. I was far poorer than I 

 had dreamed possible on the day I engaged them, 

 the country was badly hit over the frozen crop, 

 the storekeepers had followed the lead of the Bank ; 

 nothing could be obtained except for ready money. 

 Free quarters and free board was that year a fair 



