14 Next to the Ground 



the leader understand what is' wanted, then 

 the leader has to crowd against his mates and 

 almost force them into position. Ploughing 

 in with a right-hand plough, team motion is 

 reversed and the lead is against the furrow — 

 hence the share is apt to be drawn out, especi- 

 ally on the rounds. Sometimes it leaves un- 

 broken strips a full yard wide — especially if 

 the ploughman is careless or not fairly strong 

 enough for the work in hand. Ploughmen, 

 like poets, are born, and need a deal of mak- 

 ing afterwards. Given this special aptitude, 

 supplemented with practice, there will be good 

 work with almost any sort of plough and 

 team. 



Dan was a born ploughman, a master of 

 the craft. It was among Joe's dearest ambi- 

 tions to prove himself also of the guild. Un- 

 til to-day he had always resented the sink-hole, 

 as a wholly needless blot on the fair field-face. 

 Now he was glad it was there — the bushes 

 gave just the shade he needed to keep his run- 

 let cool and fresh. He slipped down, unslung 

 it, and nestled it expertly amid the vagrant 

 greenery, reminding himself as he did it to be 

 sure and look for snakes when he came to 

 drink. Snakes, for all they are so cold-blooded, 

 love coolness in hot weather — he had known 

 of more than one choosing to coil itself about 

 a sheltered sweating water vessel. Then he 



