30 Next to the Ground 



know when there's strange work afoot — 

 don't you, nice gal ? " Joe asked, patting 

 Wicked Sal on the shoulder. Blarney 

 crowded close up to rub her neck against his 

 hand, and Beauty gave a little complaining 

 whicker. Gray Nell, Pete's leader, trotted out 

 to them with Pete on her back. Grinning 

 broadly, he said : " I caint hep but laugh ! I 

 been laughin' all de mawnin' dest thinkin' 

 'bout whut dat dar ox-man would do, ef us 

 wus ter run 'crost er bumblybee nest." 



" Mought be dat 's er good thing," Dan said 

 thoughtfully, motioning towards the subsoiling. 

 " But — you hear me ! I don't wants none o' 

 hit. I don't nebber wanter be ploughin' way 

 down whar dem water-dawgs libs. No sir-ee 

 bob! Dat I don't!" 



The mule began to gallop. They scented 

 running water. When they came to the 

 creek, they plunged in, turned their heads up- 

 stream and began to drink thirstily. The 

 ploughmen let them have one deep swallow, 

 then snatched up their heads, and held them 

 up a minute, before letting them drink their 

 fill. After the drinking they stood in the 

 stream splashing water all about while the 

 ploughmen went to the spring, lay flat upon 

 the brink of it, and drank and drank, almost 

 as the beasts had drunk, with living water 

 slipping past their lips. 



