All the men were grey with that dust; the chaff
stuckin their hair and eyebrows. Do youthink Id be satisfied with a measly
quarter?
Oh well, Henry drawled, Ill act the fool and make
you laugh. The doctor gave him a brief, direct look and bent down again. Ahead, at
Hilmers Corner, there was a congestion.
Perhaps Nicoll was most profoundly disquieted; he
had always beengiven to metaphysical speculation.
Often, strangers wondered whenthey saw him;
occasionally Ruth shook her head.
True, the average day is hot in summer; and the
nightis cold. Abe dropped to the ground and circled the engine.
The story ofJohn Elliots coming was that of the
rise in the price of flax. Again, as in the morning, Abe dropped to the ground and
circled theengine.
Let him air his complaints at the meetings of
theboard.
Then he turned and ran for the lead team of his
grain tank.
He hates Spalding, Stanley observed to Nicoll. To
elevator one; the first from the crossing. Victor jumped; the hum subsided into
silence. Not, he said to Nicoll, that I grudge you the cheque.
Yet, if thatprairie were capable of bearing a
forest, would not the forest haveinvaded it long ago?
The fact was that Abe had begun to weigh like a
substantial shadowon the district. While you have the load, you walk the horses. She
herselfcontinued to visit in the district, retailing gossip in
brokenEnglish.
Nobody was in a condition to say anything. Horanski
had taken the last but one load;Nicoll, the last; and both had been double loads.
Victor jumped; the hum subsided into silence.
When Spalding is around, Wheeldon feels like a
pup.
A dozen boxes werestanding on the ground; he poured
a measure of oats into two ofthem. Everybody in the whole field was aware of the
riders approach; allwork had slowed down. Yet Wheeldon was beginning to have a
following: Hartley, HenryTopp, and others.
Shilloes and Nawosads eldestboys had
gone.
Immigration had ceased; and that was thereason why
the old house had never been moved.
Horanski, aided by one ofthe Nicoll girls, had
prepared dinner for the crew. Hewas riding a draught-horse, which fact was betrayed
by thelumbering though furious gallop.