Part 21

“The best part of the day is after that.”

“Make it eight, then,” said the “Old King.” “And we'll bring it off on Monday. We're thrashing that day, but the more the merrier.”

“There's jest one thing,” interposed Ben, “an' that is, the boys mustn't know about this.”

“Why not?” said Alec. “They're dead game.”

“Oh, Dick'd jump at it quick enough, but Barney wouldn't let 'im risk it. He's right careful of that boy.”

After full discussion next Sabbath morning by those who were loitering, after their custom, in the churchyard waiting for the service to begin, it was generally agreed that the “Old King” with his usual shrewdness had “put his money on the winning horse.” Even Alec Murray, though he kept a bold face, confided to his bosom friend, Rory Ross, that he “guessed his cake was dough, though they would make a pretty big stagger at it.”

“If Dick only had Barney's weight,” said Rory, “they would stand a better chance.”

“Yes. But Dick tires quicker. An' he'll die before he drops.”

“But ten acres, Alec! And there's more than ten acres in that field.”

“I know. But it's standing nice, an' it's lighter on the knoll in the centre. If I can only get them goin' their best clip--I'll have to work it some way. I'll have to get Barney moving. Dick's such an ambitious little beggar he'd follow till he bust. The first thing,” continued Alec, “is to get them a good early start. I'll have a talk with Ben.”

As a result of his conversation with Ben it was hardly daylight on Monday morning when Mrs. Boyle, glancing at her clock, sprang at once from her bed and called her sons.

“You're late, Barney. It's nearly six, and you have to go to Morrison's to-day. Here's Ben with the horses fed.”

“Why, mother, it's only five o'clock by my watch.”

“No, it's six.”

Upon comparison Ben's watch corresponded with the clock. Barney concluded something must be wrong and routed Dick up, and with such good purpose did they hasten through breakfast that in an hour from the time the boys were called they were standing in the field waiting for Ben to begin the day's work.

After they had been binding an hour Alec Murray appeared on the field. “I'm going to shock,” he announced. “They've got men enough up at the thrashing, an' the 'Old King' wants to get this field in shock by to-morrow afternoon so he can get it thrashed, if you hustlers can get it down by then.” Alec was apparently in great spirits. He brought with him into the field a breezy air of excitement.

“Here, Ben, don't take all day oiling up there. I guess I'm after you to-day, remember.”

“Guess yeh'll wait till it's tied, won't yeh?” said Ben, who thoroughly understood Alec's game.

“Don't know 'bout that. I may have to jump in an' tie a few myself.”

“Don't you fret yourself,” replied Dick. “If you shock all that's tied to-day you'll need to hang your shirt on the fence at night.”

“Keep cool, Dick, or you'll be leavin' Barney too far behind. You tie quicker than him, I hear.”

“Oh, I don't know,” said Dick modestly, though quite convinced in his own mind that he could.

“Dick's a little quicker, ain't he?” said Alec, turning to Barney.

“Oh, he's quick enough.”

“Did you never have a tussle?” inquired Alec, snatching up a couple of sheaves in each arm and setting them in their places in the shock with a quick swing, then stepping off briskly for others.

“No,” said Barney shortly.

“I guess he didn't want you to hurt yourself,” he suggested cunningly to Dick. “When a fellow isn't very strong he's got to be careful.” This was Dick's sensitive point. He was not content to do a man's work in the field, but he was miserable unless he took first place.

“Oh, he needn't be afraid of hurting me,” he said, taking Alec's bait. “I've worked with him all harvest and I'm alive yet.” Unconsciously Dick's pace quickened, and for the next few minutes Barney was left several sheaves behind.