"Well, I be damned." And when he was comfortably in his saddle he said again,
with unction:

"I DO be damned. I'll just take that dawg to help drive them sheep down to
town. Come on, boy."

Chad started joyfully, but the old mother called from the door: "Who's a-goin'
to take this gal to school, I'd like to know?"

Old Joel pulled in his horse, straightened one leg, and looked all
around--first at the Dillons, who had started away, then at Dolph and Rube,
who were moving determinedly after the sheep (it was Court Day in town and
they could not miss Court Day), and then at Chad, who halted.

"Boy," he said, "don't you want to go to school--you ought to go to school?"

"Yes," said Chad, obediently, though the trip to town--and Chad had never been
to a town--was a sore temptation.

"Go on, then, an' tell the teacher I sent ye. Here, Mammy--eh, what's yo'
name, boy? Oh, Mammy--Chad, here 'll take her. Take good keer o' that gal,
boy, an' learn yo' a-b-abs like a man now."

Melissa came shyly forward from the door and Joel whistled to Jack and called
him, but Jack though he liked nothing better than to drive sheep lay still,
looking at Chad.

"Go 'long, Jack," said Chad, and Jack sprang up and was off, though he stopped
again and looked back, and Chad had to tell him again to go on. In a moment