th' wagon an' handed, hit t' Wash; then he says kind o' scared
like, 'Where in hell are you from, Mister?'

" 'Oh, I'm jest a kid from over on Roark,' says Wash, handin' th'
bottle t' me. 'You ought t' see some o' th' MEN in my
neighborhood!' Then we went on."

When the speaker had finished, there was quiet for a little; then
the young man from the river drawled, "How much did you say that
there engine 'd weigh, Joe?"

There was a general laugh at this, which the admirer of Gibbs took
good naturedly; "Don't know what she'd weigh but she was 'bout the
size o' that one there," he answered.

With one accord everyone turned to inspect the mill engine.
"Pretty good lift, Joe. Let's you an' me take a pull at her,
Budd," remarked Lem Wheeler.

The two men lifted and strained at the wheel. Then another joined
them, and, amid the laughter and good natured raillery of the
crowd, the three tried in vain to lift one of the wheels; while
Mr. Matthews, seeing some unusual movement, came into the shed and
stood with his son, an amused witness of their efforts.

"Sure this engine ain't bigger'n t'other, Joe?" asked one of the
group.

"Don't believe she weighs a pound more," replied the mountaineer
with conviction. "I tell you, gentlemen, that man Gibbs is a