exposure to sun and rain. The buildings were perhaps twenty-five rods
distant.

"Are you used to hayin'?" asked the farmer.

"Well, no, not exactly; though I've handled a rake before."

Carl's experience, however, had been very limited. He had, to be sure,
had a rake in his hand, but probably he had not worked more than ten
minutes at it. However, raking is easily learned, and his want of
experience was not detected. He started off with great enthusiasm, but
after a while thought it best to adopt the more leisurely movements of
the farmer. After two hours his hands began to blister, but still he
kept on.

"I have got to make my living by hard work," he said to himself, "and it
won't do to let such a little thing as a blister interfere."

When he had been working a couple of hours, he began to feel hungry.
His walk, and the work he had been doing, sharpened his appetite till
he really felt uncomfortable. It was at this time--just twelve
o'clock--that the farmer's wife came to the front door and blew a fish
horn so vigorously that it could probably have been heard half a mile.

"The old woman's got dinner ready," said the farmer. "If you don't mind
takin' your pay in victuals, you can go along home with me, and take a
bite."

"I think I could take two or three, sir."