to go back to that other old fellow 'at looks like me. Wonder if
he's any willinger to feed you an' stand up for you 'an I am?"

"Here! Here! Here!" whistled the Cardinal.

"Well, I'm mighty glad if you're sayin' you'll stay! Guess it
will be all right if you don't meet some o' them Limberlost hens
an' tole off to the swamp. Lord! the Limberlost ain't to be
compared with the river, Mr. Redbird. You're foolish if you go!
Talkin' 'bout goin', I must be goin' myself, or Maria will be
comin' down the line fence with the lantern; an', come to think
of it, I'm a little moist, not to say downright damp. But then
you WARNED me, didn't you, old fellow? Well, I told Maria seein'
you 'ud be like meetin' folks, an' it has been. Good deal more'n
I counted on, an' I've talked more'n I have in a whole year.
Hardly think now 'at I've the reputation o' being a mighty quiet
fellow, would you?"

Abram straightened and touched his hat brim in a trim half
military salute. "Well, good-bye, Mr. Redbird. Never had more
pleasure meetin' anybody in my life 'cept first time I met Maria.
You think about the plowin', an', if you say `stay,' it's a go!
Good-bye; an' do be a little more careful o' yourself. See you
in the mornin', right after breakfast, no count taken o' the
weather."

"Wet year! Wet year!" called the Cardinal after his retreating
figure.

Abram turned and gravely saluted the second time. The Cardinal