than "They are very thick," and men who loved each other were accustomed
to be satisfied with the knowledge. The strong moonlight revealed to
Gilbert Potter the honest heart which looked out of Mark's blue eyes, as
the latter held his hand like a vice, and said,--

"I've heard all about it."

"More than there was occasion for, very likely," Gilbert replied. "I'll
tell you my story some day, Mark; but tonight we must work and not
talk."

"All right, Gilbert. I say, though, I've got the money you wanted; we'll
fix the matter after supper."

The rustling of the corn-stalks recommenced, and the tented lines of
shocks slowly fell as the huskers worked their way over the brow of the
hill, whence the ground sloped down into a broad belt of shade, cast by
the woods in the bottom. Two or three dogs which had accompanied their
masters coursed about the field, or darted into the woods in search of
an opossum-trail. Joe and Jake Fairthorn would gladly have followed
them, but were afraid of venturing into the mysterious gloom; so they
amused themselves with putting on the coats which the men had thrown
aside, and gravely marched up and down the line, commending the rapid
and threatening the tardy workers.

Erelong, the silence was broken by many a shout of exultation or banter,
many a merry sound of jest or fun, as the back of the night's task was
fairly broken. One husker mimicked the hoot of an owl in the thickets
below; another sang a melody popular at the time, the refrain of which
was,--