CHAPTER XXV
THE BERRY PICKERS
That was an unusually long afternoon to the “willing workers” in the pit. From the way in which every little while one or another would stop digging and, climbing out of the hole, take an anxious look toward the west, it could be easily seen that the diggers were getting weary.
Dan, of course, noticed it, and chuckled slily. He realized that they would stand by him to the finish. At the same time he was not above taking what he called “a rise” out of Fred Bonnicastle, who emerged from the pit oftener than the others.
So, on one occasion, when about to suggest stopping work for the day, he casually remarked, as Fred again climbed up out of the hole, now some four feet in depth:
“I guess you think the old days have come around again, Fred.”
Fred looked at him blankly.
“Oh, the days of the Children of Israel when they took possession of the Promised Land, you remember,” continued Dan, grinning.
“I’m still groping in the dark. What have we got to do with Moses and his followers, when they fought with the Philistines?” asked Fred.
“Well,” replied Dan, drily, “from the way you fellows keep staring into the west I just made up my mind some of you had begun to believe Joshua had come along with us, and that he was again commanding the sun to stand still.” At this Fred laughed, as did the others.
“So far as that goes,” acknowledged Peg, “it certainly has seemed a coon’s age since we started grubbing here. Four hours, with only little rests in between when some one spelled me, is going some for my father’s son.”