“‘So’ll I,’ said Seth.
“‘Ef you all went,’ said Harry, with his eyes shining, ‘I’d stop.’
“The ole baas he jes’ grunted ag’in.
“‘An’ me,’ said Willie; ‘and me too’—‘and me,’ said Jim and baby Tom.
“‘Thank you, my sons,’ sed Tolver, softly, and jes’ then Jake came outer the house—Jake the biggest and the oldest, and the kindest of the brothers. In his hand he carried a big chopping axe, which were like a little stick in his grasp. He looked at his brothers, and his father looked at him.
“‘I’m going over to Clumber,’ he sed.
“‘So,’ sed his father; and they all stood silent.
“‘Yes,’ sed Jake after a time, ‘I give ’em warning.’
“‘And take yourself out of danger,’ sed the ole baas quietly.
“Jake looked at his father rather sad-like, and then he said: ‘Shall I take Jim and Tom with me?’