"One of the fellows what come down in the cars," it was suggested, or explained.
A little later there came a man in a long coat, tweed cap, heavy boots, leggings, wearing spectacles.
"What's this blown in?" one asked.
Smithers, by the side of the wicket, drew a deep breath.
"All right. Come ahead," called Candlass.
"Did that come down in the cars?" inquired a little pale-faced, thin-handed youngster.
Mike, standing over to one side with those who had already signed on, offered explanation:
"He's one of them young fellers from up behind somewheres. Comes from feedin' pigs, and doin' the chores, and what they call learnin' farmin'." He noticed that his newly adopted friend had allowed some others to precede him and had not yet signed on. "Go on there forward, young feller," he admonished. "Take your turn there after Four Eyes with the coat."
"Go on, then, go on," chorussed several of the "Push," and he who, though he wore the Hat of the Great Plains, had not come down on the cars with cattle, as indeed had that other large-hatted recent arrival, stepped up to the wicket. The onlookers noticed that with him, as with others, there was evidently a little bargaining being done.
"No—'e's not goin' fer nuthin'; 'e's all right," said Cockney to Mike.