"Here goes!" Luscombe said, and entered the gate.
"Want a job?" the man asked, looking up as they approached him.
"Yes. We are on the look-out for a job, and heard there might be a chance here."
"I am James Pawson," the man said, "and I want hands. What wages do you want?"
"As much as we can get," Luscombe replied.
Pawson looked them up and down. "Not much accustomed to hard work, I reckon?"
"Not much," Luscombe said. "But we are both pretty strong, and ready to do our best."
"Well, I tell you what," the man said. "I will give you a dollar and a half a-day for a week, and at the end of that time, if you get through your work well, I will raise it to two dollars."
Luscombe looked at Hugh, who nodded. "All right!" he said; "we will try."
Pawson gave a sigh of relief, for hands were scarce. "Take off your coats then," he said, "and set to work right here. There is a lot to be done."