"Now," he said, "you can shove the rest in as she grinds them down."
The wheels spun, splintering the timber, rising a few inches and sinking again, while the big machine shook and tilted in danger of falling over. Harding, standing on the slippery plates, opened the throttle wide, and after a while the front rose to a threatening height while the logs groaned and cracked.
"Stand clear!" he cried. "She's climbing out!"
The engine straightened itself with a dangerous lurch, rolled forward, gathering speed, and ran out on to firmer ground. They had no further trouble, and when dusk settled down and the air grew sharp, Harding drew the fire and blew the water out of the boiler.
"After all, we have done pretty good work to-day," he said. "I'll come back and tend to those tubes as soon as she cools."
They went home together, and after supper was finished, they sat smoking and talking in the kitchen. It was now sharply cold outside, but the small room was warm and cheerful with the nickeled lamp lighted and a fire in the polished stove.
"The mortgage man was trying to play you," Devine remarked. "He certainly didn't learn much. Do you reckon he has been lending money to the Allenwood boys?"
"I think it's very likely."
"Then, with their way of farming and wheat going down, they won't be able to pay him off."
"No; and he doesn't want them to pay him off," Harding answered.