About an hour afterwards, Master Joseph saw one of his farm-hands coming over the fields from the direction of his brother's house, which was about two miles almost directly to the west of his own house. Going out to meet him, he said—
"Well, Simon Peter, I see that you got the rake."
"Yes, Master Joseph; but they wish me to return it as soon as we can."
"That is right. Finish your job in the garden this afternoon, and take it back early tomorrow morning. You can go to work now."
The man walked off toward the garden.
"Wait a moment!" his master cried. The man stopped. "Anything new at brother Thomas's? Are they all at home?"
"No, indeed! Master Thomas has gone off to Ipswich—and little Ann is at Salem town."
"I could not borrow a horse, then, of them, you think?"
"No, indeed, sir. There is only one left in the stable; and Mistress Putnam means to use that to go to the trial this afternoon."
"Oh, well, I do not care much;" and his master walked off to the house, while Simon Peter went to his work.