"Helpin' 'round at whatever she wants done till the summer boarders go away."
"Oh! So you're the hired man, are you?" the first boy said in a sneering tone.
"I ain't so very much of a man; but I reckon I can do her work, an' I mustn't fool 'round here, for I'm pretty busy this mornin'."
"You'll stay till we find out what right you've got to run across this field," the boy who had first spoken said decidedly. "We've always done Aunt Nancy's chores, an' you're makin'a big mistake by takin' our job away."
Jack looked once more toward the road to make certain Farmer Pratt and his son were not returning.
Then he glanced in the direction of the house, hoping Aunt Nancy might be in sight, for he understood from the tone and attitude of the strangers that they were bent on mischief.
Not a person could be seen, and he had no other alternative save to remain where he was until such time as the boys should be willing to let him pass.
Any attempt at flight could have been easily checked, since, owing to his deformity, he was not able to run as fast as others of his age.
Probably he felt just a trifle frightened; but he stood his ground boldly, determined not to let the strangers see a show of weakness, as he said,—
"I didn't come here to take any feller's job. Aunt Nancy gave me a chance to stay this summer, an' I jumped at it, 'cause there's no boy needs a home more'n I do jest now."