“Well, I might pay a leetle more. You work for me till sundown, and I’ll give you dinner and supper, and—fifteen cents.”

Carl wanted to laugh. At this rate of compensation he felt that it would take a long time to make a fortune, but he was so hungry that he would have accepted board alone if it had been necessary.

“I agree,” he said. “Shall I leave my rake here?”

“Yes; it’ll be all right.”

“I’ll take along my valise, for I can’t afford to run any risk of losing it.”

“Jest as you say.”

Five minutes brought them to the farmhouse.

“Can I wash my hands?” asked Carl.

“Yes, you can go right to the sink and wash in the tin basin. There’s a roll towel behind the door. Mis’ Perkins”—that was the way he addressed his wife—“this is a young chap that I’ve hired to help me hayin’. You can set a chair for him at the table.”

“All right, Silas. He don’t look very old, though.”