"Didn't I lay him out though?" said Abner, with a grin. "He thought it was you, ho! ho!"
"He didn't think so long," said Tony. "I haven't got such an arm as you."
Abner was pleased with this compliment to his prowess, and wouldn't have minded another tussle with the tramp.
"Where do you think that chap you call Rudolph is?" he asked.
"He's searching for me, I expect," said Tony. "If I'm not careful he'll get hold of me."
Just then a neighbor's boy, named Joe, came to the house on an errand. He was almost Tony's size. He waited about, not seeming in any hurry to be gone.
"Abner," said the farmer, "if you've got nothing else to do, you may load up the wagon with hay, and carry it to Castleton. We shall have more than we want."
"All right," said Abner.
"May I go, too? May I ride on the hay?" asked Joe, eagerly.