By the time the peasant had been paid his price, a number of other carts had driven up and the men sat pondering how to get over. It was Mr. Alexander who waved his arms like a wind-mill in Holland, and shouted to make them understand.
“Let’s all get busy and scoop the earth into the ditch. Some of us can dig it from that field and others can carry it in their hats to fill in.”
Mr. Fabian tried to explain, but the peasants shook their heads. One man jumped out and ran back in haste along the road.
“What’s the matter? Is he afraid we’ll make him work?” demanded Mr. Alexander, impatiently.
“No,” explained Mr. Fabian, “he said he knew where he could get a shovel and other implements. There’s a farm a bit farther on.”
Shortly after that, the man returned and with him came two young men, all carrying shovels, and one pushed a cart. With these tools for work, every man went at the job, and in half an hour the crevice caused by the quake was temporarily filled up.
While they worked the men asked Mr. Fabian about the earthquake in the city, and he told them what havoc it had made. The sun had risen by the time the two cars were able to cross the bridged crevice, and then waited to allow the ox-carts to get past.
“Say, there! Are you going to take that stuff to Rome, to sell?” called Mr. Alexander, eagerly.
The men comprehended and nodded their heads.
“Well, here! We’re starved now and will buy the fruit and ready-to-eat stuff. Got anything cooked?” called he.