Amos laughed and nodded as a token that he accepted the bargain, and presently they rose from the table.
"Get the wheelbarrow, boys; and carry off those weeds. I'm going to finish the sarse-garden if it don't get too dark. You must do up the rest of the chores. Amos, you feed the horse well, and scrape up that fish offal for the chickens."
It was nearly nine before Daniel went up into the rough attic chamber where he and his brother slept. He was out of sorts, and ready to quarrel with anybody. This was not the first nor the twentieth time that he had played truant, and told lies to cover his sin. His conscience had often plead with him to confess to his parents, and begin to do better; but as he had never heeded the still small voice, it now seldom troubled him. But Amos had seen him going toward the pond, and had shrewdly guessed the rest. He was angry that he had been obliged to give up his new jack knife, a present from his cousin on his birth-day. Perhaps Amos would not keep to the bargain after all, and then he knew what there would be to pay.
Daniel shivered. He could almost hear the leather strap whiz through the air. The old man believed in whipping bad boys; and he had not a very light hand, as his two sons well knew.
Daniel threw off his clothes and stretched himself on the bed; but he could hear Amos laughing and talking to their mother in his coarse voice, and he could not sleep.
"I don't think boating pays," he said at last; "though we did have a good time; but there's always such a fuss."
[CHAPTER IV.]
ANOTHER LIE.
POOR Jimmy, how he dreaded to go up to his room and be alone with his wicked heart. He had a good father and mother who had taught him God's holy laws. As long as it was light, and he could busy himself about work, it was not so bad; but when he took from Ellen the little night-lamp, and walked slowly up to his neat chamber, he could not help sighing repeatedly.
"I wish I hadn't met Daniel," he said half aloud. "'Twas his fault and not mine. I should have gone to school and never thought of such a thing."