"I don't never miss. In the right leg."
"I bet he hollered."
Grampaw sucked his upper plate fiercely. "Nary a holler, durn him! He jist pulled up his pants-leg and made a face at me. De-crepit ol' fool's got a wooden leg!"
Pop said, "Why did you ask, Richard?"
"I was wondering if any of you had noticed what I did."
"What do you mean?"
Dick started to answer, stopped, rose. "Come," he said. "It's dark. I'll show you."
They followed him out to the porch. From there the Wilkes settlement could not ordinarily be seen. Which is why, as they stood there, one and all gasped astonishment.
The thick, black Erosian night lay heavy about them everywhere except in the direction of the Wilkes' new home. There it was light; startlingly, dazzlingly, brilliantly gay and bright! Like a great white dawn on the river's edge.
"Power!" cried Pop. "Atomic power! They must have a hypatomic!"