"'You have news?' he asked.
"'Kornel nodded, and looked at me. It was a look as though he would ask me to spare and forgive. I smiled at him, and came and stood at his side.
"'From what you have told me,' began my father, looking very wise, 'the water right may cut you off from the pastures. Is that so?'
"'No,' said Kornel; 'all that is wrong.'
"'H'm. Indeed! Then you will have to carry your north beacon farther to the east and lose the dam.'
"'Wrong again,' answered Kornel patiently.
"'Then you have won your case,' said my father, very eager to name the truth and prove his wisdom.
"'Dear me!' said Kornel;' you have no idea at all of the matter. You are quite out in your guesses. I have not won my case. I have lost it, and the land and the house and the stock along with it. I came over on a horse that is no more mine than this chair is. For all I know my very trousers may belong to the other man. There you have it. What do you say to that?'
"'Then you have nothing at all?' asked my father.
"'I have a piece of waste on the dorp road, near the spruit,' answered Kornel. 'There is a kind of hut on it. That is all. It is only two morgen' (four acres).