Several times Nero was noticed turning to observe the advancing line of herders with more or less disapproval. It was laughable to notice how every scout edged toward some convenient tree, or looked anxiously toward a fence when on the road, as though mentally calculating how speedily he could make a safe exit from the scene in case of sudden necessity.
On the whole, however, Nero acted decently, for he kept moving on steadily; and in the end the herd was safely placed behind the bars.
“As slick a little job as you’d like to see!” remarked Billy Worth, when the last bar had been put in place.
“And as easy as anything we ever tackled,” added Alec Sands; “but it’s just as well. If those foreigners are going to roam around this part of the country much more, you’ll have to nail up your gates, Mr. Stebbins. Yes, and watch your crops a bit, too, because when their money gives out, they’ll be apt to forage on the farmers for a living, as they have families to feed.”
The farmer looked serious.
“I never did take any tew them foreigners,” he remarked, bitterly. “Years back I had some hired help that came from acrost the water, and they gimme a rough deal. I couldn’t understand them critters nohaow, an’ I had tew let ’em go. As luck would have it one o’ my barns burned daown the next night, which I allowed was some queer. And yeou couldn’t git me tew hire one naow if I hed tew quit raisin’ crops.”
“Well, we’ll start back to our camp, Mr. Stebbins,” said Hugh, offering his hand to the other. “I’m glad you came to see us, and if you have time, drop in some night and listen to the boys sing some of their school songs.”
“I will, by jinks!” declared the farmer, taking the extended hand in his own calloused palm. “I uster be summat o’ a singer myself in the old days when I was acourtin’ Sally Jane. I’d jest like tew hear if boys air improved any sense them times.”
“They haven’t changed much, you’ll find, sir,” Hugh told him, “though the songs have, and none for the better, either, because in my mind there’s nothing like those old tunes, so full of harmony. But drop around and see us, to-night or any night. We hope to be here a week or ten days longer.”
Mr. Stebbins went around and shook hands with every one of the four boys. He was rather a different looking Mr. Stebbins from the angry-browed farmer with a grievance who strode into their camp earlier in the afternoon. And somehow the influence of these healthy boys had seemed to make him more human.