had enough with his ploughin’. You can nigh about beat him, Cass. Hisn didn’t look no better’n what yourn looked.”

“Here, you young rascal you, come down from there,” cried David. Catching him by the foot, which hung far enough over to be within reach of his long arm, he pulled him headlong from his high position and caught him in mid-air. “Now, how shall I punish you?”

“Ye bettah whollop him. He hain’t nevah been switched good in his hull life. Maybe that’s what ails him.”

The child grinned. “I hain’t afeared. Get me down on the ground oncet, an’ I c’n run faster’n he can.”

“Suppose I duck him in the water trough yonder?”