“Don’t kick my pigs,” barked Svin Donuz.

The boys looked up at the gun, then backed up, and fell over each other. Bertie’s heart was pounding. He was terrified.

“Dawsey Binns I told you to never come here and to stay off my property,” yelled Svin.

I am sorry. I just wanted to show…” Dawsey stammered.

Svin shoved his gun in Dawsey’s face. “I don’t care what you ‘just wanted to show’. You are trespassing on my farm again. I should shoot you now”

Dawsey’s eyes widened in terror. He tried to back up even further, but his back was already up against the shed wall. He started to cry.

“I am sorry that I came here,” he wimpered.

Bertie looked around. He wanted to get away.

Svin trained his gun on Bertie. “And were you thinking of, leaving? You should’ve thought of that earlier. I have half a mind to shoot you both now and feed you to my pigs. They’d like that.” Svin smiled an evil, toothy grin.

“NO,” both boys cried.

“No, indeed. These two rascals were supposed to come to my house.”

“Seph,”cried Dawsey!

Seph glared at Dawsey.

“My apologies Mr. Donuz. Please do not point that old zouave at the boys any more.”

Svin rattled the gun. “These boys are trespassing! Why shouldn’t I shoot ‘em?”

“Well, there is nothng to stop you I suppose, but I hired them from Mr. Binns to help me to do some chores on my farm. I would hate to have to tell their fathers that they did not complete their work.” Seph paused to let Svin think. “Also, their parents probably would not like to hear that their children are dead too.”

Svin stared at Seph then snarled. “Take’em!. Get them off my property, especially him!” Svin pointed his gun at Dawsey.

The boys jumped and ran to the road. Then they stopped.

Bertie looked at Dawsey “ Where to now?”

“Home I guess,” said Dawsey.

“Stop right there,” yelled Seph. Seph caught up with them. “Follow me,” he said sternly.

“But I just want to go home,” said Dawsey.

“Not now. You are to follow me to my house and help me with some chores. And no more talking!”

“Yes Seph,” said Dawsey’

Seph led the boys back up the road, but before they got to the cemetary, they turned left. On this road, there were several small houses with small farms. They went past some houses. Seph stopped at the drive leading to one of these houses and opened the gate.

“In you go, the both of you. Go to the tool shed on your left. Get yourself a hoe and come back here.”

The boys hesitated.

“Go now!”

They ran to the shed, got their hoes, and ran back to Seph. “What do you want us to do with these? I thought that we would just go home.”

Bertie looked over at Dawsey and his jaw dropped at that statement.

“You are not going home now! I ‘hired you to do some chores’ and by God you are going to do them. I do not like going to Donuz’s farm. You two are going to pay me now for having to resque you from Svin. I want you to make 4 rows here and plant these cabbage seeds in them. If you work hard, you will be done in time for dinner.” Seph pointed where he wanted the cabbage rows. “Now get to work!”

“But the ground is hard. Plus there are stones and roots here. We will never get this done,” said Dawsey.

“That is why you have a hoe. Be happy that I did not ask for 8 rows. Now get to work!”

Seph went inside his house. After a few minutes he re-emerged from the house with his wife and son.

“Caleb, I want you to go to the Binns store and give Mr. Binns this message,” said Seph.

“Yes, father”

“Be quick about it and you will not miss dinner.”

Caled took the note, ran out of the farm, and down the road. Seph and his wife watched Caleb as he went down the road. They knew that he would be back in time for the evening meal.

“Seph, I wish that you did not mess around with that evil, no good, poor excuse for a man, Svin,” said Seph’s wife.

“I know Louise, but these two,” Seph nodded at the boys, “were in a heap o’ trouble. Svin had his zouave trained on the boys. Who knows what he would have done.”

“Let us hope that he got it out of his system and plans on doing no more foolishness.” Louise glared at Seph.

“I agree. However, if he does decide to do more, I am prepared,” said Seph

Louise shook her head and walked inside.

Seph watched the boys for a couple of minutes. He then grabbed a large stone and walked over to where the boys had started digging their rows.

“I want the rows to come out this far.” He walked close to the front gate and dropped the stone.

“Yes, but that will take all day,” said Dawsey.

Seph smirked. “It will take longer if you spend your time whining, so get to work!”

The boys took their hoes and started digging. It was hard work. There were a lot of stones to be removed. By the time that the sun was setting they had a big pile of rocks. Caleb got home and went straight inside. The boys had 3 ½ rows finished when Seph stepped out on the front porch.

“Okay, that looks good enough. You can come inside wash up and eat dinner with us. You will be sleeping here tonight.”

“But we can go home now,” said Dawsey.

“Not tonight. I do not want you out on the road after it gets dark, too dangerous,” said Seph.

“But…”

“Enough! Now go inside and get clean so we can eat.”

The boys went inside.

“Hello Mrs. Reeves,” said Dawsey.

“Hello.” Mrs. Reeves had a look of mild distaste. “The two of you can wash up over there.” She pointed at a basin of water. The boys washed up the best they could. When they were done Mrs. Reeves showed them to a small table with two chairs.

“You will be eating here.”

The boys sat down. They saw some roast chicken and vegetables, but not much more. They waited for Grace to be said, then devoured their meal.

“you two must have been hungry, said Seph. “You two will be sleeping over there.” Seph pointed to a corner of the front room.

“Over there,” asked Dawsey.

“Would you rather sleep with the mule out back,” snipped Mrs. Reeve.

“Be nice Louise,” said Seph. “Dawsey does not know the danger that he missed when I saved him.”

“Well I do know, said Mrs. Reeves. “Caleb, I want you to go to bed now.”

“Yes maam.” Caleb went to his room and closed the door.

Mrs. Reeves started to clean the tables.

“I will do that,” said Seph, “and you two will help me.”

Mrs Reeves went in her room. Seph and the boys cleaned up the dishes. When they were done, Seph pointed to a corner of the front room.

“You can sleep there.”

“Yes, Seph” The boys took the pillows and blankets that Seph gave them. They went to the corner, laid down on the floor, and were soon asleep. They slept soundly with only one exception.

A dog started barking late at night and woke Bertie. After the dog stopped barking all that could be heard was a scrapping noise. Bertie fell back asleep.