Then he filled the old hole, digged a new one and set the hitching post.
Billy hopped on one foot at his task of holding the post steady as the earth was packed around it.

There was not the shadow of a trouble on his little freckled face.
Sinton threw in stones and pounded the earth solid around the post.

The sound of a gulping sob attracted him to Billy.

The tears were rolling down his cheeks.

"If I'd a knowed you'd have to get down in a hole, and work so hard I wouldn't 'a' hit the horses," he said.
"Never you mind, Billy," said Wesley.