It was a new thing with them, and they did not understand it.

He had lately made a proposal to give the gang four dollars per acre for holding a certain field.

They asked a little time to consider upon so novel a proposition.

He gave them half a day, and at the end of that time asked them what their conclusion was.

One, acting as spokesman for the rest, said, "We rada hab de shilling wages." That was _certain_; the job might yield them more, and it might fall short--quite a common sense transaction! At the pressing request of Mr.Armstrong we spent a day with him at Fitch's Creek.