As he had doubtless before this been
utilized, to the extent of his capacity, in digging, he had
probably expected that kind of work; and I daresay I discomfitted
him by pointing him to an almost leveled stone wall, about twenty
feet long, with the remark that his work would be the rebuilding of
that stone wall, with stone brought from the neighboring slopes.
In a few moments he was comfortably provided for in the kitchen,
where the cook, a woman of his own nativity, apparently, "chaffed"
him with a raillery that was to me quite unintelligible. Yet I
noticed that when, at sunset, he accompanied Bridget to the spring
for water, ostentatiously flourishing the empty bucket in his hand,
when they returned in the gloaming Bridget was carrying the water,
and my friend, the Tramp, was some paces behind her, cheerfully
"colloguing," and picking blackberries.
At seven the next morning he started in cheerfully to work. At
nine, A. M., he had placed three large stones on the first course
in position, an hour having been spent in looking for a pick and
hammer, and in the incidental "chaffing" with Bridget.
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