rembling with
scarce-controlled anger. "It wasn't right, Isom, it wasn't fair. You
know I could hire out any day for more than ten dollars a month, and you
know I'd never let mother go on the county as long as I was able to lift
a hand."

"Winter and summer through, Joe--you must consider that," argued Isom,
giving his head a twist which was meant to be illustrative of deep
wisdom.

"You knew she was afraid of being thrown on the county," said Joe, "you
sneaked in when I wasn't around and scared her up so she'd do most
anything."

"Well, you don't need to talk so loud," cautioned Isom, turning an
uneasy, cross look toward the door, from which the sound of a light step
fled.

"I'll talk loud enough for you to hear me, and understand what I mean,"
said Joe. "I could run off and leave you, Isom, if I wanted to, but
that's not my way. Mother made the bargain, I intend to live up to it,
and let her have what little benefit there is to be got out of it. But I
want you to know what I think of you at the start, and the way I feel
about it. I'm here to work for mother, and keep that old roof over her
head that's dearer to her than life, but I'm not your slave nor your
servant in any sense of the word."

"It's all the same to me," said Isom, dropping his sham front of
placation, lifting his finger to accent his words, "but you'll work,
understand that--you'll _work_!"

"Mother told me," said Joe not in the least disturbed by this glimpse of
Isom in his true guise, "that you had that notion in your mind, Isom.
She said you told her you could thrash me if you wanted to do it, but I
want to tell you----"

"It's the law," cut in Isom. "I can do it if I see fit."

"Well, don't ever try it," said Joe, drawing a long breath. "That was
the main thing I wanted to say to you, Isom--don't ever try that!"

"I never intended to take a swingle-tree to you, Joe," said Isom,
forcing his dry face into a grin. "I don't see that there ever need be
any big differences between me and you. You do what's right by me and
I'll do the same by you."

Isom spoke with lowered voice, a turning of the eyes toward the kitchen
door, as if troubled lest this defiance of his authority might have been
heard within, and the seeds of insubordination sown in another
bond-slave's breast.

"I'll carry out mother's agreement with you to the best of my ability,"
said Joe, moving forward as if ready now to begin.

"Then come on in and eat your breakfast,"