re, and above all the heading-off of the underground stream--were set
forth with breathless volubility; so that if the hearers were a little
dazed by the recital and a trifle confused as to the particulars, it
was not to be wondered at. One thing, at least, was clear to them: we
had found and turned the underground stream; and when he understood
that, my father leaped from the wagon, and shaking hands with both of us
at once, he cried:

"Boys, you certainly _have_ done a stroke of work! If it had taken you a
year instead of a week it would have been more than worth the labor. As
to its actual money value, it is hard to judge yet; but whether that
shall turn out to be much or little, there is one thing sure:--we have
our work cut out for us for years to come--a grand thing by itself for
all of us. And now, let us go on up to the house: Sam Tobin wants to get
back home as soon as possible."

This the driver was able to do at once, for the livery horses,
frightened by the water which came spurting up through the floor of the
bridge, declined to cross, so Joe and I, taking out the trunk, placed it
on the wood-sled and thus drew it up to the house.

As we walked along, my mother said:

"So the hermit has been staying with you, has he? And what sort of a man
_is_ your wild man now you've caught him?"

"He isn't a wild man at all," cried Joe, somewhat indignantly. "He's a
fine fellow--isn't he, Phil? He has been of great help to us these last
few days. We could never have finished our trench in time if he hadn't
taken the chores off our hands. He is in the kitchen now, getting the
supper ready. I'll run and bring him out."

So saying, Joe ran forward--we others walking on more leisurely--and as
we approached the house the pair came out of the front door side by
side.

In spite of Joe's assurance to the contrary, my parents still had in
their minds the idea that any one going by the name of "Peter, the
Hermit" must be a rough, hirsute, unkempt specimen of humanity. Great
was their surprise, therefore, when Peter, always clean and tidy, his
hair and beard neatly trimmed in honor of their return, issued from the
doorway, looking, with his clear gray eyes, his ruddy complexion and his
spare, erect figure, remarkably young and alert.

There was an added heartiness in their welcome, therefore, when Joe
proudly introduced him; and though Peter threw out hints about sleeping
in the hay-loft that night and taking himself off t