The next morning, however, they both looked business-like, and we were put to.
"Wall, b'ys" (boys), said Zeke, knocking the ashes out of his pipe, after breakfast--"we must get at it.

Shorty, give Peter there (the doctor), the big hoe, and Paul the other, and let's be off." Going to a corner, Shorty brought forth three of the implements; and distributing them impartially, trudged on after his partner, who took the lead with something in the shape of an axe.
For a moment left alone in the house, we looked at each other, quaking.

We were each equipped with a great, clumsy piece of a tree, armed at one end with a heavy, flat mass of iron.
The cutlery part--especially adapted to a primitive soil--was an importation from Sydney; the handles must have been of domestic manufacture.

"Hoes"-- so called--we had heard of, and seen; but they were harmless in comparison with the tools in our hands.
"What's to be done with them ?" inquired I of Peter.
"Lift them up and down," he replied; "or put them in motion some way or other.

Paul, we are in a scrape--but hark! they are calling;" and shouldering the hoes, off we marched.' Our destination was the farther side of the plantation, where the ground, cleared in part, had not yet been broken up; but they were now setting about it.