Amid the shouts of the crowd, still holding the men, he walked deliberately to the blacksmith shop and back; then lowering them easily to their feet, turned to his engine.
Ollie and Sammy rode away together, up the green arched road, and the little company in the mill shed stood watching them.

As the finely formed young woman and her inferior escort passed from sight, a tall mountaineer, from the other side of Compton Ridge, remarked, "I done heard Preachin' Bill say t'other day, that 'mighty nigh all this here gee-hawin', balkin', and kickin' 'mongst th' married folks comes 'cause th' teams ain't matched up right.' Bill he 'lowed God 'lmighty 'd fixed hit somehow so th' birds an' varmints don't make no mistake, but left hit plumb easy for men an' women t' make durned fools o' theirselves." Everybody grinned in appreciation, and another spoke up; "According t' that, I'll bet four bits if them two yonder ever do get into double harness, there'll be pieces o' th' outfit strung from th' parson's clean t' th' buryin' ground." When the laughter had subsided, Buck turned to see Young Matt standing just outside the shed, ostensibly doing something with the belt that led to the burr, but in reality looking up the creek.
"Law!" ejaculated Buck, under his breath; "what a team THEY'D make!" "Who ?" said Lem, who was standing near by.
"Them mule colts," returned Buck with a grin.
"They sure will, Buck.

There ain't two better in the country; they're a dead match.

I'll come over an' hep you break 'em when they're big 'nough." And then he wondered why Buck swore with such evident delight.
One by one the natives received their meal, and, singly, or in groups of two or three, were swallowed up by the great forest.
Already the little valley was in the shadow of the mountain, though the sun still shone brightly on the tree tops higher up, when Ollie and Sammy returned from the Forks.

Mr.Matthews had climbed the hill when the last grist was ground, leaving his son to cool down the engine and put things right about the mill.
"Come on, Matt," said Ollie, as the big fellow brought out the meal; "It's time you was a goin' home." The young giant hung back, saying, "You folks better go on ahead.
I'll get home alright." "Didn't think nothin' would get you," laughed Ollie.