He made no offer to return the blows; he stood, or rather jumped, as the whip slung itself round his legs, crying out, "Lay it on, Will! -- Lay it on! Hi -- That's right -- Tuck it on, Will! -- " Till Will's arm was tired; and flinging away from them, in a towering passion still, he went up the hill after his oxen.
Sam rubbed his legs.
"I say, Governor, we're quits now, ben't we ?" he said in a sort of mock humble good-humour, as Winthrop was about to follow his brother.
"Yes, yes.

Be off with yourself!" "I wish it had ha' been 'tother one, anyhow," muttered Sam.
Not a word passed between the brothers about either the ducking or the flagellation.

They spoke not but to their oxen.
Rufus's mouth was in the heroic style yet, all the way up the hill; and the lips of the other only moved once or twice to smile.
The day was sultry, as it had promised, and the uphill lay of the ground made the ploughing heavy, and frequent rests of the oxen were necessary.

Little communication was held between the ploughmen nevertheless; the day wore on, and each kept steadily to his work and seemingly to his own thoughts.

The beautiful scene below them, which they were alternately facing and turning their backs upon, was too well known even to delay their attention; and for the greater part of the day probably neither of them saw much beyond his plough and his furrow.
They were at work on a very elevated point of view, from which the channel of the river and the high grounds on the other side were excellently seen.