At the instant he was closer to the soil beneath his feet than the civilization of his race.
As he neared the brook, which divided his pasture from the fields belonging to Jordan's Journey, the sound of angry voices came to his ears, and through the bared twigs of the willows, he saw Archie and Jonathan Gay standing a little apart, while the boy made threatening gestures with a small switch he carried.
"I've told him he was not to come on our land and he's laughed in my face!" cried Archie, turning to his brother.
"I'm not laughing, I merely said that the restriction was absurd," replied Jonathan in a friendly tone.

"Why this pasture of yours juts in between my field and the road, and I'm obliged to cross it.

I told you before I was awfully sorry about the quarrel when I first came, but as long as you leave my birds alone, you may walk over my land all day if you like and I shan't care a copper." "Damn your birds! I don't take a blow from any man without paying him back," retorted Archie.
"Hold your tongue, Archie," said Abel sternly.

"It's my farm, I reckon, and I manage it.

I'm sorry, Mr.Jonathan," he added, "that you started the trouble, but we aren't people to sit down tamely and take a thrashing from you just because you happen to own Jordan's Journey.