Though 'taint so many letters dey sends as telegraphs." "It's a pity they couldn't have had their mine on the other side," remarked Kate.
"Dat's so, Miss Kate," said Miles, gravely.

"I reckon dey didn't know about de creek's gittin' up so often, or dey'd dug dere mine on de oder side." Harry and Kate laughed and drove on.
They soon reached Mr.Loudon's woods, but found no wood-cutters.
When they arrived at the station they saw Dick Ford and John Walker on the store-porch.
Harry soon discovered that no wood had been cut for several days, because the creek was up.
"What had that to do with it ?" asked Harry.
"Why, you see, Mah'sr Harry," said John Walker, "de creek was mighty high, and dere was no knowin' how things ud turn out.

So we thought we'd jist wait and see." "So you've been here all the time ?" "Yes, sir; been h'yar all de time.

Couldn't go home, you know." Harry was very sorry to hear of this lost time, for he knew that his wood-cutting would come to an end as soon as the season was sufficiently advanced to give the men an opportunity of hiring themselves for farm-work; but it was of no use to talk any more about it; and so, after depositing Kate at the post-office, where the post-mistress, who knew her well, gave her a nice little "snack" of buttermilk, cold fried chicken, and "light-bread," he went to the station and transacted his business.

He had not been there for some weeks, and he found quite a satisfactory sum of money due him, in spite of the holiday his men had taken.