A turn of the road freed them of the screen of willows.

There lay before them in the evening light, long prolonged at this season in that latitude, that portion of the valley which these two neighbors owned.

For a moment they sat silent.
"Mine's gone," said Wid succinctly.

"Not a thing left." Sim sat clasping the puppy in his arms as he turned to look at his own homestead.
"Mine's gone too," said he.

"Barn's burned, and all the hay.