the line he must take was plain, and it had some advantages.

"You can quit plowing and put the teams in the stable," he said to the hired man.

"Quit now!" exclaimed the other. "What about the machines?"

"Let them stop," said Charnock. "It seems they belong to my creditors, who can look after them. I'm going to Concord and don't know when I'll be back."

He went off towards the homestead and half an hour later drove away across the plain.