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have given your word；〃 said Rolf； quoting his mother； with rising
indignation。
The trader sniffed a little contemptuously and said nothing。 But
he realized the value of a lad who was a steady； intelligent
worker； wouldn't drink； and was absolutely bound by a promise；
so； after awhile； he said： 〃Wall； if Van don't want ye now； come
back for a couple of weeks。〃
Early in the morning Rolf gathered the trifles he had secured for
the little children and the book he had bought for Annette； a
sweet story of a perfect girl who died and went to heaven； the
front embellished with a thrilling wood…cut。 Then he crossed the
familiar five…mile portage at a pace that in an hour brought him
to the lake。
The greeting at Van's was that of a brother come home。
〃Vell； Rolf； it's goood to see ye back。 It's choost vat I vented。
Hi； Marta； I told it you； yah。 I say； now I hope ze good Gott
send Rolf。 Ach； how I am shpoil！〃
Yes； indeed。 The hay was ready； the barley was changing。 So Rolf
took up his life on the farm； doing work that a year before was
beyond his strength； for the spirit of the hills was on him； with
its impulse of growth； its joy in effort； its glory in strength。
And all who saw the longlegged； long…armed； flat… backed youth
plying fork or axe or hoe； in some sort ventured a guess： 〃He'll
be a good 'un some day； the kind o' chap to keep friendly with。
Chapter 56。 The Sick Ox
The Thunder Moon passed quickly by； the hay was in； the barley
partly so。 Day by day the whitefaced oxen toiled at the creaking
yoke； as the loads of hay and grain were jounced cumbrously over
roots and stumps of the virgin fields。 Everything was promising
well； when； as usual； there came a thunderbolt out of the clear
sky。 Buck； the off ox； fell sick。
Those who know little about cattle have written much of the meek
and patient ox。 Those who know them well tell us that the ox is
the 〃most cussedest of all cussed〃 animals； a sneak； a bully； a
coward； a thief； a shirk； a schemer； and when he is not in
mischief he is thinking about it。 The wickedest pack mule that
ever bucked his burden is a pinfeathered turtle…dove compared
with an average ox。 There are some gentle oxen； but they are
rare； most are treacherous； some are dangerous； and these are
best got rid of； as they mislead their yoke mates and mislay
their drivers。 Van's two oxen； Buck and Bright； manifested the
usual variety and contrariety of disposition。 They were all
right when well handled； and this Rolf could do better than Van；
for he was 〃raised on oxen；〃 and Van's over voluble； sputtering；
Dutch… English seemed ill comprehended of the massive yoke
beasts。 The simpler whip…waving and fewer orders of the Yankee
were so obviously successful that Van had resigned the whip of
authority and Rolf was driver。
Ordinarily； an ox driver walks on the hew （nigh or left） side；
near the head of his team； shouting 〃gee〃 （right）； 〃haw〃 （left）；
〃get up；〃 〃steady；〃 or 〃whoa〃 （stop）； accompanying the order with
a waving of the whip。 Foolish drivers lash the oxen on the haw
side when they wish them to gee and vice versa； but it is
notorious that all good drivers do little lashing。 Spare the lash
or spoil your team。 So it was not long before Rolf could guide
them from the top of the load； as they travelled from shook to
shook in the field。 This voice of command saved his life； or at
least his limb； one morning； for he made a misstep that tumbled
him down between the oxen and the wagon。 At once the team
started； but his ringing 〃Whoa！〃 brought them to a dead stop； and
saved him； whereas； had it been Van's 〃Whoa！〃 it would have set
them off at a run； for every shout from him meant a whip lick to
follow。
Thus Rolf won the respect； if not the love； of the huge beasts；
more and more they were his charge； and when； on that sad
morning； in the last of the barley； Van came in； 〃Ach； vot shall
I do！ Vot shall I do！ Dot Buck ox be nigh dead。〃
Alas！ there he lay on the ground； his head sometimes raised；
sometimes stretched out flat； while the huge creature uttered
short moans at times。
Only four years before； Rolf had seen that same thing at Redding。
The rolling eye； the working of the belly muscles； the straining
and moaning。 〃It's colic； have you any ginger？〃
〃No； I hat only dot soft soap。〃
What soft soap had to do with ginger was not clear； and Rolf
wondered if it had some rare occult medical power that had
escaped his mother。
〃Do you know where there's any slippery elm？〃
〃Yah。〃
〃Then bring a big boiling of the bark； while I get some
peppermint。〃
The elm bark was boiled till it made a kettleful of brown slime。
The peppermint was dried above the stove till it could be
powdered； and mixed with the slippery slush。 Some sulphur and
some soda were discovered and stirred in； on general principles；
and they hastened to the huge； helpless creature in the field。
Poor Buck seemed worse than ever。 He was flat on his side； with
his spine humped up； moaning and straining at intervals。 But now
relief was in sight so thought the men。 With a tin dipper they
tried to pour some relief into the open mouth of the sufferer；
who had so little appreciation that he simply taxed his remaining
strength to blow it out in their faces。 Several attempts ended
the same way。 Then the brute； in what looked like temper； swung
his muzzle and dashed the whole dipper away。 Next they tried the
usual method； mixing it with a bran mash； considered a delicacy
in the bovine world； but Buck again took notice； under pressure
only； to dash it away and waste it all。
It occurred to them they might force it down his throat if they
could raise his head。 So they used a hand lever and a prop to
elevate the muzzle； and were about to try another inpour； when
Buck leaped to his feet； and behaving like one who has been
shamming； made at full gallop for the stable； nor stopped till
safely in his stall； where at once he dropped in all the evident
agony of a new spasm。
It is a common thing for oxen to sham sick； but this was the real
thing； and it seemed they were going to lose the ox； which meant
also lose a large part of the harvest。
In the stable； now； they had a better chance； they tied him； then
raised his head with a lever till his snout was high above his
shoulders。 Now it seemed easy to pour the medicine down that
long； sloping passage。 But his mouth was tightly closed； any that
entered his nostrils was blown afar； and the suffering beast
strained at the rope till he seemed likely to strangle。
Both men and ox were worn out with the struggle； the brute was no
better； but rather worse。
〃Wall；〃 said Rolf； 〃I've seen a good many ornery steers； but
that's the orneriest I ever did handle； an' I reckon we'll lose
him if he don't get that poison into him pretty soon。〃
Oxen never were studied as much as horses； for they were