ask Antonia to come over and help you in
the kitchen. She will be glad to earn some-
thing, and it will be a good time to end mis-
understandings. I may as well ride over this
morning and make arrangements. Do you
want to go with me, Jim?" His tone told me
that he had already decided for me.

After breakfast we set off together. When
Mrs. Shimerda saw us coming, she ran from
her door down into the draw behind the stable,
as if she did not want to meet us. Grandfather
smiled to himself while he tied his horse, and
we followed her.

Behind the barn we came upon a funny
sight. The cow had evidently been grazing
somewhere in the draw. Mrs. Shimerda had
run to the animal, pulled up the lariat pin,
and, when we came upon her, she was trying
to hide the cow in an old cave in the bank. As
the hole was narrow and dark, the cow held
back, and the old woman was slapping and
pushing at her hind quarters, trying to spank
her into the draw-side.

Grandfather ignored her singular occupa-
tion and greeted her politely. "Good-morning,
Mrs. Shimerda. Can you tell me where I will
find Ambrosch? Which field?"

[[153]]

p152 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p153w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p154

v?