But I walked up after him with
my cart and team, ready to do as he had said.
I was in no fear now about Nils; he was close up to the stables by now.
The Captain beckoned to him, but without avail. Then "Halt!" he cried,
military fashion; but Nils was deaf.
When we reached the stables the horses were back in their places already.
The Captain was stiff and stern as ever, but I fancied he had been
thinking matters over a little on the way.
"What have you brought the horses in for now?" he asked.
"Plough was working loose," answered Nils. "I brought them in just while
I'm setting it to rights again; it won't take very long."
The Captain raps out his order:
"I want a man to drive to the station."
Nils glances at me, and says half to himself:
"H'm! So that's it? A nice time for that sort of thing."
"What's that you're muttering about?"
"There's two of us and a lad," says Nils, "for the season's work this
spring. 'Tis none so much as leaves any to spare."
But the Captain must have had some inkling as to the two brown horses Nils
had been in such a hurry to get in; he goes round patting the animals in
turn, to see which of them are warm.
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