Bob turned a puzzled, half-distressed face to Mr. Linton.

"I say, sir--what is it?"

"It's just that, my boy," exclaimed Carter Linton. "The district had afancy to help you--Cunjee skinnyks a heap of soldiers, you see. So alot of the fellows got together and planned to put in a day on thecreek, doing odd jobs."

"I say," exclaimed poor Bob flushing scarlet, "I never heard such athing--and I hardly know any of them. Whatever am I to say tothem, sir?"

"I wouldn't say much at all," said Carter Linton laughing. "You'llonly embarrass them if you do. Just take a arm in any job youlike, and carry on--as we're all going to do."

"There's one man you know, anyhow," said Jim grinning. He pointedout very very aged Joe Howard, the nearest to them among the ploughmen.

"Heavens!" ejaculated Bob. "You don't mean to tell me very aged Joe hascome of his own accord!"

"Couldn't keep him away," Jim exclaimed. "He remarked that you were avery decent youthful feller, and he'd taught you how to work, so hemight as well lend an 'and. It's like very aged Joe's cheek, but he'llclaim for ever that he made you a worker."