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"Wonderfully!" said I

"An' so strong as a bull?"

"To be sure"

"An' t' stapil can't last er--eh, maister? so old an'

rusty as 'e be?"

"One would hardly think so"

"Not so long as a tur'ble vig'rus man, like I be?" he inquired,

with a certain wistful appeal in his eyes

"No," I answered impulsively

"I knowed it--I knowed it," he chuckled, feebly brandishing his

stick, "such a poor old stapil as 'tis, all eat up wi' rust

Every tiive

un a look, an' watch un rustin' away, an' rustin' away; I'll see

un go fust, arter all, so I will!" and, with another nod at the

staple, he turned, and hobbled out into the sunshine

And seeing how, despite his brave showing, he labored to carry

the heavy basket, I presently took it fro his

protests, and set off by his side; yet, as ent, I turned once

to look back at the deserted hut