LON. They's like their Ma. Bastin' never done her no good, God rest her soul. All the same, Pa knowd how hard it is fur me t' keep their bellies full. Why, when we heve bread Alexander never wants less than half the loaf! An' all the work I gits t' do is what the city folks who come t' the Beach in the summer gives me. SETH. Huh! Jest as though I didn't know 'bout yuh. Mr. Breckenridge told me yuh wouldn't even contract t' chop his wood fur him. An' there yuh sits all winter long in that God-fursaken shanty o' yourn, with trees all round yuh, an' yuh won't put an ax t' one 'til yer own fires dies out. LON. My back ain't never been strong. Choppin' puts the kinks in it. Yuh kin talk, yuh kin, Seth Polland, with a soft job at the fisheries an' three squares a day which yuh don't heve t' cook yourself. Nothin' t' do all winter but walk round them cottages an' see that no one broke in. An' I'm the one who knows how often yuh walk round them cottages. I wish I hed yer snap. [_Sits._] But I ain't never had no luck. SETH [_defending himself_]. I walk round them cottages jest as often as I need t' walk round them cottages. LON. Huh! I could tell a tale. Who was it set with his feet in the oven last winter, an' let Jack Tompkins break into them cottages--_with keys_? [_Seth does not answer._] I could tell, I could. But I ain't a goin' t' 'til they put me on the witness-stand. [_Pause._] But the furst initials o' his name is Seth Polland. SETH [_rising instantly_]. Lon Polland, yuh ever tell an' I'll skin yuh alive. LON. Huh! SETH. Skin yuh like a pole-cat. LON. Huh! [_Seth turns, knocks the ashes from his pipe into the stove. Lon rises; takes Seth's chair and rocks vigorously._] SETH. Yuh know what I got on yuh. [_Lon's bravado is short-lived. He rocks less strenuously._] SETH. Yuh thought I didn't see yuh, but I was right on the spot when yuh set fire t' Mr. Rogers' bath-house. [_Lon stops rocking._] SETH. Right behind a jack pine I was an' seed yuh do it. An' yuh done it 'cause Mr. Rogers leaved Jessup paint the house when yuh thought yuh ought t' had the job. LON [_rises_]. I got t' be a gettin' home a fore dark an' tend t' my stock. SETH. Stock? [_Cackles. Pulls out his tobacco-pouch and fills his pipe. Lon shows his pipe again._] A blind mare an' a rooster. [_Drops pouch on the table as he lights his pipe._] LON. Rooster's dead. [_Moves stealthily toward the table._] SETH. What of? LON. Pip. SETH. Starvation. LON. I would a killed him this long time, but Victoria howled so when I threatened. The fowl used t' wake me in winter same as summer with his crowin'. [_As Lon finishes his speech he reaches for the pouch. But Seth's hand is quicker. Seth moves to the rocker and sits, dangling the pouch temptingly by one finger. Lon puts his pipe in his pocket._] SETH. Should think yuh'd want t' set round 'til Pa dies, bein' as yer so sure he's left yuh his property. LON. He oughter a left it t' me.