"Do as she says," the boy whispered as Maria turned back toward the cook stove. "We'll have to. They won't hurt us if we keep quiet and mind them quick." It was wise counsel. Mollie released her hold upon his hand and went into the house with a step so unlike her accustomed bird-like lightness that it was apparent the pall of the bog-lands was already beginning its blight. Stephen started off in the direction of the garden. He had never seen potatoes except in a store or when they were served at a meal. He had only a vague idea as to how they grew but he feared to ask a question. Over by the fence he could see Peter at work. Ambrose had ceased digging a hole and was now engaged in chasing a white butterfly. The butterfly was darting from bush to bush, ever coming nearer to Stephen. Finally it passed him, the fat child still in pursuit. Stephen watched the chase until Ambrose stumbled and fell. Before Stephen could decide as to the wisdom of his extending a helping hand, the youngster scrambled to his feet and rushed forward straight into the garden patch. The butterfly eluded him and disappeared amid some high shrubbery. Enraged, Ambrose commenced pulling up stalks of what seemed to Stephen to be small bushes. He noticed there were bright colored little bugs, somewhat larger than the bright-coated lady-bug, clustered on the leaves of the strange plant. With a howl of disappointment at having lost his winged prey, the hog-farmer's child hurled one of the uprooted plants at Stephen. It fell at the boy's feet. From its roots small tubers depended, some of which became detached and rolled to one side. He stooped and examined one. A potato! For the moment the dejected lad was honestly grateful to Ambrose. Without his fortunate, and for Ambrose unfortunate, chase of the butterfly Stephen realized he might have again been plunged into difficulty. Patiently he collected the potatoes Ambrose uprooted until he concluded he had enough for a meal. Ambrose, sensing that his actions were conferring a kindness, immediately desisted and entered upon a new diversion. He ran with all his might and precipitated himself like a battering ram against the boy who was carefully trying to balance a goodly supply of potatoes mounted in a very shallow receptacle that he had picked up from a refuse heap to transport them to the house. The result was disastrous. The potatoes rolled in divers directions, Stephen fell and Ambrose rolled over on top of him. During the whole performance the strange child had uttered no sound. He now bellowed lustily. No one responded. He yelled louder. Still no response. In the distance Peter's voice sounded. "Maria!" From the house the woman answered. "I'm a-comin'." "Go see what Ambrose es a-bellerin' about." Both Stephen and Ambrose heard the dialogue. The former made haste to collect the scattered potatoes. Ambrose started, still bawling, to meet his mother.