"Gosh! But you throwed in the sody. They ain't fit fer a dog to eat. I can't go 'em." With the intention of taking the taste of soda out of his mouth he filled it with potato, and immediately afterward he and John jammed in the doorway as they tried to get through it simultaneously. Wiping their streaming eyes and gulping water, they said accusingly: "There's a can of cayenne if there's a pinch in them pertaters!" "And the bacon's burned to a cracklin'," observed Rufus. "Perhaps you're getting tired of my cooking?" Wallie suggested, artlessly. "I'm tired now if this is a spec'min of what you aim to feed us," John declared, suspiciously. "I bleeve you done it on purpose." Wallie did not deny it. "I'm holler to the toes and I can't work on an empty stummick," said Will, disgustedly. Only Rufus went on eating as if it took more than a can of soda and a box of pepper to spoil his food for him and he explained as they wondered at it: "I ain't no taste sence I had scarlet fever so it don't bother me." "Ain't you goin' to git us somethin'?" John demanded, finally, seeing Wallie made no move to cook fresh food for them. "No," Wallie answered, bluntly. "There's nothing in the contract which specifies the manner in which I shall prepare your food for you or the amount of it. Dinner will be worse than breakfast if you want the truth from me." "I'm quittin'!" the two declared together. "Now, look here, boys!" the old man expostulated. "We got to finish this job and you know the reason." "Reason or no reason, I ain't starvin' myself to oblige nobody," John declared, vigorously, "and he's got the drop on us about the eatin'." "Then go--the two of you!" Reed cried, angrily, "I'm goin' to stay--I ain't nothin' to complain of. Him and me," he nodded at Wallie, "can dig that well without ye." Surly, and without speaking, the boys took their departure. "They got bad dispositions--they take after their mother," Rufus remarked, looking after them. "With you to work the windlass and empty the bucket we'll make out without them till I pick up another crew somewhere." "I am willing to accept my loss and quit," Wallie pleaded. "Well, I ain't!" declared Rufus, unnecessarily bellicose. "A contract is a contract and I got you in writin'." Wallie could not deny it and subsided meekly, putting a ham on to boil with a cabbage while Rufus smoked until he was ready to assist him. "If they's anything I like it's a good mess of ham and cabbage," he observed. "I am glad to have found something to stimulate your appetite--it's worried me," replied Wallie. But his sarcasm was wasted on Rufus who arose, yawning, when Wallie indicated that he was ready. Turning the windlass according to instructions, Wallie deposited Rufus in the bottom. Then at intervals he hoisted the bucket which Rufus filled in leisurely fashion, and emptied it, performing the two men's work easily.