"No. As I told your boys when I met them looking for the runaway horse, I'm just waiting for something to turn up. I may go back West again, or I may settle down in the East. I'm looking for a job, to tell you the truth. My money is 'most gone, and I need a little to keep me going, though I don't require much to live on." "Then why don't you stay here?" asked the farmer. "I need a man to help me with the cultivating. I can't pay much--no farmer can these times--but I'll do the best I can. If I had a man to help with the cultivating I could stir the dirt up around the crops, and it wouldn't matter quite so much about the rain. Did you ever work on a farm?" "Once, when I was a young lad. But if my corn keeps on hurting the way it does, I know we'll have rain." "I hope so. But would you like to stay here a few days?" "I think so. In fact, I will. I don't care so much about the money, but I like it here, and it will give me a chance to rest. Yes, Mr. Crosby, I'll stay and help you cultivate. Maybe it will rain, and I can then help you in other ways." "Perhaps. Then if you'll come with me I'll show you a room you can use." And so it was settled that the old miner should remain, for the time being, at the Crosby farm. CHAPTER V MORE HARD LUCK That afternoon the two boys went back to the cornfield to resume the cultivating that had been interrupted by the runaway. It seemed hotter than ever, and there was scarcely a breath of wind. "Whew! This is fierce!" exclaimed Will. "I can't stand it!" and he mopped the perspiration from his forehead. "Oh, it might be worse," observed Jed. "Worse? I don't see how." "You might be out on the Nevada desert that Mr. Harrison was telling about." "That's so. Well, I'm glad I'm not. But, what do you think of him, anyhow, Jed?" "I think he's quite a character." "So do I. I wish I had some of the gold he dug." "Same here. If we had that we wouldn't have to be working in this hot cornfield. Maybe we'll find some, by and by, Will." "Find some? How?" "Why, go after it, to be sure. Do you know, I have an idea I'd like to be a gold miner." "A heap you know about gold mining!" "That's all right. Every one has to learn. I guess he didn't know anything about it at first," said the stout youth. "Perhaps not. But what chance have we to go out West in the mining country?" "None, I guess, Will, but I can't help thinking of it. I certainly would like to go West and be a gold miner. Think of digging gold instead of potatoes." "There's only one thing about that," replied his brother, who was not so inclined to look on the rosy side of things, "when you're digging for potatoes you go to a field where potatoes have been planted, and when you dig, you know you're going to get some." "Well?" "Well, when you dig for gold you have to go it blind. It may be there and it may not. Oftener not, and you have all your digging for nothing."