"Come into the other room," said the girl, "and let me show you some of my books." He followed her into a room situated at the end of a gallery that ran the full length of the old log house. The collection numbered but a few volumes, but John opened his eyes in great astonishment. "You haven't read all these here, have you?" he asked. "Oh, yes, some of them many times. It doesn't take long to read them all. After awhile I will lend them to you." "I will take good care of them." "Oh, I know that. Anyone who would not take care of a book is not worthy of the slightest trust." Mrs. Forest came to the door. "Eva," she said, "yonder comes that good-for-nothing Bob Juckels. I wish he would stay at home. Look; he threw a stone at the calf. I could wring his good-for-nothing neck." Eva and John went out onto the gallery. Bob Juckels climbed over the fence, though the gate was near, and, in a skulking and "scuffing" manner, approached. He was just old enough to be "gawky," and was not intelligent enough to understand even the demands of the uncouth politeness of the neighborhood. His face was covered with red freckles, his teeth protruded, and his dingy hair looked as though it might, at some time, have been chewed by a calf. "Hi, folks," he said, as he stepped upon the gallery. "'Lowed I'd drap in an' see you erwhile. Pap wanted me ter chop sprouts outen the corners uv the fence ter-day, but I don't feel like it. Ain't this here John Lucas?" "Yes," John replied. "That's whut I 'lowed. I was over at ole Lucas' house one time; drapped in ter git a drink uv water, an' hanged ef that wife uv hizen didn't skeer me putty nigh ter death. I ain't been thar sense, fur it's sorter outen my range, anyhow. Eva, have you got any fresh water handy?" "Some there in the bucket, I think," the girl replied. "Sho it's fresh?" "If it isn't, you know where the well is," said Mrs. Forest. "Yas, ought ter. John, is that yo' hoss hitched out thar?" "Yes." "'Lowed so. Sorter looks like you--haw! haw! Say, ef you'll go my way I'll ride behind you?" "I'm not goin' your way; but you shouldn't ride behind me if you was goin' mine." "Reckon we'd see erbout that." "Well, I must go," said John, addressing Mrs. Forest and Eva. "Don't be snatched," Juckles replied. John gave the fellow a contemptuous look; and then, after shaking hands with the ladies, and especially after listening with gratitude to their sincere declarations that he would ever be a welcome visitor at their house, mounted his horse and rode away. He had not gone far when his saddle-girth broke. He dismounted, and while he was mending it with a string, Bob Juckles climbed over a fence, and approached him. "'Lowed I'd cut across the field an' beat you," said Bob. "That ain't much uv a nag you've got, nohow. Don't look like he could pull er settin' hen offen her nest."