It was even so. The storm-signals were out, and every male inhabitant was expected to turn out and aid in saving the splendid crop of wheat with which the district was covered. It was the year following the sheep-pasturing; and, accordingly, the whole land was under wheat. Duly instructed by Utis, I found no difficulty in guiding the machine committed to my care. It was, in fact, as easy to manage as a horse-rake. All that day we labored, with an intermission of an hour in the midst of the day. Little was heard but the few words of direction from the overseers of the work, and the sharp click of the machines that, following in due order, cut, thrashed, and winnowed the grain. This, without being bagged, was conveyed at once to the elevator. Other machines cut up the straw into inch lengths, so as to admit of its being stowed away in less bulk, it being a valued basis for many manufactures.
Ere darkness came on, the land had been stripped of its golden covering as by magic; and all returned home, weary, indeed, but conscious of having performed a good day's work. Little was said during the belated meal, except in reference to the approaching storm, of whose violence accounts were already coming in.
"It is fortunate," said Utis, "that the ship conveying your mother and sister is not in its track. This storm appears to have suddenly originated in the North Pacific, and, from what Olay states of its ravages in the neighborhood where he now is, must be of unusual violence."
In my selfishness, I am afraid I was more concerned by the obstacle the storm opposed to my paying a visit, however brief, to the house of Hulmar Edial. Even tele-
