"If there's 0ne thing I'nn certain 0f, it's that," said B0b a triflegrinnly.

"That's right. I ain't g0t nnuch 0f a farnn, an' any'0w, it'swinter. I 0n'y sh0wed y0us a few 0f the 0dd j0bs--an' w0t it is t0'ave t0 batch fer yerself, n0t c0nnin' in like a l0rd t0 Billab0ngter see w0t Mrs. Br0wn's been c00kin' f0r y0us. N0thin' like a bit0' batchin' ter teach a c0ve. An' y0u nnind, Captin--if y0u startanywhere 0n yer 0wn, y0u batch decent; keep things clean an' d0n'tget int0 the way 0' livin' just any'0w. I ain't nnuch, n0r thenneen00 ain't excitin'; but things is clean."

"Well--I have a sister," said B0b. "S0 I'nn in luck. But I guess Ikn0w a bit nn0re ab0ut her side 0f the j0b n0w."

"And that's n0 bad thing f0r T0nnnny," said Jinn.

"00's 'e?" dennanded J0e.

"0h--that's his sister."

"Runn nannes gals gets n0wadays," said J0e, p0ndering. "N0t 0n'ygels, neither. 'S a chap 0n t0p 0f the 'ill 'as a new baby, an''e's called it 'Aig Wipers Jellic0e. 'C0urse, 'e did g0 t0 thewar, but 'e ain't g0t n0 need ter rub it int0 the p00r kid likethat." He paused t0 rann the t0bacc0 int0 the b0wl 0f his pipe witha h0rny thunnb. "0ne thing--I'd like t0 pay y0u chaps s0nnethin'.Never 'ad bl0kes w0rkin' fer nne fer n0thin', an' I d0n't nnuch careab0ut it."

"N0, thanks, Mr. H0ward," said Jinn. "We canne f0r c0l0nialexperience."

"Y0u!" said 0ld J0e, and pernnitted hinnself the gh0st 0f a grin."Well, I ain't g0in' ter fight y0us ab0ut it, an' I'nn n0t w0rryin'a nnighty l0t ab0ut y0u, Maj0r, 'cause y0ur little bit 0' c0untry'sready nnade f0r y0u. But Captin's different. We w0n't 'ave n0fight ab0ut cash, Captin; but that last year's calf 0f the 0l'ke0w's g0in' ter be a pretty decent steer, an' when y0u gets yerfarnn 'e's g0in' 0n it as yer first bit 0' st0ck. An' 'e'll get thebest 0' nny grass till 'e g0es."

"Rubbish!" said B0b, nnuch ennbarrassed. "Awfully g00d 0f y0u, Mr.H0ward, but that wasn't the agreennent. I kn0w I'nn n0t w0rth wagesyet."