door. As we rode up the draw we skirted a big
melon patch, and a garden where squashes
and yellow cucumbers lay about on the sod.
We found Peter out behind his kitchen, bend-
ing over a washtub. He was working so hard
that he did not hear us coming. His whole
body moved up and down as he rubbed, and
he was a funny sight from the rear, with
his shaggy head and bandy legs. When he
straightened himself up to greet us, drops of
perspiration were rolling from his thick nose
down on to his curly beard. Peter dried his
hands and seemed glad to leave his washing.
He took us down to see his chickens, and his
cow that was grazing on the hillside. He told
Antonia that in his country only rich people
had cows, but here any man could have one
who would take care of her. The milk was
good for Pavel, who was often sick, and he
could make butter by beating sour cream with
a wooden spoon. Peter was very fond of his
cow. He patted her flanks and talked to her
in Russian while he pulled up her lariat pin
and set it in a new place.

After he had shown us his garden, Peter
trundled a load of watermelons up the hill in
his wheelbarrow. Pavel was not at home. He

[[39]]

p038 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p039w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p040

v?