“Just tell me before we start,” said Taleswapper, “whether I’ll get a better supper if I throw you, or if I don’t throw you.”

Alvin Miller leaned back his head and whooped like a Red. “What’s your name, stranger?”

“Taleswapper.”

“Well, Mr. Taleswapper, I hope you like the taste of dirt, cause that’s what you’ll eat before you eat anything else here!”

Taleswapper felt the grip on his forearm tighten. His own arms were strong, but not like this man’s grip. Still, a game of throws wasn’t all strength. It was also wit, and Taleswapper had a bit of that. He let himself slowly flinch under Alvin Miller’s pressure, long before he had forced the man to use his full strength. Then, suddenly, he pulled with all his might in the direction Miller was pushing. Usually that was enough to topple the bigger man, using his own weight against him—but Alvin Miller was ready, pulled the other way, and flung Taleswapper so far that he landed right among the stones that formed the foundation for the missing millstone.

There had been no malice in it, though, just the love of the contest. No sooner was Taleswapper down than Miller was helping him up, asking him if anything was broken.

“I’m just glad your millstone wasn’t in place yet,” said Taleswapper, “or you’d be stuffing brains back into my head.”

“What? You’re in Wobbish country, man! There ain’t no need for brains out here.”

“Well, you threw me,” said Taleswapper. “Does that mean you won’t let me earn a bed and a meal?”

“Earn it? No sir. I won’t allow such a thing.” But the grin on his face denied the harshness of his words. “No, no, you can work if you like, because a man likes to feel that he pays his way in the world. But truth is I’d let you stay even if you had two legs broke and couldn’t help a lick. We’ve got a bed all ready for you, just off the kitchen, and I’ll bet a hog against a huckleberry that them boys already told Faith to set another bowl for supper.”

“That’s kind of you, sir.”

“Not at all,” said Alvin Miller. “You sure nothing got broke? You hit them stones awful hard.”

“Then I imagine you ought to check to make sure none of those stones got split, sir.”

Alvin laughed again, slapped him on the back, and led him up to the house.