human
All right, Corso. Here it is waiting for you.
gpt
I thank you, sir,
human
Your nephew is doing an interesting job on that mud hole. The boy is a good worker.
gpt
He is learning. We thank you.
human
Is he a Vermonter, Uncle Norman?
gpt
No, he isn't. I really don't know where he comes from, Bob, and my guess is Spain, although I'm probably miles off on that. He and his young nephew, a boy about thirteen, or perhaps a little older, rented a shack a mile or so up the shore; they paid several months in advance. Seem to spend their time walking, or on the lake, and I believe I'm about the only person, on North Hero Island Corso talks with, and he doesn't say very much to me. I've seen the boy, of course, but I don't know if he can speak English or not, I've never heard him.
human
He's a nice looking boy,
gpt
Ever since they came your aunt has longed to get her motherly hands on him,
human
He needs a woman to look after him, see that he gets proper food and plenty of it. He's as thin as a stick, and I know he was sick this spring. I did make Corso take some puddings and jellies to him,
gpt
They sound like an interesting pair,
human
Well, they are, but they mind their own business, and we Vermonters mind ours. How about it, light meat or dark, Jim?
gpt
Dark, please.
human
What is the boy doing with the mud hole?
gpt
I don't know what it will be like when he gets finished but I'm keen to see. It's a strip about two and a half acres wide, and five long, that has always been a dead loss for cultivation. It comes between my alfalfa meadow and the garden; dips down low and toward the middle is quite a hole. The place catches all the rain and hangs on to it all through the hottest months. I had an expert here to drain it several years ago, he sunk some pipes, and although he did get the water off, more came back inside of a few weeks, and it was full after the first rain storm. The land is very fertile, and if I could use it, I would raise bumper crops.
human
Shame you can't.
gpt
Yes, it is. Corso came to me early this spring, some weeks ago, and asked if I would rent it to him, and permit him to dig and do anything he wanted to with it. He assured me he would do it no harm, nor the surrounding patches. I told him it wasn't good for anything, but he seemed to want it, so I let him have it. He and the boy spend a great deal of time there, and they have hauled a lot of rocks from the shore. You probably noticed the edge of the lake, except around the cliffs, is all small flat stones, not very brittle, but not so soft as soap-stone.
human
Sure, we were looking at them last night. Some have pink and white streaks, like marble, and are pretty. I'd like to send a box to Mom for the garden walks. She'd be pleased to pieces to have them.
gpt
They have taken several loads of them and some very large stones. After dinner you might walk over and see what you make out of the work so far. I can't make head or tail of it. A few days ago they planted corn, right in the mud, and in each hole they put a minnow they scooped out of the lake.
human
Why put fish in, do they expect to raise sardines?
gpt
Can't say,
human
It's some heathen notion I know. Mrs. Fenton announced positively.
gpt
Are you getting enough to eat, Bob?
human
I say, Uncle Norman, you surely have a crab of a man to look after your turkeys,
gpt
A crab?
human
I'll tell the herd he is the prize long horn for meanness,
gpt
My goodness, boys, what on earth did he do?
human
He wouldn't let us near the place,
gpt
Hezzy's all right, boys. You didn't tell him who you were.
human
No, we didn't, but great snakes, about everybody on the three islands seemed to know we were coming. Didn't seem reasonable that this fellow did not have an idea who we were,
gpt
Of course, airplane visitors are not common and the news of your arriving from Texas did spread, but it's possible Hezzy didn't hear of it,
human
You see, boys, he's been having quite a peck of trouble. Last year they hatched a big flock of birds, but before they were half grown, a lot of them were stolen. We know they didn't die--only a few of them--and there is no way for them to have wandered off. Their wings are clipped as soon as they are big enough to get any height, and turkeys do not fly very high or far, anyway. Some one, or some band of thieves must have made away with them. Hezzy is hired to raise them, I haven't time to and look after the farm, and he takes real pride in having a big flock. Some of the young ones have disappeared already and I expect he's keeping a mighty close watch to save as many as he can. They bring a good price and last year was the first season we didn't realize a profit on them.
gpt
Any idea where they go?
human
No, we haven't, but it must be outsiders. Probably some tourists discovered the old farm tucked away there in the woods, and let it be known, or came back themselves. We have three watchmen, and now one of them sits up all night, but it hasn't done much good,
gpt
Sure Hezzy isn't putting his own brand on them?
human
My goodness sakes alive, child, don't say anything like that. I wouldn't have anyone hear you for the world,
gpt
Hezzy is too honest for his own good, really. He wouldn't take a bent pin that didn't belong to him. I've known him since I was a boy. He's a fine poultry man and absolutely reliable. Keeps his records as accurate as can be. There isn't a cent's worth he doesn't give a detailed account of every week,
human
I didn't mean to cast reflections on his honesty, but he was such a bear, it just occurred to me he might be feathering his own nest with your turkeys,
gpt
Oh, dear me, don't say it again. Why, I should be so distressed to have it get out--
human
We won't breath it, Aunt Belle,
gpt
I'll take you over sometime and you can see the place. I ordered a pair of good watchdogs to help guard it. They should be here in a day or so, Mr. Fenton said, then added.
human
Well, if you want to go out and inspect what's being done on the mud hole, come along.
gpt
Perhaps they could eat another piece of pie, Norman.
human
No, we couldn't, not a sliver,
gpt
Much to our regret,
human
Very well,