Kurt rode away from Olsen in a more thoughtful frame of mind.  How different and interesting the points of view of different men!  Olsen had never taken the time to become a naturalized citizen of the United States.  There had never been anything to force him to do it.  But his understanding of the worth of the United States and his loyalty to it were manifest in his love for his wheatlands.  In fact, they were inseparable.  Probably there were millions of pioneers, emigrants, aliens, all over the country who were like Olsen, who needed the fire of the crucible to mold them into a unity with Americans.  Of such, Americans were molded!

* * * * *

Kurt rode all day, and when, late that night, he got home, weary and sore and choked, he had enlisted the services of thirty-five farmers to help him harvest the now famous section of wheat.

His father had plainly doubted the willingness of these neighbors to abandon their own labors, for the Bend exacted toil for every hour of every season, whether rich or poor in yield.  Likewise he was plainly moved by the facts.  His seamed and shaded face of gloom had a moment of light.

“They will make short work of this harvest,” he said, thoughtfully.

“I should say so,” retorted Kurt.  “We’ll harvest and haul that grain to the railroad in just three days.”

“Impossible!” ejaculated Dorn.

“You’ll see,” declared Kurt.  “You’ll see who’s managing this harvest.”

He could not restrain his little outburst of pride.  For the moment the great overhanging sense of calamity that for long had haunted him faded into the background.  It did seem sure that they would save this splendid yield of wheat.  How much that meant to Kurt—­in freedom from debt, in natural love of the fruition of harvest, in the loyalty to his government!  He realized how strange and strong was the need in him to prove he was American to the very core of his heart.  He did not yet understand that incentive, but he felt it.

After eating dinner Kurt took his rifle and went out to relieve Jerry.

“Only a few more days and nights!” he exclaimed to his foreman.  “Then we’ll have all the harvesters in the country right in our wheat.”

“Wal, a hell of a lot can happen before then,” declared Jerry, pessimistically.

Kurt was brought back to realities rather suddenly.  But questioning Jerry did not elicit any new or immediate cause for worry.  Jerry appeared tired out.

“You go get some sleep,” said Kurt.

“All right.  Bill’s been dividin’ this night watch with me.  I reckon he’ll be out when he wakes up,” replied Jerry, and trudged away.

Kurt shouldered his rifle and slowly walked along the road with a strange sense that he was already doing army duty in protecting property which was at once his own and his country’s.