The simpler whip-waving and fewer orders of the Yankee
were so obviously successful that Van had resigned the whip of
authority and Rolf was driver.
Ordinarily, an ox driver walks on the hew (nigh or left) side,
near the head of his team, shouting "gee" (right), "haw" (left),
"get up," "steady," or "whoa" (stop), accompanying the order with
a waving of the whip. Foolish drivers lash the oxen on the haw
side when they wish them to gee -- and vice versa; but it is
notorious that all good drivers do little lashing. Spare the lash
or spoil your team. So it was not long before Rolf could guide
them from the top of the load, as they travelled from shook to
shook in the field. This voice of command saved his life, or at
least his limb, one morning, for he made a misstep that tumbled
him down between the oxen and the wagon. At once the team
started, but his ringing "Whoa!" brought them to a dead stop, and
saved him; whereas, had it been Van's "Whoa!" it would have set
them off at a run, for every shout from him meant a whip lick to
follow.
Thus Rolf won the respect, if not the love, of the huge beasts;
more and more they were his charge, and when, on that sad
morning, in the last of the barley, Van came in, "Ach, vot shall
I do! Vot shall I do! Dot Buck ox be nigh dead.
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