abruptly (adv.): suddenly; almost rudely
apprehensive (adj.): anxious; fearful
axles (n.): bars connecting two opposite wheels
bale (n.): a large bundle of something that has been compressed and tied together. Grains such as hay, wheat, and barley are often made into bales after they're harvested.
barley (n.): a type of cereal grass. The grain from the barley plant is often used for making malts and for animal feed. See a picture of barley.
blacksmith (n.): a person who works with iron, especially in the making of horseshoes. See some pictures of blacksmiths at work.
bridled (v.): to pull one's head back in anger or pride; especially when one feels one has been offended
bristled (adj.): stiff and prickly
bristly (adj.): stiff and prickly
brusquely (adv.): roughly; abruptly
buckers (n.): people who buck grain bags
bunk house (n): a building that provides sleeping quarters for workers on a ranch or farm.
burlap (n.): a coarse, inexpensive, woven fabric; often used for making grain sacks
calculating (adj.): shrewd; scheming
cesspool (n.): a deep hole in the ground into which sewage from sinks, toilets, etc. is drained.
cockier (adj.): To be cocky is to be conceited, overbearing, and aggressive.
complacently (adv.): in a pleased, satisfied manner
cultivator (n.): a large farm machine used for cultivation (the preparation of the earth for planting). See some pictures of cultivators.
derogatory (adj.): belittling and insulting
dinner (n.): the major meal of the day. In this case, dinner is served in the middle of the day.
dousing (n): to douse is to be drenched with liquid. A dousing refers to someone having been covered with a liquid, in this case water, during a washing.
dragfooted (adj.) lame; dragging a lame foot
gingerly (adv.): in a careful, cautious way
grain teams (n): A team is two or more horses harnessed to a wagon or other drawn vehicle. Grain teams would be the teams (horses and wagons) used to haul grain in from the fields.
graybacks (n.): lice; parasites. Lice are small, wingless insects that live off the blood of other animals. See a picture of a louse.
handy (adj.): clever with one's hands; especially, in this case, in terms of fighting
harness (n.): the leather straps and metal pieces by which a horse or mule is fastened to a vehicle. See a picture of various pieces of horse harness.
hatchet face (n): a lean, sharp face
heavy-laden (adj.) heavily loaded
insteps (n.): the parts of shoes between the toe and the ankle
jerkline skinner: A skinner is the driver of a team of mules. A jerkline skinner is the main driver of a mule team who handles the jerkline (reins).
laboring (adj.): working, particularly work that involves physical labor.
lamely (adv.): To be lame is to be crippled; especially to have an injured leg or foot.
lashed (v.): swung around quickly
levelly (adv.): Something that is level is flat and horizontal. To stare at someone levelly is to stare at that person straight on -- not looking up nor down.
lice: a type of parasite. See a picture of a louse.
lightweight (n.): a boxer who weighs between 127 - 135 pounds
liniment (n.): a medicated liquid rubbed on the skin to ease sore muscles and sprains
mollified (adj.): soothed; pacified
mules (n): a type of shoe or slipper than does not cover the heal. See a picture of a pair of mules.
muzzle (n.): the projecting part (the part that sticks out) of a dogs head that includes the mouth, nose, and jaw.
nosey (adj.): nosy. A nosey person is one who tends to pry into the business of others.
ominously (adv.): in a threatening way
peered (v.): To peer is to look closely or squint at something to see it more clearly.
pocket (n.): in this instance, a pocket would be a hollow or cavity in the land filled with gold ore
precede (v.): go before or ahead of
pugnacious (adj.): eager and ready to fight
rectangular (adj.): A rectangle is a shape that is longer than it is wide. The rectangular bunk house is a building that is longer than it is wide.
rouged (adj.): colored red, as with lipstick
scourges (n.): a scourge is anything that inflicts discomfort or suffering; in this case, any variety of insects and pests
scowled (v.): a scowl is an angry look achieved by frowning and scrunching the eyebrows together.
sheep dog (n.): a breed of dog trained to herd sheep. See a picture of a sheep dog.
shepherds (n.): dogs bred to herd sheep. See a picture of a shepherd.
skeptically (adv.): To be skeptical is doubt or question something. George is doubting that the bunk house, and especially his mattress, is really clean
solitaire lay (n): Solitaire is a one-person game of cards. A solitaire lay is the set up of the cards at the beginning of the game. See a picture of a solitaire lay.
spurs (n.): sharp, pointed metal devices worn on the heels of a boots, used to urge on horses when riding. See a picture of spurs.
squinted (v.): To squint one's eyes is to look or peer with the eyes partly closed or narrowed.
squirmed (v.): twisted and turned; wriggled
stable buck (n.): a stable is a building where horses are kept. A buck, in this case, is a derogatory word for a black man. A staple buck, then, would be a black man who works in a stable.
stocky (adj.): heavily and solidly built
swamper (n.): a handyman; someone who performs odd jobs often involving cleaning
tart (n.) a woman of loose morals; one who is prone to be sexually unfaithful
ticking (n.): the cloth case for a mattress. In this instance, the cloth case was made from burlap.
time book (n): a book used to record the hours of workers
trace chains (n): the chains that connect a horse's harness to a vehicle
tramp (n.): In this case, a tramp is a woman of loose morals who is sexually promiscuous
viciously (adv.): cruelly; in a mean way
wheeler (n.): the horse harnessed nearest to the front wheels of a vehicle