steal to live, then people ask 'em why they don't go into
the country, where help is scarce."

The farmer meditated awhile.

"How about when your money's gone?" he inquired,
finally. "You'll have to, then, won't you?"

"Wait till she's gone," said Jurgis; "then I'll see."

He had a long sleep in the barn and then a big break
fast of coffee and bread and oatmeal and stewed cherries,
for which the man charged him only fifteen cents, perhaps
having been influenced by his arguments. Then Jurgis
bade farewell, and went on his way.

Such was the beginning of his life as a tramp. It was
seldom he got as fair treatment as from this last farmer,
and so as time went on he learned to shun the houses and
to prefer sleeping in the fields. When it rained he would
find a deserted building, if he could, and if not, he would
wait until after dark and then, with his stick ready, begin
a stealthy approach upon a barn. Generally he could get
in before the dog got scent of him, and then he would
hide in the hay and be safe until morning; if not, and the
dog attacked him, he would rise up and make a retreat in
battle order. Jurgis was not the mighty man he had once
been, but his arms were still good, and there were few
farm dogs he needed to hit more than once.

Before long there came raspberries, and then black~
berries, to help him save his money; and there were apples
in the orchards and potatoes in the ground -- he learned
to note the places and fill his pockets after dark. Twice
he even managed to capture a chicken, and had a feast,
once in a deserted barn and the other time in a lonely
spot alongside of a stream. When all of these things
failed him he used his money carefully, but without worry
-- for he saw that he could earn more whenever he chose.
Half an hour's chopping wood in his lively fashion was
enough to bring him a meal, and when the farmer had
seen him working he would sometimes try to bribe him to
stay.

But Jurgis was not staying. He was a free man now,

[[258]]

p257 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p258w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p259

v?