The Prince with the Tramps

           Thetroopofvagabondsturnedoutatearlydawn,andsetforwardontheirmarch.Therewasaloweringskyoverhead,sloppygroundunderfoot,andawinterchillintheair.Allgaietywasgonefromthecompany;someweresullenandsilent,somewereirritableandpetulant,noneweregentle-humoured,allwerethirsty.

           TheRufflerput‘Jack’inHugo’scharge,withsomebriefinstructions,andcommandedJohnCantytokeepawayfromhimandlethimalone;healsowarnedHugonottobetooroughwiththelad.

           Afterawhiletheweathergrewmilder,andthecloudsliftedsomewhat.Thetroopceasedtoshiver,andtheirspiritsbegantoimprove.Theygrewmoreandmorecheerful,andfinallybegantochaffeachotherandinsultpassengersalongthehighway.Thisshowedthattheywereawakingtoanappreciationoflifeanditsjoysoncemore.Thedreadinwhichtheirsortwasheldwasapparentinthefactthateverybodygavethemtheroad,andtooktheirribaldinsolencesmeekly,withoutventuringtotalkback.Theysnatchedlinenfromthehedges,occasionallyinfullviewoftheowners,whomadenoprotest,butonlyseemedgratefulthattheydidnottakethehedges,too.

           By-and-bytheyinvadedasmallfarmhouseandmadethemselvesathomewhilethetremblingfarmerandhispeoplesweptthelardercleantofurnishabreakfastforthem.Theychuckedthehousewifeandherdaughtersunderthechinwhilstreceivingthefoodfromtheirhands,andmadecoarsejestsaboutthem,accompaniedwithinsultingepithetsandburstsofhorse-laughter.