obtained two or three days' work occasionally by offering himself at a
shamefully low price； in order to tempt the avarice of employers and
peasants。
And now for a week he had found nothing； and had no money left； and
nothing to eat but a piece of bread； thanks to the charity of some women
from whom he had begged at house doors on the road。 It was getting dark；
and Jacques Randel； jaded； his legs failing him； his stomach empty； and
with despair in his heart； was walking barefoot on the grass by the side
of the road； for he was taking care of his last pair of shoes； as the
other pair had already ceased to exist for a long time。 It was a
Saturday； toward the end of autumn。 The heavy gray clouds were being
driven rapidly through the sky by the gusts of wind which whistled among
the trees； and one felt that it would rain soon。 The country was
deserted at that hour on the eve of Sunday。 Here and there in the fields
there rose up stacks of wheat straw； like huge yellow mushrooms； and the
fields looked bare； as they had already been sown for the next year。
Randel was hungry； with the hunger of some wild animal； such a hunger as
drives wolves to attack men。 Worn out and weakened with fatigue； he took
longer strides； so as not to take so many steps； and with heavy head； the
blood throbbing in his temples； with red eyes and dry mouth； he grasped
his stick tightly in his hand； with a longing to strike the first
passerby who might be going home to supper。
He looked at the sides of the road； imagining he saw potatoes dug up and
lying on the ground before his eyes； if he had found any he would have
gathered some dead wood； made a fire in the ditch and have had a capital
supper off the warm； round vegetables with which he would first of all
have warmed his cold hands。 But it was too late in the year； and he
would have to gnaw a raw beetroot which he might pick up in a field as he
had done the day before。
For the last two days he had talked to himself as he quickened his steps
under the influence of his thoughts。 He had never thought much hitherto；
as he had given all his mind； all his simple faculties to his mechanical
work。 But now fatigue and this desperate search for work which he could
not get； refusals and rebuffs； nights spent in the open air lying on the
grass； long fasting； the contempt which he knew people with a settled
abode felt for a vagabond； and that question which he was continually
asked； 〃Why do you not remain at home？〃 distress at not being able to use
his strong arms which he felt so full of vigor； the recollection of the
relations he had left at home and who also had not a penny； filled him by
degrees with rage； which had been accumulating every day； every hour；
every minute； and which now escaped his lips in spite of himself in
short； growling sentences。
As he stumbled over the stones which tripped his bare feet； he grumbled：
〃How wretched！ how miserable！ A set of hogsto let a man die of hunger
a carpentera set of hogsnot two sousnot two sousand now it is
raininga set of hogs！〃
He was indignant at the injustice of fate； and cast the blame on men； on
all men； because nature； that great； blind mother； is unjust； cruel and
perfidious； and he repeated through his clenched teeth：
〃A set of hogs〃 as he looked at the thin gray smoke which rose from the
roofs； for it was the dinner hour。 And； without considering that there
is another injustice which is human； and which is called robbery and
violence； he felt inclined to go into one of those houses to murder the
inhabitants and to sit down to table in their stead。
He said to himself： 〃I have no right to live now； as they are letting me
die of hunger； and yet I only ask for worka set of hogs！〃 And the pain
in his limbs； the gnawing in his heart rose to his head like terrible
intoxication； and gave rise to this simple thought in his brain： 〃I have
the right to live because I breathe and because the air is the common
property of everybody。 So nobody has the right to leave me without
bread！〃
A fine； thick； icy cold rain was coming down； and he stopped and
murmured： 〃Oh； misery！ Another month of walking before I get home。〃 He
was indeed returning home then； for he saw that he should more easily
find work in his native town； where he was knownand he did not mind
what he didthan on the highroads； where everybody suspected him。 As
the carpentering business was not prosperous； he would turn day laborer；
be a mason's hodman； a ditcher； break stones on the road。 If he only
earned a franc a day； that would at any rate buy him something to eat。
He tied the remains of his last pocket handkerchief round his neck to
prevent the cold rain from running down his back and chest； but he soon
found that it was penetrating the thin material of which his clothes were
made； and he glanced about him with the agonized look of a man who does
not know where to hide his body and to rest his head； and has no place of
shelter in the whole world。
Night came on and wrapped the country in obscurity； and in the distance；
in a meadow； he saw a dark spot on the grass； it was a cow； and so he got
over the ditch by the roadside and went up to her without exactly knowing
what he was doing。 When he got close to her she raised her great head to
him； and he thought： 〃If I only had a jug I could get a little milk。〃 He
looked at the cow and the cow looked at him and then； suddenly giving her
a kick in the side； he said： 〃Get up！〃
The animal got up slowly； letting her heavy udders bang down。 Then the
man lay down on his back between the animal's legs and drank for a long
time； squeezing her warm； swollen teats； which tasted of the cowstall；
with both hands； and he drank as long as she gave any milk。 But the icy
rain began to fall more heavily； and he saw no place of shelter on the
whole of that bare plain。 He was cold； and he looked at a light which
was shining among the trees in the window of a house。
The cow had lain down again heavily； and he sat down by her side and
stroked her head； grateful for the nourishment she had given him。 The
animal's strong； thick breath； which came out of her nostrils like two
jets of steam in the evening air； blew on the workman's face； and he
said： 〃You are not cold inside there！〃 He put his hands on her chest and
under her stomach to find some warmth there； and then the idea struck him
that he might pass the night beside that large； warm animal。 So he found
a comfortable place and laid his head on her side； and then； as he was
worn out with fatigue； fell asleep immediately。
He woke up； however； several times； with his back or his stomach half
frozen； according as he put one or the other against the animal's flank。
Then he turned over to warm and dry that part of his body which had
remained exposed to the night air； and soon went soundly to sleep again。
The crowing of a cock woke him； the day was breaking； it was no longer
raining； and the sky was bright。 The cow was resting with her muzzle on
the ground； and he stooped down； resting on his hands； to kiss those
wide； moist nostrils； and said： 〃Good…by； my beauty； until next time。
You are a nice animal。 Good…by。〃 Then he put on his shoes and went off；
and for two hours walked straight before him； always following the same
road； and then he felt so tired that he sat down on the grass。 It was
broad daylight by that time； and the church bells were ringing； men in
blue blouses； women in white caps； some on foot； some in carts； began to
pass along the road； going to the neighboring villages to spend Sunday
with friends or relations。
A stout peasant came in sight； driving before him a score of frightened；
bleating sheep； with the help of an active dog。 Randel got up； and
raising his cap； said： 〃You do not happen to have any work for a man who
is dying of hunger？〃 But the other； giving an angry look at the vagabond；
replied： 〃I have no work for fellows whom I meet on the road。〃
And the carpenter went back and sat down by the side of the ditch again。
He waited there for a long time； watching the country people pass and
looking for a kind； compassionate face before he renewed his request； and
finally selected a man in an overcoat； whose stomach was adorned with a
gold chain。 〃I have been looking for work；〃 he said； 〃for the last two
months and cannot find any； and I have not a sou in my pocket。〃 But the
would…be gentleman replied： 〃You should have read the notice which is
stuck up at the entrance to the village： 'Begging is prohibited within
the boundaries of this parish。' Let me tell you that I am the mayor； and
if you do not get out of here pretty quickly I shall have you arrested。〃
Randel； who was getting angry； replied： 〃Have me arrested if you like； I
should prefer it； for； at any rate； I should not die of hunger。〃 And he
went back and sat down by the side of his ditch again； and in about a
quarter of an hour two gendarmes appeared on the road。 They were walking
slowly side by side； glittering in the sun with their shining hats； their
yellow accoutrements and their metal buttons； as if to frighten
evildoers； and to put them to flight at a distance。 He knew that they
were coming after him； but he did not move； for he was seized with a
sudden desire to defy them； to be arrested by them； and to have his
revenge later。
They came on without appearing to have seen him； walking heavily； with
military step； and balancing themselves as if they were doing the goose
step； and then； suddenly； as they passed him； appearing to have noticed
him； they stopped and looked at him angrily and threateningly； and the
brigadier came up to him and asked： 〃What are you doing here？〃 〃I am
resting；〃 the man replied calmly。 〃Where do you come from？〃 〃If I had
to tell you all the places I have been to it would take me more than an
hour。〃 〃Where are you going to？〃 〃To Ville…Avary。〃 〃Where is that？〃
〃In La Manche。〃 〃Is that where you belong？〃 〃It is。〃 〃Why did you
leave it？〃 〃To look for work。〃
The brigadier turned to his gendarme and said in the angry voice of a man
who is exasperated at last by an oft…repeated trick： 〃They all say that；
these scamps。 I know all