Nobody's Boy Read online

  CHAPTER V

  EN ROUTE

  Because a man pays forty francs for a child that is not to say that heis a monster, and that he intends to eat the child. Vitalis had nodesire to eat me and although he bought children he was not a bad man. Isoon had proof of this. We had been walking in silence for some time. Iheaved a sigh.

  "I know just how you feel," said Vitalis; "cry all you want. But try andsee that this is for your own good. Those people are not your parents;the wife has been good to you and I know that you love her, that is whyyou feel so badly. But she could not keep you if the husband did notwant you. And he may not be such a bad chap after all; he is ill andcan't do any more work. He'll find it hard to get along...."

  Yes, what he said was true, but I had only one thought in my mind,perhaps I should never again see the one I loved most in the world.

  "You won't be unhappy with me," he continued; "it is better than beingsent to the Home. And let me tell you, you must not try to run away,because if you do Capi and Zerbino would soon catch you."

  Run away--I no longer thought of doing so. Where should I go? This tallold man perhaps would be a kind master after all. I had never walked sofar at a stretch. All around us were barren lands and hills, notbeautiful like I had thought the world would be outside of my village.

  Vitalis walked with big regular strides, carrying Pretty-Heart on hisshoulder, or in his bag, and the dogs trotted close to us. From time totime Vitalis said a word of friendship to them, sometimes in French,sometimes in a language that I did not understand. Neither he nor theanimals seemed to get tired. But I ... I was exhausted. I dragged mylimbs along and it was as much as I could do to keep up with my newmaster. Yet I did not like to ask him to let me stop.

  "It's those wooden shoes that tire you," he said, looking down at me."When we get to Ussel, I'll buy you some shoes."

  These words gave me courage. I had always longed for a pair of shoes.The mayor's son and the inn-keeper's son wore shoes, so that on Sundaywhen they came to church they seemed to slide down the stone aisles,while we other country boys in our clogs made a deafening noise.

  "Is Ussel far?"

  "Ah, that comes from your heart," said Vitalis, laughing. "So you wantto have a pair of shoes, do you? Well, I'll promise you them and withbig nails, too. And I'll buy you some velvet pants, and a vest and ahat. That'll make you dry your tears, I hope, and give you legs to dothe next six miles."

  Shoes with nails! I was overcome with pride. It was grand enough tohave shoes, but shoes with nails! I forgot my grief. Shoes with nails!Velvet pants! a vest! a hat! Oh, if Mother Barberin could see me, howhappy she would be, how proud of me! But in spite of the promise that Ishould have shoes and velvet pants at the end of the six miles, itseemed impossible that I could cover the distance.

  The sky, which had been blue when we started, was now filled with grayclouds and soon a fine rain commenced to fall. Vitalis was covered wellenough with his sheepskin and he was able to shelter Pretty-Heart, who,at the first drop of rain, had promptly retired into his hiding place.But the dogs and I had nothing to cover us, and soon we were drenched tothe skin. The dogs from time to time could shake themselves, but I wasunable to employ this natural means, and I had to tramp along under mywater-soaked, heavy garments, which chilled me.

  "Do you catch cold easily?" asked my new master.

  "I don't know. I don't remember ever having a cold."

  "That's good. So there is something in you. But I don't want to have itworse for you than we are obliged. There is a village a little fartheron and we'll sleep there."

  There was no inn in this village and no one wanted to take into theirhomes an old beggar who dragged along with him a child and three dogs,soaked to the skin.

  "No lodgings here," they said.

  And they shut the door in our faces. We went from one house to another,but all refused to admit us. Must we tramp those four miles on to Usselwithout resting a bit? The night had fallen and the rain had chilled usthrough and through. Oh, for Mother Barberin's house!

  Finally a peasant, more charitable than his neighbors, agreed to let usgo into his barn. But he made the condition that we could sleep there,but must have no light.

  "Give me your matches," he said to Vitalis. "I'll give you them backto-morrow, when you go."

  At least we had a roof to cover us from the storm.

  In the sack which Vitalis had slung over his back he took out a hunch ofbread and broke it into four pieces. Then I saw for the first time howhe maintained obedience and discipline in his company. Whilst we hadgone from door to door seeking shelter, Zerbino had gone into a houseand he had run out again almost at once, carrying in his jaws a crust.Vitalis had only said:

  "Alright, Zerbino ... to-night."

  I had thought no more of this theft, when I saw Vitalis cut the roll;Zerbino looked very dejected. Vitalis and I were sitting on a box withPretty-Heart between us. The three dogs stood in a row before us, Capiand Dulcie with their eyes fixed on their master. Zerbino stood withdrooping ears and tail between his legs.

  "The thief must leave the ranks and go into a corner," said Vitalis in atone of command; "he'll go to sleep without his supper."

  Zerbino left his place, and in a zigzag went over to the corner thatVitalis indicated with his finger. He crouched down under a heap of hayout of sight, but we heard him breathe plaintively, with a little whine.

  Vitalis then handed me a piece of bread, and while eating his own hebroke little pieces for Pretty-Heart, Capi and Dulcie. How I longed forMother Barberin's soup ... even without butter, and the warm fire, andmy little bed with the coverlets that I pulled right up to my nose.Completely fagged out, I sat there, my feet raw by the rubbing of myclogs. I trembled with cold in my wet clothing. It was night now, but Idid not think of going to sleep.

  "Your teeth are chattering," said Vitalis; "are you cold?"

  "A little."

  I heard him open his bag.

  "I haven't got much of a wardrobe," he said, "but here's a dry shirt anda vest you can put on. Then get underneath the hay and you'll soon getwarm and go to sleep."

  But I did not get warm as quick as Vitalis thought; for a long time Iturned and turned on my bed of straw, too unhappy to sleep. Would allmy days now be like this, walking in the pouring rain; sleeping in aloft, shaking with cold, and only a piece of dry bread for supper? Noone to love me; no one to cuddle me; no Mother Barberin!

  My heart was very sad. The tears rolled down my cheeks, then I felt awarm breath pass over my face. I stretched out my hand and my fingertouched Capi's woolly coat. He had come softly to me, steppingcautiously on the straw, and he smelt me: he sniffed gently, his breathran over my cheek and in my hair. What did he want? Presently he laiddown on the straw, quite close to me, and very gently he commenced tolick my hand. Touched by this caress, I sat up on my straw bed andthrowing my arms round his neck kissed his cold nose. He gave a littlestifled cry, and then quickly put his paw in my hand and remained quitestill. I forgot my fatigue and my sorrows. I was no longer alone. I hada friend.