about the cruel side of angling. It
was left for this forlorn creature to teach her that of this pretty
pastime there is something else than lounging beside charming waterways
and beneath green boughs. Angleworms might not suffer much, might even
get used to being tortured, as Montgomery averred; but how about that
beautiful shining thing done to slow death on the sward beside her? A
new pity for this humbler of God's creatures made her forget her
lingering fear of the man. With a cry she snatched the rod from his
hand, exclaiming:

"You sha'n't do that any more! It's wicked! Oh, the poor, pretty thing!
We have taken away its life and we can never give it back again. I feel
as if I had seen murder done. I understand Aunt Eunice now about the
poultry. Oh, it is dreadful!"

This was the girl's first knowledge of killing, and she was extreme in
her revulsion as she was in all things. But her emotion was a good thing
because it recalled her to the fact that she had something else to do.
She must be about it at once, and if the man followed or annoyed
her--why, she must trust she could escape him.

Rapidly unfolding the rod, she was conscious that the tramp was again
regarding her with that intent gaze which had nothing menacing in it,
but was rather wistful and sad. He did not resent her stopping his
sport, and, turning away from her, he picked up the fish and tossed it
back into the water. Then she went a few steps to where she had placed
the basket and drew it out from the alders.

Now his whole attitude changed. He had not suffered greatly from hunger
heretofore. The gardens and fields were too rich just then with fruits
and vegetables, and nobody missed a few potatoes from the heaps dug, nor
corn from the shocks. There were apples galore, and in some orchards
pears and even plums. The stone walls bordering the farms were hung with
wild frost-grapes, while the nut-trees offered their abundance to
whomsoever would accept. Beneath these same trees there was game to be
ensnared even by one who carried no gun, and as for poultry-yards,
nearly every householder had one. Nobody, not even a tramp, need go
hungry on that countryside, unless his scruples prevented him from
helping himself.

This particular tramp had no scruples of that sort whatever. As
Katharine picked up her heavy basket, he was upon his feet and relieved
her of the burden at once. She tried to retain her hold of the handle,
but was no match for him in s