intended to do this again with his confidential friends, for it had
never been found out who had stolen the grapes, although they had tried
in all the three communities to find the culprits, and this had greatly
encouraged Churi and his allies. But he knew how careful the Mayor had
been this year, and he knew very well of his daily walks and that in the
afternoon his wife also took a walk in the direction of the vineyard,
and in the evening they often took the same walk together; so that the
culprits had not any day been sure of them. But on Organ-Sunday no one
would be outside--of that Churi was convinced; therefore he had
arranged everything in view of that, for although there would be an
investigation, all the many Lower Wooders and Middle Lotters would be in
that region, and the culprits would never be found out from among such a
large crowd.

After Churi had told his army of his battle plans, they dispersed in all
directions. A number of spectators had gathered around the warriors,
every child in Middle Lot, down to the two-year-olds. Ahead of all was
Kaetheli, who was always on the spot when something was to be seen or
heard. When she left the meadow, she saw Erick standing near the hedge,
where he had stood for a long time watching the tumultuous crowd.
Kaetheli ran to him. "This will be such a fight as never before," she
called to him with admiration. "Don't you want to be in it, Erick?"

"No," he answered drily.

"Why not?"

"Because they act as I do not care to act."

"Not? You are a peculiar boy, you are always alone. Do you know where
you are going Monday when Marianne goes away from here?"

"No."

"You are going to be auctioned off. My father has said so."

"What is that?" asked Erick, who now listened more attentively to
Kaetheli.

"Oh, there are a crowd of people in the room and they bid on you, and
whoever bids the lowest gets you."

"That is stupid," said Erick.

"Why is it stupid?"

"Because they would get more money if they gave me to him who offers the
most."

"No, you did not understand. You are not going to be sold, quite the
reverse; he who gets you also gets the money--do you understand now?"

"Who gives him the money?"

"Well, that is not a person, as you think," Kaetheli explained. "Do you
see, there is a money box with money in it for the people who are poor
and miserable and homeless."

Erick grew purple.

"I am not going to be auctioned," he said defiantly.

"Yes, i