ad been sober. Mother could not run very fast, so I got
clear of the whip for that time at least. I got a good distance from the
house and then I sat down to think. I knew if I went home a whipping was
waiting for me, and that I could do without.

There was a boy just a little older than myself, Mike ----,[1] that was
"on the bum," as we used to say. The boys would give him some of the
lunch they had brought to school, and I thought I would join forces with
and be his pal. I saw Mike and told him all about the licking, and Mike
said, "Don't go home; you are a fool if you do." We went around, and I
was getting hungry, when we thought of a plan by which we could get
something to eat. Mother ran a book in a grocery store, and Mike said,
"Go to the store and get a few things, and say you don't have the book
but will bring it when you come again." I went to the store and got a
ham, a pound of butter, two loaves of bread and one box of sardines.

[Footnote 1: Where proper names are left blank they refer to real
persons or places.]

Some people will ask how I can remember so many years back. I remember
my first night away from home as though it was yesterday, and I'll never
forget it as long as I live. After I got the things the grocer said,
"Where is the book?" I told him mother had mislaid it, and he said,
"Bring it the next time." We built a fire and cooked the ham and had
lots to eat.

Up to this time it had all been smooth sailing; it was warm and we had a
good time in general. We had a swim with some other boys, and after
telling them not to say that they saw me, we left them. I asked Mike
where we were going to sleep, and he said, "I'll show you when it's
time."

After a while Mike said, "I guess we had better go to bed." Off we
started across the lots until we came to a big haystack, and Mike
stooped down and began to pull hay out of the stack and work his way
inside. Remember I was green at the business; I had never been away from
home before; and Mike, though only a little older, was used to this kind
of life. Well, I pulled out hay enough, as I thought, and crawled in,
but there was no sleep for me. I kept thinking and thinking. I would
call Mike and ask him if he was asleep, and he would say, "Oh, shut up
and let a fellow sleep!"

I am no coward, never was, but I was scared that night for fair. About
midnight I must have dozed off to sleep when something seemed to be
pushing at my feet. I was wide awake now,