ose to the smith. Probably
they had but just begun to go to school. "Do you know what his name
is?" one of them, who could not long have been old enough to speak
plainly, asked his companion slily, and with a childishly important
air. Then they mentioned the name "Cain" and giggled and looked after
the blacksmith's boy who was slowly walking away. The children did not
know the meaning of the name, but only laughed at its oddity. Meanwhile
Cain's comrades, big strong fellows, had also come out into the open
square. They were putting their heads together, as if planning some
trick. Two of them came forward and looked after Cain, who was now
walking down the village street.

"There he is, running away again," said one of them, the son of the
tavern-keeper at the "Star," a big, large-limbed fellow, fifteen years
old, speaking over his shoulder to the others.

"He's always running away, the coward," called out the others. Then the
tavern-keeper's son, Adolph, shouted down the street, "Cain." He gave
the name a shrill, ugly sound.

"Leave him alone," said one of those who were further behind.

"Bah, what does he matter?" blustered Adolph, "a child of sin like
him!" And once again he called out sharply and scornfully, "Cain!"
Suddenly he saw the others fall back from something, that passed before
his eyes like a great black shadow. He had no time to see what it was;
for some one seized him by the clothes over his chest and lifted him,
heavy as he was, high in the air and shook him, so that his shirt and
waistcoat and coat tore. Then the man let him down, took him by the
collar, held him in one hand as if in a vise and hit him blow after
blow, the big tall fellow, just as one punishes little children, such
blows that his cries brought the people running, and two or three
voices called out: "Let him go, Fausch! Do you want to kill him?" Some
of the men caught the smith by the arm. Finally he let go of Adolph and
shook off the hands of those who were interfering. His dark face looked
gray. On his wrinkled forehead a swollen vein showed, as thick as a
cord.

"There," said he breathing heavily, "if any one else wants some of the
same sort, he only needs to torment the boy." Having spoken thus, he
thrust his hands into his pockets and walked away with his head thrust
forward like that of an ox that is pulling. "It is all the same to me,
half-grown or full-grown," he growled over his shoulder.

Among those who were looking aft