up.'

'Thank you, sir,' said the man, and turned back to his friends.

By this time Hunter was within a few yards of one of the other two
men, who also came to speak to him. This man felt there was no hope
of getting a job; still, there was no harm in asking. Besides, he was
getting desperate. It was over a month now since he had finished up
for his last employer. It had been a very slow summer altogether.
Sometimes a fortnight for one firm; then perhaps a week doing nothing;
then three weeks or a month for another firm, then out again, and so
on. And now it was November. Last winter they had got into debt;
that was nothing unusual, but owing to the bad summer they had not
been able, as in other years, to pay off the debts accumulated in
winter. It was doubtful, too, whether they would be able to get
credit again this winter. In fact this morning when his wife sent
their little girl to the grocer's for some butter the latter had
refused to let the child have it without the money. So although he
felt it to be useless he accosted Hunter.

This time Hunter stopped: he was winded by his climb up the hill.

`Good afternoon. sir.'
Hunter did not return the salutation; he had not the breath to spare,
but the man was not hurt; he was used to being treated like that.

`Any chance of a job, sir?'

Hunter did not reply at once. He was short of breath and he was
thinking of a plan that was ever recurring to his mind, and which he