И проиграли бой

           "Well,who’sstoppin’you?"Obviouslyhewaspleased.

           "Yougotanyfolkshere?"Jimasked."Folks?No."

           Jimsaid,"Well,ifyou’reallalone,whydon’tyougetintosomecharityracketandmakethecountytakecareofyou?"

           Theoldman’stonewaschilledwithcontempt."I’matop-faller.Listen,punk,ifyouneverbeeninthewoods,thatdon’tmeannothingtoyou.Damnfewtop-fallersevergettobemyage.I’vehadpunkslikeyoudamnneardieofheartfailurejustwatchin’mework;andhereI’mclimbin’alousyappletree.Metakecharity!Idoneworkinmylifethattookguts.Ibeenninetyfootupapoleandhadthebuttsplitandsnapmysafety-belt.Iworkedwithguysthatgotswattedtopulpwithalimb.Metakecharity!They’dsay,’Dan,comegetyoursoup,’andI’dsopmybreadinmysoupandsuckthesoupoutofit.ByChrist,I’djumpoutofanappletreeandbreakmyneckbeforeI’dtakecharity.I’matop-faller."

           Theytrudgedalongbetweenthetrees.Jimtookoffhishatandcarrieditinhishand."Youdidn’tgetanythingoutofit,"hesaid."Theyjustkickedyououtwhenyougottooold."

           Dan’sbighandfoundJim’sarmjustabovetheelbow,andcrushedituntilithurt."IgotthingsoutofitwhileIwasatit,"hesaid."I’dgoupapole,andI’dknowthatthebossandtheownerofthetimberandthepresidentofthecompanydidn’thavethegutstodowhatIwasdoing.Itwasme.I’dlookdownonever’thingfromupthere.Andever’thinglookedsmall,andthemenwerelittle,butIwasupthere.Iwasmyownsize.Igotthingsoutofit,allright."

           "Theytookalltheprofitsfromyourwork,"Jimsaid."Theygotrich,an’whenyoucouldn’tgoupanymore,theykickedyouout."