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           Soonerthebetter.Whatwegottodo’forewegoisgetthempigsslaughteredan’insalt,an’packourstuffan’go.Quickerthebetter,now."

           Noahagreed,"Ifwepitchin,wekingetreadytomorrow,an’wekingobrightthenex’day."

           UncleJohnobjected,"Can’tchillnomeatintheheatatheday.Wrongtimeayearforslaughterin’.Meat’llbesof’ifitdon’chill."

           "Well,le’sdohertonight.She’llchilltonightsome.Muchasshe’sgonna.Afterweeat,le’sgetherdone.Gotsalt?"Masaid,"Yes.Gotplentysalt.Gottwonicekegs,too."

           "Well,le’sgetherdone,then,"saidTom.Grampabegantoscrabbleabout,tryingtogetapurchasetoarise.

           "Gettin’dark,"hesaid."I’mgettin’hungry.CometimewegettoCaliforniaI’llhaveabigbunchagrapesinmyhan’allthetime,a-nibblin’offitallthetime,byGod!"Hegotup,andthemenarose.

           RuthieandWinfieldhoppedexcitedlyaboutinthedust,likecrazythings.RuthiewhisperedhoarselytoWinfield,"Killin’pigsandgoin’toCalifornia.Killin’pigsandgoin’—allthesametime."

           AndWinfieldwasreducedtomadness.Hestuckhisfingeragainsthisthroat,madeahorribleface,andwobbledabout,weaklyshrilling,"I’maol’pig.Look.I’maol’pig.Lookattheblood,Ruthie!"Andhestaggeredandsanktotheground,andwavedarmsandlegsweakly.

           ButRuthiewasolder,andsheknewthetremendousnessofthetime."Andgoin’toCalifornia,"shesaidagain.