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           Youshouldn’tofbrokeupthefambly."

           "Icouldn’,"saidMuleyGraves."Somepinjus’wouldn’letme."

           "Well,byGod,I’mhungry,"saidJoad."FoursolemnyearsIbeeneatin’rightontheminute.Mygutsisyellin’bloodymurder.Whatyougonnaeat,Muley?Howyoubeengettin’yourdinner?"

           Muleysaidashamedly,"ForawhileIetfrogsan’squirrelsan’prairiedogssometimes.Hadtodoit.ButnowIgotsomewirenoosesonthetracksinthedrystreambrush.Getrabbits,an’sometimesaprairiechicken.Skunksgetcaught,an’coons,too."Hereacheddown,pickeduphissack,andemptieditontheporch.Twocottontailsandajackrabbitfelloutandrolledoverlimply,softandfurry.

           "GodAwmighty,"saidJoad,"it’smore’nfouryearssenceI’veetfresh-killedmeat."

           Casypickeduponeofthecottontailsandhelditinhishand."Yousharin’withus,MuleyGraves?"heasked.

           Muleyfidgetedinembarrassment."Iain’tgotnochoiceinthematter."Hestoppedontheungracioussoundofhiswords."Thatain’tlikeImeanit.Thatain’t.Imean"—hestumbled—"whatImean,ifafella’sgotsomepintoeatan’anotherfella’shungry—why,thefirstfellaain’tgotnochoice.Imean,s’poseIpickupmyrabbitsan’gooffsomewheresan’eat’em.See?"

           "Isee,"saidCasy."Icanseethat.Muleyseessomepinthere,Tom.Muley’sgota-holtofsomepin,an’it’stoobigforhim,an’it’stoobigforme."

           YoungTomrubbedhishandstogether.