220 ALONGSHORE iv 



an' shoves 'en In chokey. Wonder how they'd 

 feel, what put 'en there, if they was situated hke 

 it. They'd be glad 'nuff for to crawl away into a 

 warm cave.' The police, on the other hand, spoke 

 of other kinds of parasites, of having to disinfect 

 the cells after Beautiful Onlonhead, of visitors 

 objecting to him on the seats and In the shelters. 

 Some people went so far as to declare that it was 

 a kindness to old Onionhead to clap him In jail. 

 'Suppose he was to be taken 111 and die, sleeping 

 out like that. . . .' 



Perhaps Beautiful Onionhead was prepared to 

 take that risk. When he came back to the 

 beach, washed and clipped, he said merely with an 

 immense contempt, 'Let 'em chatter. 'Tisn't so 

 bad, just for a change like.' 



Jim summed up the situation, 'Aye !' he 

 said. 'That there's the way o'it. I s'pose us be 

 getting more civilized. But this here civilization, 

 thee's know, Is terrible cruel towards them as 

 baln't minded to fall In wi' It, or can't; an' It 

 don't follow they'm any worse'n the rest o'em 

 after the rate.' 



Therefore Beautiful Onionhead 's present sleep- 

 ing-place will not be given away, though several 

 of us know it. Snug, ingenious, and safe, it will 



