A LIVELIHOOD 253
a second provider and there was an end of the two "only sons I"
Neither of them wished to serve; they were too intellectually capable, too far developed mentally, too intelligent, to be turned all at once into Russian soldiers, and too nicely brought up to march from Port Arthur to Mukden with only one change of shirt. They both cleared out, and stowed themselves away till they fell separately into the hands of the military.
They came together again under the fortress walls of Mukden.
They ate and hungered sullenly round the same cook- ing pot, received punches from the same officer, and had the same longing for the same home.
Israel had a habit of talking in his sleep, and, .like a born Bessarabian, in his Yiddish mixed with a large portion of Roumanian words.
One night, lying in the barracks among the other soldiers, and sunk in sleep after a hard day, Struli began to talk sixteen to the dozen. He called out names, he quarrelled, begged pardon, made a fool of himself all in his sleep.
It woke Maxim, who overheard the homelike names and phrases, the name of his native town.
He got up, made his way between the rows of sleepers, and sat down by Israel's pallet, and listened.
Next day Maxim managed to have a large helping of porridge, more than he could eat, and he found Israel, and set it before him.
"Maltzimesk !" said the other, thanking him in Rou- manian, and a thrill of delight went through Maxim's frame. 17
