Thealarm-clockwentoff, , heawokeinstantly, likeacat, andheawokeeagerly, , , andbeforetheclockhadceaseditsclatteringhewasheadandearsinthewashbasinandthrillingtothecoldbiteofthewater.

, , , -daywitnessedthebeginningofthenewbattle, , hispitiful, , readingsnatcheshereandthere, hisfavoriteportions."ThePot" hehonoredwithreadingaloud, ashedid "Adventure." "Joy," hislatest-born, completedthedaybeforeandtossedintothecornerforlackofstamps, wonhiskeenestapprobation.

"Ican'tunderstand," hemurmured."Ormaybeit'stheeditorswhocan''—nearlyeverything, anyway."

Afterbreakfastheputthetype-writerinitscaseandcarrieditdownintoOakland.

"Ioweamonthonit," hetoldtheclerkinthestore."ButyoutellthemanagerI'mgoingtoworkandthatI'llbeininamonthorsoandstraightenup."

HecrossedontheferrytoSanFranciscoandmadehiswaytoanemploymentoffice."Anykindofwork, notrade," hetoldtheagent; andwasinterruptedbyanew-comer, dressedratherfoppishly, .

"Nothin' doin' eh?" saidtheother."Well, Igottogetsomebodyto-day."

HeturnedandstaredatMartin, andMartin, staringback, notedthepuffedanddiscoloredface, handsomeandweak, andknewthathehadbeenmakinganightofit.

"Lookin' forajob?" theotherqueried."Whatcanyoudo?"

"Hardlabor, sailorizing, runatype-writer, noshorthand, cansitonahorse, willingtodoanythingandtackleanything," wastheanswer.

Theothernodded.

"'sDawson, JoeDawson, an' I'mtryin' toscareupalaundryman."

"Toomuchforme." , andheadded: "." JoeDawsonthoughtvisiblyforamoment.

"Lookhere, let'sgettogetheran' 'tolisten?"

Martinnodded.