drink this , and then eat a little ; you are at home now , and Mother Bhaer will take good care of you . '' He only looked up at her with eyes full of gratitude , as he drank the wine she held to his lips , and then began slowly to eat the food she brought him . Each mouthful seemed to put heart into him , and presently he began to talk as if anxious to have her know all about him . `` Where have you been , Dan ? '' she asked , beginning to get out some bandages . `` I ran off more 'n a month ago . Page was good enough , but too strict . I did n't like it , so I cut away down the river with a man who was going in his boat . That 's why they could n't tell where I 'd gone . When I left the man , I worked for a couple of weeks with a farmer , but I thrashed his boy , and then the old man thrashed me , and I ran off again and walked here . '' `` All the way ? '' `` Yes , the man did n't pay me , and I would n't ask for it . Took it out in beating the boy , '' and Dan laughed , yet looked ashamed , as he glanced at his ragged clothes and dirty hands . `` How did you live ? It was a long , long tramp for a boy like you . '' `` Oh , I got on well enough , till I hurt my foot . Folks gave me things to eat , and I slept in barns and tramped by day . I got lost trying to make a short cut , or I 'd have been here sooner . '' `` But if you did not mean to come in and stay with us , what were you going to do ? '' `` I thought I 'd like to see Teddy again , and you ; and then I was going back to my old work in the city , only I was so tired I went to sleep on the hay .
I 'd have been XXXXX in the morning , if you had n't found me . ''
Took ask began cut gave gone ran tell thought thrashed