eben holden-第3节

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I　went　asleep　after　awhile　in　spite　of　all；　right　in　the　middle　of　a　story。　The　droning　voice　of　Uncle　Eb　and　the　feel　of　his　hand　upon　my　forehead　called　me　back；　blinking；　once　or　twice；　but　not　for　long。　The　fire　was　gone　down　to　a　few　embers　when　Uncle　Eb　woke　me　and　the　grotto　was　lit　only　by　a　sprinkle　of　moonlight　from　above。

'Mos'　twelve　o'clock；'　he　whispered。　'Better　be　off。'

The　basket　was　on　his　back　and　he　was　all　ready。　I　followed　him　through　the　long　aisle　of　corn；　clinging　to　the　tall　of　his　coat。　The　golden　lantern　of　the　moon　hung　near　the　zenith　and　when　we　came　out　in　the　open　we　could　see　into　the　far　fields。　I　climbed　into　my　basket　at　the　wall　and　as　Uncle　Eb　carried　me　over　the　brook；　stopping　on　a　flat　rock　midway　to　take　a　drink；　I　could　see　the　sky　in　the　water；　and　it　seemed　as　if　a　misstep　would　have　tumbled　me　into　the　moon。

'Hear　the　crickets　holler；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　followed　the　bank　up　into　the　open　pasture。

'What　makes　'em　holler？'　I　asked。

'O；　they're　jes'　filin'　their　saws　an'　thinktin'。　Mebbe　tellin'　o'　what's　happened　'em。　Been　a　hard　day　fer　them　little　folks。　Terrible　flood　in　their　country。　Everyone　on　em　hed　t'　git　up　a　steeple　quick　'she　could　er　be　drownded。　They　hev　their　troubles　an'　they　talk　'bout　'em；　too。'

'What　do　they　file　their　saws　for？'　I　enquired。

'Well；　ye　know；'　said　he；　'where　they　live　the　timber's　thick　an'　they　hev　hard　work　clearin'　t'　mek　a　home。'

I　was　getting　too　sleepy　for　further　talk。　He　made　his　way　from　field　to　field；　stopping　sometimes　to　look　off　at　the　distant　mountains　then　at　the　sky　or　to　whack　the　dry　stalks　of　mullen　with　his　cane。　I　remember　he　let　down　some　bars　after　a　long　walk　and　stepped　into　a　smooth　roadway。　He　stood　resting　a　little　while；　his　basket　on　the　top　bar；　and　then　the　moon　that　I　had　been　watching　went　down　behind　the　broad　rim　of　his　hat　and　I　fell　into　utter　forgetfulness。　My　eyes　opened　on　a　lovely　scene　at　daylight　Uncle　Eb　had　laid　me　on　a　mossy　knoll　in　a　bit　of　timber　and　through　an　opening　right　in　front　of　us　I　could　see　a　broad　level　of　shining　water；　and　the　great　green　mountain　on　the　further　shore　seemed　to　be　up　to　its　belly　in　the　sea。

'Hello　there！'　said　Uncle　Eb；　'here　we　are　at　Lake　Champlain。'

I　could　hear　the　fire　crackling　and　smell　the　odour　of　steeping　tea。

'Ye　flopped　'round　like　a　fish　in　thet　basket；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　''Guess　ye　must　a　been　drearnin'　O'　bears。　Jumped　so　ye　scairt　me。　Didn't　know　but　I　had　a　wil'　cat　on　my　shoulders。'

Uncle　Eb　had　taken　a　fish…line　out　of　his　pocket　and　was　tying　it　to　a　rude　pole　that　he　had　cut　and　trinmed　with　his　jack…knife。

'I've　found　some　crawfish　here；'　he　said；　'an'　I'm　goin'　t'　try　fer　a　bite　on　the　p'int　O'　rocks　there。'

'Goin'　t'　git　some　fish；　Uncle　Eb？'　I　enquired。

'Wouldn't　say't　I　was；　er　wouldn't　say't　I　wasn't；'　he　answered。　'Jes　goin'　t'　try。'

Uncle　Eb　was　always　careful　not　to　commit　himself　on　a　doubtful　point。　He　had　fixed　his　hook　and　sinker　in　a　moment　and　then　we　went　out　on　a　rocky　point　nearby　and　threw　off　into　the　deep　water。　Suddenly　Uncle　Eb　gave　a　jerk　that　brought　a　groan　out　of　him　and　then　let　his　hook　go　down　again；　his　hands　trembling；　his　face　severe。

'By　mighty！　Uncle　Eb；'　he　murtered　to　himself；　'I　thought　we　hed　him　thet　time。'

He　jerked　again　presently；　and　then　I　could　see　a　tug　on　the　line　that　made　me　jump。　A　big　fish　came　thrashing　into　the　air　in　a　minute。　He　tried　to　swing　it　ashore；　but　the　pole　bent　and　the　fish　got　a　fresh　hold　of　the　water　and　took　the　end　of　the　pole　under。　Uncle　Eb　gave　it　a　lift　then　that　brought　it　ashore　and　a　good　bit　of　water　with　it。　I　remember　how　the　fish　slapped　me　with　its　wet　tail　and　sprinkled　my　face　shaking　itself　between　my　boots。　It　was　a　big　bass　and　in　a　little　while　we　had　three　of　them。　Uncle　Eb　dressed　them　and　laid　them　over　the　fire　on　a　gridiron　of　green　birch；　salting　them　as　they　cooked。　I　remember　they　went　with　a　fine　relish　and　the　last　of　our　eggs　and　bread　and　butter　went　with　them。

Our　breakfast　over；　Uncle　Eb　made　me　promise　to　stay　with　Fred　and　the　basket　while　he　went　away　to　find　a　man　who　could　row　us　across。　In　about　an　hour　I　heard　a　boat　coming　and　the　dog　and　I　went　out　on　the　point　of　rocks　where　we　saw　Uncle　Eb　and　another　man；　heading　for　us；　half　over　the　cove。　The　bow　bumped　the　rocks　beneath　us　in　a　minute。　Then　the　stranger　dropped　his　oars　and　stood　staring　at　me　and　the　dog。

'Say；　mister；'　said　he　presently；　'can't　go　no　further。　There's　a　reward　offered　fer　you　an'　thet　boy。'

Uncle　Eb　called　him　aside　and　was　talking　to　him　a　long　time。

I　never　knew　what　was　said；　but　they　came　at　last　and　took　us　into　the　boat　and　the　stranger　was　very　friendly。

When　we　had　come　near　the　landing　on　the　'York　State'　side；　I　remember　he　gave　us　our　bearmgs。

'Keep　t'　the　woods；'　he　said；　'till　you're　out　o'　harm's　way。　Don't　go　near　the　stage　road　fer　a　while。　Ye'll　find　a　store　a　little　way　up　the　mountain。　Git　yer　provisions　there　an'　about　eighty　rod　farther　ye'll　strike　the　trail。　It'll　take　ye　over　the　mountain　north　an'　t'　Paradise　Road。　Then　take　the　white　church　on　yer　right　shoulder　an'　go　straight　west'

I　would　not　have　remembered　it　so　well　but　for　the　fact　that　Uncle　Eb　wrote　it　all　down　in　his　account　book　and　that　has　helped　me　over　many　a　slippery　place　in　my　memory　of　those　events。　At　the　store　we　got　some　crackers　and　cheese；　tea　and　coffee；　dried　beef　and　herring；　a　bit　of　honey　and　a　loaf　of　bread　that　was　sliced　and　buttered　before　it　was　done　up。　We　were　off　in　the　woods　by　nine　o'clock；　according　to　Uncle　Eb's　diary；　and　I　remember　the　trail　led　us　into　thick　brush　where　I　had　to　get　out　and　walk　a　long　way。　It　was　smooth　under　foot；　however；　and　at　noon　we　came　to　a　slash　in　the　timber；　full　of　briars　that　were　all　aglow　with　big　blackberries。　We　filled　our　hats　with　them　and　Uncle　Eb　found　a　spring；　beside　which　we　built　a　fire　and　had　a　memorable　meal　that　made　me　glad　of　my　hunger。

Then　we　spread　the　oilcloth　and　lay　down　for　another　sleep。　We　could　see　the　glow　of　the　setting　sun　through　the　tree…tops　when　we　woke；　and　began　our　packing。

'We'll　hev　t'　hurry；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　'er　we'll　never　git　out　o'　the　woods　t'night　'S　'bout　six　mile　er　more　t'　Paradise　Road；　es　I　mek　it。　Come；　yer　slower　'n　a　toad　in　a　tar　barrel。'

We　hurried　off　on　the　trail　and　I　remember　Fred　looked　very　crestfallen　withtwo　big　packages　tied　to　his　collar。　He　delayed　a　bit　by　trying　to　shake　them　off；　but　Uncle　Eb　gave　him　a　sharp　word　or　two　and　then　he　walked　along　very　thoughtfully。　Uncle　Eb　was　a　little　out　of　patience　that　evening；　and　I　thought　he　bore　down　too　harshly　in　his　rebuke　of　the　old　dog。

'You　shif'less　cuss；'　he　said　to　him；　'ye'd　jes'　dew　nothin'　but　chase　squirrels　an'　let　me　break　my　back　t'　carry　yer　dinner。'

It　was　glooming　fast　in　the　thick　timber；　and　Uncle　Eb　almost　ran　with　me　while　the　way　was　plain。　The　last　ringing　note　of　the　wood　thrush　had　died　away　and　in　a　little　while　it　was　so　dark　I　could　distinguish　nothing　but　the　looming　mass　of　tree　tranks。

He　stopped　suddenly　and　strained　his　eyes　in　the　dark。　Then　he　whistled　a　sharp；　sliding　note；　and　the　sound　of　it　gave　me　some　hint　of　his　trouble。

'Git　down；　Willie；'　said　he；　'an'　tek　my　hand。　I'm　'fraid　we're　lost　here　'n　the　big　woods。'

We　groped　about　for　a　minute；　trying　to　find　the　trail。

'No　use；'　he　said　presently；　'we'll　hev　t'　stop　right　here。　Oughter　known　berter　'n　t'　come　through　s'　near　sundown。　Guess　it　was　more　'n　anybody　could　do。'

He　built　a　fire　and　began　to　lay　out　a　supper　for　us　then；　while　Fred　sat　down　by　me　to　be　relieved　of　his　bundles。　Our　supper　was　rather　dry；　for　we　had　no　water；　but　it　was　only　two　hours　since　we　left　the　spring；　so　we　were　not　suffering　yet　Uncle　Eb　took　out　of　the　fire　a　burning　brand　of　pine　and　went　away　into　the　gloomy　woods；　holding　it　above　his　head；　while　Fred　and　I　sat　by　the　fire。

''S　lucky　we　didn't　go　no　further；'　he　said；　as　he　came　in　after　a　few　…minutes。　'There's　a　big　prec'pice　over　yender。　Dunno　how　deep　't　is。　Guess　we'd　a　found　out　purty　soon。'

He　cut　some　boughs　of　hemlock；　growing　near　us；　and　spread　them　in　a　little　hollow。　That　done；　we　covered　them　with　the　oilcloth；　and　sat　down　comfortably　by　the　fire。　Uncle　Eb　had　a　serious　look　and　was　not　inclined　to　talk　or　story　telling。　Before　turning　in　he　asked　me　to　kneel　and　say　my　prayer　as　I　had　done　every　evening　at　the　feet　of　my　mother。　I　remember；　clearly；　kneeling　before　my　old　companion　and　hearing　the　echo　of　my　small　voice　there　in　the　dark　and　lonely　woods。

I　remember　too；　and　even　more　clearly；　how　he　bent　his　head　and　covered　his　eyes　in　that　brief　moment。　I　had　a　great　dread　of　darkness　and　imagined　much　evil　of　the　forest；　but　somehow　I　had　no　fear　if　he　were　near　me。　When　we　had　fixed　the　fire　and　lain　down　for　the　night　on　the　fragrant　hemlock　and　covered　ourselves　with　the　shawl；　Uncle　Eb　lay　on　one　side　of　me　and　old　Fred　on　the　other；　so　I　felt　secure　indeed。　The　night　had　many　voices　there　in　the　deep　wood。　Away　in　the　distance　I　could　hear　a　strange；　wild　cry；　and　I　asked　what　it　was　and　Uncle　Eb　whispered　back；'　's　a　loon。'　Down　the　side　of　the　mo