eben holden-第9节

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er。　But　they　was　so　hungry　didn't　seem　possible　they　could　live　to　git　there。

'Ye　know　squirrels　are　a　savin'　people。　In　the　day　o'　plenty　they　think　o'　the　day　o'　poverty　an'　lay　by　fer　it。　All　at　once　one　uv　'em　thought　uv　a　few　kernels　o'　corn；　he　hed　pushed　through　a　little　crack　in　the　tin　floor　one　day　a　long　time　ago。　It　happened　there　was　quite　a　hole　under　the　crack　an'　each　uv　'em　bad　stored　some　kernels　unbeknown　t'　the　other。　So　they　hed　a　good　supper　'n'　some　left　fer　a　bite　'n　the　mornin'。　'Fore　daylight　the　ship　made　her　pott　'n'　lay　to；　'side　liv　a　log　in　a　little　cove。　The　bullfrogs　jumped　on　her　main　deck　an'　begun　t'　holler　soon　as　she　hove　to：　〃all　ashore！　all　ashore！　all　ashore！〃　The　two　squirrels　woke　up　but　lay　quiet　'til　the　sun　rose。　Then　they　come　out　on　the　log　'et　looked　like　a　long　dock　an'　run　ashore　'n'　foun'　some　o'　their　own　folks　in　the　bush。　An'　when　they　bed　tol'　their　story　the　ol'　father　o'　the　tribe　got　up　'n　a　tree　an'　hollered　himself　hoarse　preachin'　'bout　how　't　paid　t'　be　savin'。

'〃An'　we　should　learn　t'　save　our　wisdom　es　well　es　our　nuts；〃　said　a　sassy　brother；　〃fer　each　needs　his　own　wisdom　fer　his　own　affairs。〃

'An　the　little　ship　went　back　'n'　forth　'cross　the　cove　as　the　win'　blew。　The　squirrels　hed　many　a　fine　ride　in　her　an'　the　frogs　were　the　ferrymen。　An'　all　'long　thet　shore　'twas　known　es　Frog　Ferry　'mong　the　squirrel　folks。'

It　was　very　dark　when　he　finished　the　tale　an'　as　we　lay　gaping　a　few　minutes　after　my　last　query　about　those　funny　people　of　the　lake　margin　I　could　hear　nothing　but　the　chirping　of　the　crickets。　I　was　feeling　a　bit　sleepy　when　I　heard　the　boards　creak　above　our　heads。　Uncle　Eli　raised　himself　and　lay　braced　upon　his　elbow　listening。　In　a　few　moments　we　heard　a　sound　as　of　someone　coming　softly　down　the　ladder　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。　It　was　so　dark　I　could　see　nothing。

'Who's　there？'　Uncle　Eb　demanded。

'Don't　p'int　thet　gun　at　me；'　somebody　whispered。　'This　is　my　home　and　I　warn　ye　t'　leave　it　er　I'll　do　ye　harm。'

Chapter　5

Here　I　shall　quote　you　again　from　the　diary　of　Uncle　Eb。　'It　was　so　dark　I　couldn't　see　a　han'　before　me。　〃Don't　p'int　yer　gun　at　me；〃　the　man　whispered。　Thought　'twas　fimny　he　could　see　me　when　I　couldn't　see　him。　Said　'twas　his　home　an'　we'd　better　leave。　Tol　him　I　was　sick　（rumatiz）　an'　couldn't　stir。　Said　he　was　sorry　an'　come　over　near　us。　Tol'　him　I　was　an'　ol'　man　goin'　west　with　a　small　boy。　Stopped　in　the　rain。　Got　sick。　Out　o'　purvisions。　'Bout　ready　t'　die。　Did'n　know　what　t'　do。　Started　t'　stike　a　match　an'　the　man　said　don't　make　no　light　cos　I　don't　want　to　hev　ye　see　my　face。　Never　let　nobody　see　my　face。　Said　he　never　went　out　'less　'twas　a　dark　night　until　folks　was　abed。　Said　we　looked　like　good　folks。　Scairt　me　a　little　cos　we　couldn't　see　a　thing。　Also　he　said　don't　be　'fraid　of　me。　Do　what　I　can　fer　ye。'

I　remember　the　man　crossed　the　creaking　floor　and　sat　down　near　us　after　he　had　parleyed　with　Uncle　Eb　awhile　in　whispers。　Young　as　I　was　I　keep　a　vivid　impression　of　that　night　and；　aided　by　the　diary　of　Uncle　Eb；　I　have　made　a　record　of　what　was　said　that　is；　in　the　main；　accurate。

'Do　you　know　where　you　are？'　he　enquired　presently；　whispering　as　he　had　done　before。

'I've　no　idee；'　said　Uncle　Eb。

'Well；　down　the　hill　is　Paradise　Valley　in　the　township　o'　Faraway；'　he　continued。　'It's　the　end　o'　Paradise　Road　an'　a　purty　country。　Been　settled　a　long　time　an'　the　farms　are　big　an'　prosperous　…　kind　uv　a　land　o'　plenty。　That　big　house　at　the　foot　o'　the　hill　is　Dave　Brower's。　He's　the　richest　man　in　the　valley。'

'How　do　you　happen　t'　be　livin'　here？　…　if　ye　don't　min'　tellin'　me；'　Uncle　Eb　asked。

'Crazy；'　said　he；　''fraid　uv　everybody　an'　everybody's　'fraid　o'　me。　Lived　a　good　long　time　in　this　way。　Winters　I　go　into　the　big　woods。　Got　a　camp　in　a　big　cave　an'　when　I'm　there　I　see　a　little　daylight。　Here　'n　the　clearin'　I'm　only　up　in　the　night…time。　Thet's　how　I've　come　to　see　so　well　in　the　dark。　It's　give　me　cat's　eyes。'

'Don't　ye　git　lonesome？'　Uncle　Eb　asked。

'Awful　…　sometimes；'　he　answered　with　a　sad　sigh；　'an'　it　seems　good　t'　talk　with　somebody　besides　myself。　I　get　enough　to　eat　generally。　There　are　deer　in　the　woods　an'　cows　in　the　fields；　ye　know；　an'　potatoes　an'　corn　an'　berries　an'　apples；　an'　all　thet　kind　o'　thing。　Then　I've　got　my　traps　in　the　woods　where　I　ketch　partridges；　an'　squirrels　an'　coons　an'　all　the　meat　I　need。　I've　got　a　place　in　the　thick　timber　t'　do　my　cookin'　…　all　I　want　t'　do　…　in　the　middle　of　the　night　Sometimes　I　come　here　an'　spend　a　day　in　the　garret　if　I'm　caught　in　a　storm　or　if　I　happen　to　stay　a　little　too　late　in　the　valley。　Once　in　a　great　while　I　meet　a　man　somewhere　in　the　open　but　he　always　gits　away　quick　as　he　can。　Guess　they　think　I'm　a　ghost　…　dunno　what　I　think　o'　them。'

Our　host　went　on　talking　as　if　he　were　glad　to　tell　the　secrets　of　his　heart　to　some　creature　of　his　own　kind。　I　have　often　wondered　at　his　frankness；　but　there　was　a　fatherly　tenderness；　I　remember　in　the　voice　of　Uncle　Eb；　and　I　judge　it　tempted　his　confidence。　Probably　the　love　of　companionship　can　never　be　so　dead　in　a　man　but　that　the　voice　of　kindness　may　call　it　back　to　life　again。

'I'll　bring　you　a　bite　t'　eat　before　morning；'　he　said；　presently；　as　he　rose　to　go。　'leet　me　feel　o'　your　han'；　mister。'

Uncle　Eb　gave　him　his　hand　and　thanked　him。

'Feels　good。　First　I've　hed　hold　of　in　a　long　time；'　he　whispered。

'What's　the　day　o'　the　month？'

'The　twenty…fifth。'

'I　must　remember。　Where　did　you　come　from？'

Uncle　Eb　told　him；　briefly；　the　story　of　our　going　west

'Guess　you'd　never　do　me　no　harm　…　would　ye？'　the　man　asked。　'Not　a　bit；'　Uncle　Eb　answered。

Then　he　bade　us　goodbye；　crossed　the　creaking　floor　and　went　away　in　the　darkness。

'Sing'lar　character！'　Uncle　Eb　muttered。

I　was　getting　drowsy　and　that　was　the　last　I　heard。　In　the　morning　we　found　a　small　pail　of　milk　sitting　near　us；　a　roasted　partridge；　two　fried　fish　and　some　boiled　potatoes。　It　was　more　than　enough　to　carry　us　through　the　day　with　a　fair　allowance　for　Fred。　Uncle　Eb　was　a　bit　better　but　very　lame　at　that　and　kept　to　his　bed　the　greater　part　of　the　day。　The　time　went　slow　with　me　I　remember。　Uncle　Eb　was　not　cheerful　and　told　me　but　one　story　and　that　had　no　life　in　it。　At　dusk　he　let　me　go　out　in　the　road　to　play　awhile　with　Fred　and　the　wagon；　but　came　to　the　door　and　called　us　in　shortly。　I　went　to　bed　in　a　rather　unhappy　flame　of　mind。　The　dog　roused　me　by　barking　in　the　middle　of　the　right　and　I　heard　again　the　familiar　whisper　of　the　stranger。

'Sh…h…h！　be　still；　dog；'　he　whispered；　but　I　was　up　to　my　ears　in　sleep　and　went　under　shortly；　so　I　have　no　knowledge　of　what　passed　that　night。　Uncle　Eb　tells　in　his　diary　that　he　had　a　talk　with　him　lasting　more　than　an　hour；　but　goes　no　further　and　never　seemed　willing　to　talk　much　about　that　interview　or　others　that　followed　it。　

I　only　know　the　man　had　brought　more　milk　and　fish　and　fowl　for　us。　We　stayed　another　day　in　the　old　house；　that　went　like　the　last；　and　the　night　man　came　again　to　see　Uncle　Eb。　The　next　morning　my　companion　was　able　to　walk　more　freely；　but　Fred　and　I　had　to　stop　and　wait　for　him　very　often　going　down　the　big　hill。　I　was　mighty　glad　when　we　were　leaving　the　musty　old　house　for　good　and　had　the　dog　hitched　with　all　our　traps　in　the　wagon。　It　was　a　bright　morning　and　the　sunlight　glimmered　on　the　dew　in　the　broad　valley。　The　men　were　just　coming　from　breakfast　when　we　turned　in　at　David　Brower's。　A　barefooted　little　girl　a　bit　older　than　I；　with　red　cheeks　and　blue　eyes　and　long　curly　hair；　that　shone　like　gold　in　the　sunlight；　came　running　out　to　meet　us　and　led　me　up　to　the　doorstep；　highly　amused　at　the　sight　of　Fred　and　the　wagon。　I　regarded　her　with　curiosity　and　suspicion　at　first；　while　Uncle　Eb　was　talking　with　the　men。　I　shall　never　forget　that　moment　when　David　Brower　came　and　lifted　me　by　the　shoulders；　high　above　his　head；　and　shook　me　as　if　to　test　my　mettle。　He　led　me　into　the　house　then　where　his　wife　was　working。

'What　do　you　think　of　this　small　bit　of　a　boy？'　he　asked。

She　had　already　knelt　on　the　floor　and　put　her　arms　about　my　neck　and　kissed　me。

'Am'　no　home；'　said　he。　'Come　all　the　way　from　Vermont　with　an　ol'　man。　They're　worn　out　both　uv　'em。　Guess　we'd　better　take　'em　in　awhile。'

'O　yes；　mother　…　please；　mother；'　put　in　the　little　girl　who　was　holding　my　hand。　'He　can　sleep　with　me；　mother。　Please　let　him　stay。'

She　knelt　beside　me　and　put　her　arms　around　my　little　shoulders　and　drew　me　to　her　breast　and　spoke　to　me　very　tenderly。

'Please　let　him　stay；'　the　girl　pleaded　again。

'David；'　said　the　woman；　'I　couldn't　turn　the　little　thing　away。　Won't　ye　hand　me　those　cookies。'

And　so　our　life　began　in　Paradise　Valley。　Ten　minutes　later　I　was　playing　my　first　game　of　'I　spy'　with　little　Hope　Brower；　among　the　fragrant　stooks　of　wheat　in　the　field　back　of　the　garden。

Chapter　6

The　lone　pine　stood　in　Brower's　pasture；　just　clear　of　the　woods。　When　the　sun　rose；　one　could　see　its　taper　shadow　stretching　away　to　the　foot　of　Woody　Ledge；　and　at　sunset　it　lay　like　a　fallen　mast　athwart　the　cow…paths；　its　long　top