the major-第2节

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wer　for　the　grist　mill　standing　near。　　At　the　farther　end　of　the　pond　a　cedar　bush　interposed　a　barrier　to　the　sight　and　suggested　mysterious　things　beyond。　　Back　of　the　cedar　barrier　a　woods　of　great　trees；　spruce；　balsam；　with　tall　elms　and　maples　on　the　higher　ground　beyond；　offered　deeper　mysteries　and　delights　unutterable。　　They　knew　well　the　cedar　swamp　and　the　woods　beyond。　Partridges　drummed　there；　rabbits　darted　along　their　beaten　runways；　and　Joe　had　seen　a　woodcock；　that　shyest　of　all　shy　birds；　disappear　in　glancing；　shadowy　flight；　a　ghostly；　silent　denizen　of　the　ghostly；　silent　spaces　of　the　forest。　　Even　as　they　gazed　upon　that　inviting　line　of　woods；　the　boys　could　see　and　hear　the　bluejays　flash　in　swift　flight　from　tree　to　tree　and　scream　their　joy　of　rage　and　love。　　From　the　farther　side　of　the　pond　two　boys　put　out　in　a　flat…bottomed　boat。

〃There's　big　Ben　and　Mop；〃　cried　Larry　eagerly。　　〃Hello；　Ben；〃　he　called　across　the　pond。　　〃Goin'　to　school？〃

〃Yap；〃　cried　Mop；　so　denominated　from　the　quantity　and　cut　of　the　hair　that　crowned　his　head。　　Ben　was　at　the　oars　which　creaked　and　thumped　between　the　pins；　but　were　steadily　driving　the　snub…nosed　craft　on　its　toilsome　way　past　the　boys。

〃Hello；　Ben；〃　cried　Larry。　　〃Take　us　in　too。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Ben；　heading　the　boat　for　the　bank。　　〃Let　me　take　an　oar；　Ben；〃　said　Larry；　whose　experience　upon　the　world　of　waters　was　not　any　too　wide。

〃Here；　where　you　goin'；〃　cried　Mop；　as　the　boat　slowly　but　surely　pointed　toward　the　cedars。　　〃You　stop　pulling；　Ben。　　Now；　Larry；　pull　around　again。　　There　now；　she's　right。　　Pull；　Ben。〃　　But　Ben　sat　rigid　with　his　eyes　intent　upon　the　cedars。

〃What's　the　matter；　Ben？〃　said　Larry。　　Still　Ben　sat　with　fixed　gaze。

〃By　gum；　he's　in；　boys；〃　said　Ben　in　a　low　voice。　　〃I　thought　he　had　his　nest　in　one　of　them　stubs。〃

〃What　is　itin　what　stub？〃　inquired　Larry；　his　voice　shrill　with　excitement。

〃That　big　middle　stub；　there；〃　said　Ben。　　〃It's　a　woodpecker。　　Say；　let's　pull　down　and　see　it。〃　　Under　Mop's　direction　the　old　scow　gradually　made　its　way　toward　the　big　stub。

They　explored　the　stub；　finding　in　it　a　hole　and　in　the　hole　a　nest；　the　mother　and　father　woodpeckers　meanwhile　flying　in　wild　agitation　from　stub　to　stub　and　protesting　with　shrill　cries　against　the　intruders。　　Then　they　each　must　climb　up　and　feel　the　eggs　lying　soft　and　snug　in　their　comfy　cavity。　　After　that　they　all　must　discuss　the　probable　time　of　hatching；　the　likelihood　of　there　being　other　nests　in　other　stubs　which　they　proceeded　to　visit。　　So　the　eager　moments　gaily　passed　into　minutes　all　unheeded；　till　inevitable　recollection　dragged　them　back　from　the　world　of　adventure　and　romance　to　that　of　stern　duty　and　dull　toil。

〃Say；　boys；　we'll　be　late；〃　cried　Larry；　in　sudden　panic；　seizing　his　oar。　　〃Come　on；　Ben；　let's　go。〃

〃I　guess　it's　pretty　late　now；〃　replied　Ben；　slowly　taking　up　his　oar。

〃Dat　bell；　I　hear　him　long　tam；〃　said　Joe　placidly。　　〃Oh；　Joe！〃　cried　Larry　in　distress。　　〃Why　didn't　you　tell　us？〃

Joe　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　He　was　his　own　master　and　superbly　indifferent　to　the　flight　of　time。　　With　him　attendance　at　school　was　a　thing　of　more　or　less　incidental　obligation。

〃We'll　catch　it　all　right；〃　said　Mop　with　dark　foreboding。　　〃He　was　awful　mad　last　time　and　said　he'd　lick　any　one　who　came　late　again　and　keep　him　in　for　noon　too。〃

The　prospect　was　sufficiently　gloomy。

〃Aw；　let's　hurry　up　anyway；〃　cried　Larry；　who　during　his　school　career　had　achieved　a　perfect　record　for　prompt　and　punctual　attendance。

In　ever　deepening　dejection　the　discussion　proceeded　until　at　length　Mop　came　forward　with　a　daring　suggestion。

〃Say；　boys；　let's　wait　until　noon。　　He　won't　notice　anything。　　We　can　easily　fool　him。〃

This　brought　no　comfort　to　Larry；　however；　whose　previous　virtues　would　only　render　this　lapse　the　more　conspicuous。　　A　suggestion　of　Joe's　turned　the　scale。

〃Dat　woodchuck；〃　he　said；　〃he's　got　one　hole　on　de　hill　by　dere。　He's　big　feller。　　We　dron　heem　out。〃

〃Come　on；　let's；〃　cried　Mop。　　〃It　will　be　awful　fun　to　drown　the　beggar　out。〃

〃Guess　we　can't　do　much　this　morning；　anyway；〃　said　Ben；　philosophically　making　the　best　of　a　bad　job。　　〃Let's　go；　Larry。〃　And　much　against　his　will；　but　seeing　no　way　out　of　the　dilemma；　Larry　agreed。

They　explored　the　woodchuck　hole；　failing　to　drown　out　that　cunning　subterranean　architect　who　apparently　had　provided　lines　of　retreat　for　just　such　emergencies　as　confronted　him　now。　　Wearied　of　the　woodchuck；　they　ranged　the　bush　seeking　and　finding　the　nests　of　bluejays　and　of　woodpeckers；　and　in　a　gravel　pit　those　of　the　sand　martens。　　Joe　led　them　to　the　haunts　of　the　woodcock；　but　that　shy　bird　they　failed　to　glimpse。　　Long　before　the　noon　hour　they　felt　the　need　of　sustenance　and　found　that　Larry's　lunch　divided　among　the　four　went　but　a　small　way　in　satisfying　their　pangs　of　hunger。　The　other　three；　carefree　and　unconcerned　for　what　the　future　might　hold；　roamed　the　woods　during　the　afternoon；　but　to　Larry　what　in　other　circumstances　would　have　been　a　day　of　unalloyed　joy；　brought　him　only　a　present　misery　and　a　dread　for　the　future。　　The　question　of　school　for　the　afternoon　was　only　mentioned　to　be　dismissed。　They　were　too　dirty　and　muddy　to　venture　into　the　presence　of　the　master。　　Consequently　the　obvious　course　was　to　wait　until　four　o'clock　when　joining　the　other　children　they　might　slip　home　unnoticed。

The　afternoon　soon　began　to　lag。　　The　woods　had　lost　their　first　glamour。　　Their　games　grew　to　be　burdensome。　　They　were　weary　and　hungry；　and　becoming　correspondingly　brittle　in　temper。　　Already　Nemesis　was　on　their　trail。　　Sick　at　heart　and　weighted　with　forebodings；　Larry　listened　to　the　plans　of　the　other　boys　by　which　they　expected　to　elude　the　consequences　of　their　truancy。　　In　the　discussion　of　their　plans　Larry　took　no　part。　　They　offered　him　no　hope。　　He　knew　that　if　he　were　prepared　to　lie；　as　they　had　cheerfully　decided；　his　simple　word　would　carry　him　through　at　home。　　But　there　the　difficulty　arose。　　Was　he　willing　to　lie？　　He　had　never　lied　to　his　mother　in　all　his　life。　　He　visualised　her　face　as　she　listened　to　him　recounting　his　falsified　tale　of　the　day's　doings　and　unconsciously　he　groaned　aloud。

〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　Larry？〃　inquired　Mop；　noticing　his　pale　face。

〃Oh；　nothing；　it's　getting　a　little　cold；　I　guess。〃

〃Cold！〃　laughed　Mop。　　〃I　guess　you're　getting　scared　all　right。〃

To　this　Larry　made　no　reply。　　He　was　too　miserable；　too　tired　to　explain　his　state　of　mind。　　He　was　doubtful　whether　he　could　explain　to　Mop　or　to　Joe　his　unwillingness　to　lie　to　his　mother。

〃It　don't　take　much　to　scare　you　anyway；〃　said　Mop　with　an　ugly　grin。

The　situation　was　not　without　its　anxieties　to　Mop；　for　while　he　felt　fairly　confident　as　to　his　ability　to　meet　successfully　his　mother's　cross　examination；　there　was　always　a　possibility　of　his　father's　taking　a　hand；　and　that　filled　him　with　a　real　dismay。　For　Mr。　Sam　Cheatley；　the　village　butcher；　was　a　man　of　violent　temper；　hasty　in　his　judgments　and　merciless　in　his　punishment。　There　was　a　possibility　of　unhappy　consequences　for　Mop　in　spite　of　his　practiced　ability　in　deception。　　Hence　his　nerves　were　set　a…jangling；　and　his　temper；　never　very　certain；　was　rather　on　edge。　The　pale　face　of　the　little　boy　annoyed　him；　and　the　little　whimsical　smile　which　never　quite　left　his　face　confronted　him　like　an　insult。

〃You're　scared；〃　reiterated　Mop　with　increasing　contempt；　〃and　you　know　you're　scared。　　You　ain't　got　any　spunk　anyway。　　You　ain't　got　the　spunk　of　a　louse。〃　　With　a　quick　grip　he　caught　the　boy　by　the　collar　（he　was　almost　twice　Larry's　size）；　and　with　a　jerk　landed　him　on　his　back　in　a　brush　heap。　　The　fall　brought　Larry　no　physical　hurt；　but　the　laughter　of　Joe　and　especially　of　big　Ben；　who　in　his　eyes　was　something　of　a　hero；　wounded　and　humiliated　him。　　The　little　smile；　however；　did　not　leave　his　face　and　he　picked　himself　up　and　settled　his　coat　about　his　collar。

〃You　ain't　no　good　anyway；〃　continued　Mop；　with　the　native　instinct　of　the　bully　to　worry　his　victim。　　〃You　can't　play　nothin'　and　you　can't　lick　nobody　in　the　whole　school。〃

Both　of　these　charges　Larry　felt　were　true。　　He　was　not　fond　of　games　and　never　had　he　experienced　a　desire　to　win　fame　as　a　fighter。

〃Aw；　let　him　alone；　can't　you；　Mop？〃　said　big　Ben。　　〃He　ain't　hurtin'　you　none。〃

〃Hurtin'　me；〃　cried　Mop；　who　for　some　unaccountable　reason　had　worked　himself　into　a　rage。　　〃He　couldn't　hurt　me　if　he　tried。　　I　could　lick　him　on　my　knees　with　one　hand　behind　my　back。　　I　believe　Joe　there　could　lick　him　with　one　hand　tied　behind　his　back。〃

〃I　bet　he　can't；〃　said　Ben；　measuring　Larry　with　his　eye　and　desiring　to　defend　him　from　this　degrading　accusation。　　〃I　bet　he'd　put　up　a　pretty　fine　scrap；〃　continued　Ben；　〃if　he　had　to。〃　Larry's　heart　warmed　to　his　champion。

〃Yes；　if　he　had　to；〃　replied　Mop　with　a　sneer。　　〃But　he　would　never　have　to。　　He　wouldn't　fight　a　flea。　　Joe　can　lick　him　with　one　hand；　can't　you；　Joe？〃

〃I　donno。　　I　don'　want　fight　me；〃　said　Joe。

〃No；　I　know　you　don't　want　to；　but　you　could；　couldn't　you？〃　persisted　Mop。　　Joe　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Ha；　I