eben holden-第2章
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re； and our breakfast of boiled eggs and bread and butter lay on a paper beside it。 I remember well the scene of our little camp that morning。 We had come to a strange country； and there was no road in sight。 A wooded hill lay back of us； and； just before； ran a noisy little brook； winding between smooth banks； through a long pasture into a dense wood。 Behind a wall on the opposite shore a great field of rustling corn filled a broad valley and stood higher than a man's head。
While I went to wash my face in the clear water Uncle Eb was husking some ears of corn that he took out of his pocket； and had them roasting over the fire in a moment。 We ate heartily； giving Fred two big slices of bread and butter； packing up with enough remaining for another day。 Breakfast over we doused the fire and Uncle Eb put on his basket He made after a squirrel； presently； with old Fred； and brought him down out of a tree by hurling stones at him and then the faithful follower of our camp got a bit of meat for his breakfast。 We climbed the wall； as he ate； and buried ourselves in the deep corn。 The fragrant； silky tassels brushed my face and the corn hissed at our intrusion； crossing its green sabers in our path。 Far in the field my companion heaped a little of the soft earth for a pillow； spread the oil cloth between rows and； as we lay down； drew the big shawl over us。 Uncle Eb was tired after the toil of that night and went asleep almost as soon as he was down。 Before I dropped off Fred came and licked my face and stepped over me； his tail wagging for leave； and curled upon the shawl at my feet。 I could see no sky in that gloomy green aisle of corn。 This going to bed in the morning seemed a foolish business to me that day and I lay a long time looking up at the rustling canopy overhead。 I remember listening to the waves that came whispering out of the further field； nearer and nearer； until they swept over us with a roaring swash of leaves； like that of water flooding among rocks； as I have heard it often。 A twinge of homesick ness came to me and the snoring of Uncle Eb gave me no comfort。 I remember covering my head and crying softly as I thought of those who had gone away and whom I was to meet in a far country； called Heaven； whither we were going。 I forgot my sorrow； finally； in sleep。 When I awoke it had grown dusk under the corn。 I felt for Uncle Eb and he was gone。 Then I called to him。
'Hush； boy！ lie low；' he whispered； bending over me； a sharp look in his eye。' 'Fraid they're after us。'
He sat kneeling beside me； holding Fred by the collar and listening。 I could hear voices； the rustle of the corn and the tramp of feet near by。 It was thundering in the distance … that heavy； shaking thunder that seems to take hold of the earth； and there were sounds in the corn like the drawing of sabers and the rush of many feet。 The noisy thunder clouds came nearer and the voices that had made us tremble were no longer heard。 Uncle Eb began to fasten the oil blanket to the stalks of corn for a shelter。 The rain came roaring over us。 The sound of it was like that of a host of cavalry coming at a gallop。 We lay bracing the stalks； the blanket tied above us and were quite dry for a time。 The rain rattled in the sounding sheaves and then came flooding down the steep gutters。 Above us beam and rafter creaked； swaying； and showing glimpses of the dark sky。 The rain passed … we could hear the last battalion leaving the field … and then the tumult ended as suddenly as it began。 The corn trembled a few moments and hushed to a faint whisper。 Then we could hear only the drip of raindrops leaking through the green roof。 It was dark under the corn。
Chapter 2
We heard no more of the voices。 Uncle Eb had brought an armful of wood； and some water in the teapot； while I was sleeping。 As soon as the rain had passed he stood listening awhile and shortly opened his knife and made a little clearing in the corn by cutting a few hills。
'We've got to do it；' he said； 'er we can't take any comfort； an' the man tol' me I could have all the corn I wanted。'
'Did you see him； Uncle Eb？' I remember asking。
'Yes；' he answered； whittling in the dark。 'I saw him when I went out for the water an' it was he tol' me they were after us。'
He took a look at the sky after a while； and； remarking that he guessed they couldn't see his smoke now； began to kindle the fire。 As it burned up he stuck two crotches and hung his teapot on a stick' that lay in them； so it took the heat of the flame； as I had seen him do in the morning。 Our grotto； in the corn； was shortly as cheerful as any room in a palace； and our fire sent its light into the long aisles that opened opposite； and nobody could see the warm glow of it but ourselves。
'We'll hev our supper；' said Uncle Eb； as he opened a paper and spread out the eggs and bread and butter and crackers。 'We'll jest hev our supper an' by 'n by when everyone's abed we'll make tracks in the dirt； I can'tell ye。'
Our supper over； Uncle Eb let me look at his tobacco…box … a shiny thing of German silver that always seemed to snap out a quick farewell to me before it dove into his pocket。 He was very cheerful and communicative； and joked a good deal as we lay there waiting in the firelight。 I got some further acquaintance with the swift； learning among other things that it had no appetite for the pure in heart。
'Why not？' I enquired。
'Well；' said Uncle Eb； 'it's like this： the meaner the boy； the sweeter the meat。'
He sang an old song as he sat by the fire； with a whistled interlude between lines； and the swing of it； even now； carries me back to that far day in the fields。 I lay with my head in his lap while he was singing。
Years after； when I could have carried him on my back' he wrote down for me the words of the old song。 Here they are； about as he sang them； although there are evidences of repair； in certain lines； to supply the loss of phrases that had dropped out of his memory：
I was goin' to Salem one bright summer day； I met a young maiden a goin' my way； O； my fallow； faddeling fallow； faddel away。
An' many a time I had seen her before； But I never dare tell 'er the love thet I bore。 O； my fallow； etc。
'Oh； where are you goin' my purty fair maid？' 'O； sir； I am goin' t' Salem；' she said。 O； my fallow； etc。
'O； why are ye goin' so far in a day？ Fer warm is the weather and long is the way。' O； my fallow； etc。
'O； sir I've forgorten； I hev； I declare； But it's nothin' to eat an' its nothin' to wear。' O； my fallow； etc。
'Oho！ then I hev it； ye purty young miss！ I'll bet it is only three words an' a kiss。' O； my fallow； etc。
'Young woman； young woman； O how will it dew If I go see yer lover 'n bring 'em t' you？' O； my fallow； etc。
''S a very long journey；' says she； 'I am told； An' before ye got back； they would surely be cold。' O； my fallow； etc。
'I hev 'em right with me； I vum an' I vow； An' if you don't object I'll deliver 'em now。' O； my fallow； etc。
She laid her fair head all on to my breast； An' ye wouldn't know more if I tol' ye the rest O； my fallow； etc。
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
