eben holden-第4章

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　have　presented　an　evil　aspect；　for　our　clothes　were　torn　and　we　were　both　limping　with　fatigue。　The　woman　had　a　kindly　face　and；　after　looking　at　us　a　moment；　came　and　stooped　before　me　and　held　my　small　face　in　her　hands　turning　it　so　she　could　look　into　my　eyes。

'You　poor　little　critter；'　said　she；　'where　you　goin'？'

Uncle　Eb　told　her　something　about　my　father　and　mother　being　dead　and　our　going　west　Then　she　hugged　and　kissed　me　and　made　me　very　miserable；　I　remember；　wetting　my　face　with　her　tears；　that　were　quite　beyond　my　comprehension。

'Jethro；'　said　she；　as　the　men　came　into　the　yard；　'I　want　ye　t'　look　at　this　boy。　Did　ye　ever　see　such　a　cunnin'　little　critter？　Jes'　look　at　them　bright　eyes！'　and　then　she　held　me　to　her　breast　and　nearly　smothered　me　and　began　to　hum　a　bit　of　an　old　song。

'Yer　full　o'　mother　love；'　said　her　husband；　as　he　sat　down　on　the　grass　a　moment　'Lost　her　only　baby；　an'　the　good　Lord　has　sent　no　other。　I　swan；　he　has　got　putty　eyes。　Jes'　as　blue　as　a　May　flower。　Ain't　ye　hungry？　Come　right　in；　both　o'　ye；　an'　set　down　t'　the　table　with　us。'

They　made　room　for　us　and　we　sat　down　between　the　bare　elbows　of　the　hired　men。　I　remember　my　eyes　came　only　to　the　top　of　the　table。　So　the　good　woman　brought　the　family　Bible　and　sitting　on　that　firm　foundation　I　ate　my　dinner　of　salt　pork　and　potatoes　and　milk　gravy　a　diet　as　grateful　as　it　was　familiar　to　my　taste。

'Orphan；　eh？'　said　the　man　of　the　house；　looking　down　at　me。

'Orphan；'　Uncle　Eb　answered；　nodding　his　head。

'God…fearin'　folks？'

'Best　in　the　world；'　said　Uncle　Eb。

Want　t'　bind　'im　out？'　the　man　asked。

'Couldn't　spare　'im；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　decisively。

'Where　ye　goin'？'

Uncle　Eb　hesitated；　groping　for　an　answer；　I　suppose；　that　would　do　no　violence　to　our　mutual　understanding。

'Goin'　t'　heaven；'　I　ventured　to　say　presently　…　an　answer　that　gave　rise　to　conflicting　emotions　at　the　table。

'That's　right；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　turning　to　me　and　patting　my　head。　'We're　on　the　road　t'　heaven；　I　hope；　an'　ye'll　see　it　someday；　sartin　sure；　if　ye　keep　in　the　straight　road　and　be　a　good　boy。'

After　dinner　the　good　woman　took　off　my　clothes　and　put　me　in　bed　while　she　mended　them。　I　went　asleep　then　and　did　not　awake　for　a　long　time。　When　I　got　up　at　last　she　brought　a　big　basin　of　water　and　washed　me　with　such　motherly　tenderness　in　voice　and　manner　that　I　have　never　forgotten　it。　Uncle　Eb　lay　sleeping　on　the　lounge　and　when　she　had　finished　dressing　me；　Fred　and　I　went　out　to　play　in　the　garden。　It　was　supper　time　in　a　little　while　and　then；　again；　the　woman　winded　the　shell　and　the　men　came　up　from　the　field。　We　sat　down　to　eat　with　them；　as　we　had　done　at　noon；　and　Uncle　Eb　consented　to　spend　the　night　after　some　urging。　He　helped　them　with　the　milking；　and　as　I　stood　beside　him　shot　a　jet　of　the　warm　white　flood　into　my　mouth；　that　tickled　it　so　I　ran　away　laughing。　The　milking　done；　I　sat　on　Uncle　Eb's　knee　in　the　door…yard　with　all　the　rest　of　that　household；　hearing　many　tales　of　the　wilderness；　and　of　robbery　and　murder　on　Paradise　Road。　I　got　the　impression　that　it　was　a　country　of　unexampled　wickedness　and　ferocity　in　men　and　animals。　One　man　told　about　the　ghost　of　Burnt　Bridge；　how　the　bridge　had　burnt　one　afternoon　and　how　a　certain　traveller　in　the　dark　of　the　night　driving　down　the　hill　above　it；　fell　to　his　death　at　the　brink　of　the　culvert。

'An'　every　night　since　then；'　said　the　man；　very　positively；　ye　can　hear　him　drivin'　down　thet　bill　…　jes'　as　plain　as　ye　can　hear　me　talkin'　…the　rattle　o'　the　wheels　an'　all。　It　stops　sudden　an'　then　ye　can　hear　'im　hit　the　rocks　way　down　there　at　the　bottom　O'　the　gulley　an'　groan　an'　groan。　An'　folks　say　it's　a　curse　on　the　town　for　leavin'　thet　hole　open。'

'What's　a　ghost；　Uncle　Eb？'　I　whispered。

'Somethin'　like　a　swift；'　he　answered；　'but　not　so　powerful。　We　heard　a　panther　las'　night；'　he　added；　turning　to　our　host。　'Hollered　like　sin　when　he　see　the　fire。'

'Scairt！'　said　the　man　o'　the　house　gaping。　'That's　what　ailed　him。　I've　lived　twenty　year　on　Paradise　Road　an'　it　was　all　woods　when　I　put　up　the　cabin。　Seen　deer　on　the　doorstep　an'　bears　in　the　garden；　an'　panthers　in　the　fields。　But　I　tell　ye　there's　no　critter　so　terrible　as　a　man。　All　the　animals　know　'im　…　how　he　roars；　an'　spits　fire　an'　smoke　an'　lead　so　it　goes　through　a　body　er　bites　off　a　leg；　mebbe。　Guess　they'd　made　friends　with　me　but　them　I　didn't　kill　went　away　smarting　with　holes　in　'em。　An'　I　guess　they　told　all　their　people　'bout　me　…　the　terrible　critter　that　walked　on　its　hind　legs　an'　lied　a　white　face　an'　drew　up　an'　spit　'is　teeth　into　their　vitals　'cross　a　ten…acre　lot。　An'　putty　soon　they　concluded　they　didn't　want　t'　hev　no　truck　with　me。　They　thought　thin　clearin'　was　the　valley　o'　death　an'　they　got　very　careful。　But　the　deer　they　kep'　peekin'　in　at　me。　Sumthin'　funny　'bout　a　deer　…　they're　so　cu'rus。　Seem's　though　they　loved　the　look　o'　me　an'　the　taste　o'　the　tame　grass。　Mebbe　God　meant　em　t'　serve　in　the　yoke　some　way　an'　be　the　friend　o'　man。　They're　the　outcasts　o'　the　forest　…　the　prey　o'　the　other　animals　an'　men　like　'em　only　when　they're　dead。　An'　they're　the　purtiest　critter　alive　an'　the　spryest　an'　the　mos'　graceful。'

'Men　are　the　mos'　terrible　of　all　critters；　an'　the　meanest；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'They're　the　only　critters　that　kill　fer　fun。'

'Bedtime；'　said　our　host；　rising　presently。　'Got　t'　be　up　early　'n　the　morning。'

We　climbed　a　ladder　to　the　top　floor　of　the　cabin　with　the　hired　men；　of　whom　there　were　two。　The　good　lady　of　the　house　had　made　a　bed　for　us　on　the　floor　and　I　remember　Fred　came　up　the　ladder　too；　and　lay　down　beside　us。　Uncle　Eb　was　up　with　the　men　in　the　morning　and　at　breakfast　time　my　hostess　came　and　woke　me　with　kisses　and　helped　me　to　dress。　When　we　were　about　going　she　brought　a　little　wagon　out　of　the　cellar　that　had　been　a　playing　of　her　dead　boy；　and　said　I　could　have　it。　This　wonderful　wagon　was　just　the　thing　for　the　journey　we　were　making。　When　I　held　the　little　tongue　in　my　hand　I　was　half…way　to　heaven　already。　It　had　four　stout　wheels　and　a　beautiful　red　box。　Her　brother　had　sent　it　all　the　way　from　New　York　and　it　had　stood　so　long　in　the　cellar　it　was　now　much　in　need　of　repair。　Uncle　Eb　took　it　to　the　tool　shop　in　the　stable　and　put　it　in　shipshape　order　and　made　a　little　pair　of　thills　to　go　in　place　of　the　tongue。　Then　he　made　a　big　flat　collar　and　a　back…pad　out　of　the　leather　in　old　boot…legs；　and　rigged　a　pair　of　tugs　out　of　two　pieces　of　rope。　Old　Fred　was　quite　cast　down　when　he　stood　in　harness　between　the　shafts。

He　had　waited　patiently　to　have　his　collar　fitted；　he　had　grinned　and　panted　and　wagged　his　tail　with　no　suspicion　of　the　serious　and　humiliating　career　he　was　entering　upon。　Now　he　stood　with　a　sober　face　and　his　aspect　was　full　of　meditation。

'You　fightin'　hound！'　said　Uncle　Eb；　'I　hope　this'll　improve　yer　character。'

Fred　tried　to　sit　down　when　Uncle　Eb　tied　a　leading　rope　to　his　collar。　When　he　heard　the　wheels　rattle　and　felt　the　pull　of　the　wagon　he　looked　back　at　it　and　growled　a　little　and　started　to　run。　Uncle　Eb　shouted　'whoa'；　and　held　him　back；　and　then　the　dog　got　down　on　his　belly　and　trembled　until　we　patted　his　head　and　gave　him　a　kind　word。　He　seemed　to　understand　presently　and　came　along　with　a　steady　stride。　Our　hostess　met　us　at　the　gate　and　the　look　of　her　face　when　she　bade　us　goodbye　and　tucked　some　cookies　into　my　pocket；　has　always　lingered　in　my　memory　and　put　in　me　a　mighty　respect　for　all　women。　The　sound　of　her　voice；　the　tears；　the　waving　of　her　handkerchief；　as　we　went　away；　are　among　the　things　that　have　made　me　what　I　am。

We　stowed　our　packages　in　the　wagon　box　and　I　walked　a　few　miles　and　then　got　into　the　empty　basket。　Fred　tipped　his　load　over　once　or　twice；　but　got　a　steady　gait　in　the　way　of　industry　after　a　while　and　a　more　cheerful　look。　We　had　our　dinner　by　the　roadside　on　the　bank　of　a　brook；　an　hour　or　so　after　midday；　and　came　to　a　little　village　about　sundown。　As　we　were　nearing　it　there　was　some　excitement　among　the　dogs　and　one　of　them　tackled　Fred。　He　went　into　battle　very　promptly；　the　wagon　jumping　and　rattling　until　it　turned　bottom　up。　Re…enforced　by　Uncle　Eb's　cane　he　soon　saw　the　heels　of　his　aggressor　and　stood　growling　savagely。　He　was　like　the　goal　in　a　puzzle　maze　all　wound　and　tangled　in　his　harness　and　it　took　some　time　to　get　his　face　before　him　and　his　feet　free。

At　a　small　grocery　where　groups　of　men；　just　out　of　the　fields；　were　sitting；　their　arms　bare　to　the　elbows；　we　bought　more　bread　and　butter。　In　paying　for　it　Uncle　Eb　took　a　package　out　of　his　trouser　pocket　to　get　his　change。　It　was　tied　in　a　red　handkerchief　and　I　remember　it　looked　to　be　about　the　size　of　his　fist。　He　was　putting　it　back　when　it　fell　from　his　hand；　heavily；　and　I　could　hear　the　chink　of　coin　as　it　struck。　One　of　the　men；　who　sat　near；　picked　it　up　and　gave　it　back　to　him。　As　I　remember　well；　his　kindness　had　an　evil　flavour；　for　he　winked　at　his　companions；　who　nudged　each　other　as　they　smiled　knowingly。　Uncle　Eb　was　a　bit　cross；　when　I　climbed　into　the　basket；　and　walked　along　in　silence　so　rapidly　it　worried　the　dog　to　keep　pace。　The　leading　rope　was　tied　to　the　stock　of　the　rifle　and　Fred's　walking　gait　was　too　slow　for　the　comfort　of　his　neck。

'You　shifless　cuss！　I'll　put　a　kink　in　your　neck　fer　you　if　ye　don't　walk　up；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　looked　back　at　the　dog；　in　a　temper　wholly　unworthy　of　him。

We　had　crossed　a　deep　valley　and　were　climbing　a　long　hill　in　the　dusky　twilight

'Willie；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　'your　eyes　are　better'n　mine　…　look　back　and　see　if　anyone's　comin'。'

'Can't　see　anyone；'　I　answered。

'Look　'way　back　in　the　road　as　fur　as　ye　can　see。

I　did　so；　but　I　could　see　no　one。　He　slackened　his　pace　a　little　after　that　and　before　we　had　passed　the　hill　it　was　getting　dark。　The　road　ran　into　woods　and　a　river　cut　through　them　a　little　way　from　the　clearing。

'Supper　time；　Uncle　Eb；'　I　suggested；　as　we　came　to　the　bridge。

'Supper　time；　Uncle　Eb；'　he　answered；　turning　down　to　the　shore。

I　got　out　of　the　basket　then　and　followed　him　in　the　brush。　Fred　found　it　hard　travelling　here　and　shortly　we　took　off　his　harness　and　left　the　wagon；　transferring　its　load　to　the　basket；　while　we　pushed　on　to　find　a　camping　place。　Back　in　the　thick　timber　a　long　way　from　the　road；　we　built　a　fire　and　had　our　supper。　It　was　a　dry　nook　in　the　pines　…'tight　as　a　house；'　Uncle　Eb　said　…　and　carpeted　with　the　fragrant　needles。　When　we　lay　on　our　backs　in　the　firelight　I　remember　the　weary；　droning　voice　of　Uncle　Eb　had　an　impressive　accompaniment　of　whispers。　While　he　told　stories　1　had　a　glowing　cinder　on　the　end　of　a　stick　and　was　weaving　fiery　skeins　in　the　gloom。

He　had　been　telling　me　of　a　panther　he　had　met　in　the　woods；　one　day；　and　how　the　creature　ran　away　at　the　sight　of　him。

'Why's　a　panther　'fraid　o'　folks？'　I　enquired。

'Wall；　ye　see；　they　used　t'　be　friendly；　years　'n　years　ago　…　folks　'n　panthers　…　but　they　want　eggszac'ly　cal'lated　t'　git　along　t'gether　some　way。　An'　ol'　she　panther　gin　'em　one　uv　her　cubs；　a　great　while　ago；　jes　t'　make　frien's。　The　cub　he　grew　big　'n　used　t'　play　'n　be　very　gentle。　They　wuz