eben holden-第7章

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He　sat　on　the　rotting　threshold　while　I　pulled　some　of　the　weeds　in　front　of　the　doorstep　and　brought　kindlings　out　of　the　house　and　built　a　fire。　While　we　were　eating　I　told　Uncle　Eb　of　the　man　that　I　had　seen　in　the　night。

'Guess　you　was　dreamin'；'　he　said；　and；　while　I　stood　firm　for　the　reality　of　that　I　had　seen；　it　held　our　thought　only　for　a　brief　moment。　My　companion　was　unable　to　walk　that　day　so　we　lay　by；　in　the　shelter　of　the　old　house；　eating　as　little　of　our　scanty　store　as　we　could　do　with。　I　went　to　a　spring　near　by　for　water　and　picked　a　good　mess　of　blackberries　that　I　hid　away　until　supper　time；　so　as　to　surprise　Uncle　Eb。　A　longer　day　than　that　we　spent　in　the　old　house；　after　our　coming；　I　have　never　known。　I　made　the　room　a　bit　tidier　and　gathered　more　grass　for　bedding。　Uncle　Eb　felt　better　as　the　day　grew　warm。　I　had　a　busy　time　of　it　that　morning　bathing　his　back　in　the　spirits　and　rubbing　until　my　small　arms　ached。　I　have　heard　him　tell　often　how　vigorously　I　worked　that　day　and　how　I　would　say：　'I'll　take　care　o'　you；　Uncle　Eb　…won't　I；　Uncle　Eb？'　as　my　little　hands　flew　with　redoubled　energy　on　his　bare　skin。　That　finished　we　lay　down　sleeping　until　the　sun　was　low；　when　I　made　ready　the　supper　that　took　the　last　of　everything　we　had　to　eat。　Uncle　Eb　was　more　like　himself　that　evening　and；　sitting　up　in　the　corner；　as　the　darkness　came；　told　me　the　story　of　Squirreltown　and　Frog　Ferry；　which　came　to　be　so　great　a　standby　in　those　days　that；　even　now；　I　can　recall　much　of　the　language　in　which　he　told　it　

'Once；'　he　said；　'there　was　a　boy　thet　hed　two　grey　squirrels　in　a　cage。　They　kep'　thinkin'　o'　the　time　they　used　t'　scamper　in　the　tree…tops　an'　make　nests　an'　eat　all　the　nuts　they　wanted　an'　play　I　spy　in　the　thick　leaves。　An　they　grew　poor　an'　looked　kind　o'　ragged　an'　sickly　an'　downhearted。　When　he　brought　'em　outdoors　they　used　t'　look　up　in　the　trees　an'　run　in　the　wire　wheel　as　if　they　thought　they　could　get　there　sometime　if　they　kep'　goin'。　As　the　boy　grew　older　he　see　it　was　cruel　to　keep　'em　shet　in　a　cage；　but　he'd　hed　em　a　long　time　an'　couldn't　bear　t'　give　'em　up。

'One　day　he　was　out　in　the　woods　a　little　back　o'　the　clearin'。　All　t'　once　he　heard　a　swift　holler。　'Twas　nearby　an'　echoed　so　he　couldn't　tell　which　way　it　come　from。　He　run　fer　home　but　the　critter　ketched　'im　before　he　got　out　o'　the　woods　an'　took　'im　into　a　cave；　an'　give　'im　t'　the　little　swifis　t'　play　with。　The　boy　cried　terrible。　The　swifts　they　laughed　an'　nudged　each　other。

'〃O　ain't　he　cute！〃　says　one。　〃He's　a　beauty！〃　says　another。　〃Cur'us　how　he　can　git　along　without　any　fur；〃　says　the　mother　swift；　as　she　run　er　nose　over　'is　bare　foot。　He　thought　of　'is　folks　waitin'　fer　him　an'　he　begged　em　t'　let　'im　go。　Then　they　come　an'　smelt　'im　over。

'〃Yer　sech　a　cunin'　critter；〃　says　the　mother　swift；　〃we　couldn't　spare　ye。〃

'〃Want　to　see　my　mother；〃　says　the　boy　sobbing。

'〃Couldn't　afford　t'　let　ye　go　…　yer　so　cute〃　says　the　swift。　〃Bring　the　poor　critter　a　bone　an'　a　bit　o'　snake　meat〃

'The　boy　couldn't　eat。　They　fixed　a　bed　fer　him；　but　'twant　clean。　The　feel　uv　it　made　his　back　ache　an'　the　smell　uv　it　made　him　sick　to　his　stomach。

'〃When　the　swifts　hed　comp'ny　they　'd　bring　'em　overt'　look　at　him　there　'n　his　dark　comer。　〃'S　a　boy；〃　said　the　mother　swift　pokin'　him　with　a　long　stick　〃Wouldn't　ye　like　t'　see　'im　run？〃　Then　she　punched　him　until　he　got　up　an'　run　'round　the　cave　fer　his　life。　Happened　one　day　et　a　very　benevolent　swift　come　int'　the　cave。

'〃'S　a　pity　t'　keep　the　boy　here；〃　said　he；　〃he　looks　bad。〃

'〃But　he　makes　fun　fer　the　children；〃　said　the　swift。

〃Fun　that　makes　misery　is　only　fit　fer　a　fool；〃　said　the　visitor。

'They　let　him　go　thet　day。　Soon　as　he　got　hum　he　thought　o'　the　squirrels　an'　was　tickled　t'　find　'em　alive。　He　tak　'em　off　to　an　island；　in　the　middle　of　a　big　lake；　thet　very　day；　an'　set　the　cage　on　the　shore　n'　opened　it　He　thought　he　would　come　back　sometime　an'　see　how　they　was　ginin'　along。　The　cage　was　made　of　light　wire　an'　hed　a　tin　bottom　fastened　to　a　big　piece　o'　plank。　At　fust　they　was　'fraid　t'　leave　it　an'　peeked　out　o'　the　door　an'　scratched　their　heads's　if　they　thought　it　a　resky　business。　After　awhile　one　stepped　out　careful　an'　then　the　other　followed。　They　tried　t'　climb　a　tree；　but　their　nails　was　wore　off　an'　they　kep'　fallin'　back。　Then　they　went　off　'n　the　brush　t'　find　some　nuts。　There　was　only　pines　an'　poppies　an'　white　birch　an'　a　few　berry　bushes　on　the　island。　They　went　t'　the　water's　edge　on　every　side；　but　there　was　nuthin　there　a　squirrel　ud　give　a　flirt　uv　his　tail　fer。　'Twas　near　dark　when　they　come　back　t'　the　cage　hungry　as　tew　bears。　They　found　a　few　crumbs　o'　bread　in　the　cup　an'　divided　'em　even。　Then　they　went　t'　bed　'n　their　ol'　nest。

'It　hed　been　rainin'　a　week　in　the　mount'ins。　Thet　night　the　lake　rose　a　foot　er　more　an'　'fore　mornin'　the　cage　begun　t'　rock　a　teenty　bit　as　the　water　lifted　the　plank。　They　slep'　all　the　better　fer　thet　an'　they　dreamed　they　was　up　in　a　tree　at　the　end　uv　a　big　bough。　The　cage　begun　t'　sway　sideways　and　then　it　let　go　o'　the　shore　an'　spun　'round　once　er　twice　an'　sailed　out　'n　the　deep　water。　There　was　a　light　breeze　blowin'　offshore　an'　purty　soon　it　was　pitchin'　like　a　ship　in　the　sea。　But　the　two　squirrels　was　very　tired　an'　never　woke　up　'til　sunrise。　They　got　a　terrible　scare　when　they　see　the　water　'round　'em　an'　felt　the　motion　o'　the　ship。　Both　on　'em　ran　into　the　wire　wheel　an'　that　bore　down　the　stern　o'　the　ship　so　the　under　wires　touched　the　water。　They　made　it　spin　like　a　buzz　saw　an'　got　their　clothes　all　wet。　The　ship　went　faster　when　they　worked　the　wheel；　an'　bime　bye　they　got　tired　an'　come　out　on　the　main　deck。　The　water　washed　over　it　a　little　so　they　clim　up　the　roof　thet　was　a　kin'　uv　a　hurricane　deck。　It　made　the　ship　sway　an'　rock　fearful　but　they　hung　on　'midships；　an'　clung　t'　the　handle　that　stuck　up　like　a　top　mast。　Their　big　tails　was　spreadover　their　shoulders；　an'　the　wind　rose　an'　the　ship　went　faster　'n　faster。　They　could　see　the　main　shore　where　the　big　woods　come　down　t'　the　water　'n'　all　the　while　it　kep'　a　comin'　nearer　'n'　nearer。　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