the friendly road-第15章

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so　to　look　back　at　youand　wishing　he　might　know　you。　But　you　would　not　have　known　what　he　was　chanting　under　his　breath　as　he　tramped　（how　little　we　know　of　a　man　by　the　shabby　coat　he　wears）；　nor　how　keenly　he　was　enjoying　the　light　airs　and　the　warm　sunshine　of　that　fine　spring　morning。

After　leaving　the　hill　farm　he　had　walked　five　miles　up　the　valley；　had　crossed　the　ridge　at　a　place　called　the　Little　Notch；　where　all　the　world　lay　stretched　before　him　like　the　open　palm　of　his　hand；　and　had　come　thus　to　the　boundaries　of　the　Undiscovered　Country。　He　had　been　for　days　troubled　with　the　deep　problems　of　other　people；　and　it　seemed　to　him　this　morning　as　though　a　great　stone　had　been　rolled　from　the　door　of　his　heart；　and　that　he　was　entering　upon　a　new　worlda　wonderful；　high；　free　world。　And；　as　he　tramped；　certain　lines　of　a　stanza　long　ago　caught　up　in　his　memory　from　some　forgotten　page　came　up　to　his　lips；　and　these　were　the　words　（you　did　not　know　as　you　passed）　that　he　was　chanting　under　his　breath　as　he　tramped；　for　they　seem　charged　with　the　spirit　of　the　hour：

I've　bartered　my　sheets　for　a　starlit　bed；　I've　traded　my　meat　for　a　crust　of　bread；　I've　changed　my　book　for　a　sapling　cane；　And　I'm　off　to　the　end　of　the　world　again。

In　the　Undiscovered　Country　that　morning　it　was　wonderful　how　fresh　the　spring　woods　were；　and　how　the　birds　sang　in　the　trees；　and　how　the　brook　sparkled　and　murmured　at　the　roadside。　The　recent　rain　had　washed　the　atmosphere　until　it　was　as　clear　and　sparkling　and　heady　as　new　wine；　and　the　footing　was　firm　and　hard。　As　one　tramped　he　could　scarcely　keep　from　singing　or　shouting　aloud　for　the　very　joy　of　the　day。

〃I　think；〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃I've　never　been　in　a　better　country；〃　and　it　did　not　seem　to　me　I　cared　to　know　where　the　gray　road　ran；　nor　how　far　away　the　blue　hills　were。

〃It　is　wonderful　enough　anywhere　here；〃　I　said。

And　presently　I　turned　from　the　road　and　climbed　a　gently　sloping　hillside　among　oak　and　chestnut　trees。　The　earth　was　well　carpeted　for　my　feet；　and　here　and　there　upon　the　hillside；　where　the　sun　came　through　the　green　roof　of　foliage；　were　warm　splashes　Of　yellow　light；　and　here　and　there；　on　shadier　slopes；　the　new　ferns　were　spread　upon　the　earth　like　some　lacy　coverlet。　I　finally　sat　down　at　the　foot　of　a　tree　where　through　a　rift　in　the　foliage　in　the　valley　below　I　could　catch　a　glimpse　in　the　distance　of　the　meadows　and　the　misty　blue　hills。　I　was　glad　to　rest；　just　rest；　for　the　two　previous　days　of　hard　labour；　the　labour　and　the　tramping；　had　wearied　me；　and　I　sat　for　a　long　time　quietly　looking　about　me；　scarcely　thinking　at　all；　but　seeing；　hearing；　smellingfeeling　the　spring　morning；　and　the　woods　and　the　hills；　and　the　patch　of　sky　I　could　see。

For　a　long；　long　time　I　sat　thus；　but　finally　my　mind　began　to　flow　again；　and　I　thought　how　fine　it　would　be　if　I　had　some　good　friend　there　with　me　to　enjoy　the　perfect　surroundingssome　friend　who　would　understand。　And　I　thought　of　the　Vedders　with　whom　I　had　so　recently　spent　a　wonderful　day；　and　I　wished　that　they　might　be　with　me；　there　were　so　many　things　to　be　saidto　be　left　unsaid。　Upon　this　it　occurred　to　me；　suddenly；　whimsically；　and　I　exclaimed　aloud：

〃Why；　I'll　just　call　them　up。〃

Half　turning　to　the　trunk　of　the　tree　where　I　sat；　I　placed　one　hand　to　my　ear　and　the　other　to　my　lips　and　said：

〃Hello；　Central；　give　me　Mr。　Vedder。〃

I　waited　a　moment；　smiling　a　little　at　my　own　absurdity　and　yet　quite　captivated　by　the　enterprise。

〃Is　this　Mr。　Vedder？　Oh；　Mrs。　Vedder！　Well；　this　is　David　Grayson。〃　。　。　。　。

〃Yes；　the　very　same。　A　bad　penny；　a　rolling　stone。〃　。　。　。　。

〃Yes。　I　want　you　both　to　come　here　as　quickly　as　you　can。　I　have　the　most　important　news　for　you。　The　mountain　laurels　are　blooming；　and　the　wild　strawberries　are　setting　their　fruit。　Yes；　yes；　and　in　the　fieldsall　around　here；　to…day　there　are　wonderful　white　patches　of　daisies；　and　from　where　I　sit　I　can　see　an　old　meadow　as　yellow　as　gold　with　buttercups。　And　the　bobolinks　are　hovering　over　the　low　spots。　Oh；　but　it　is　fine　here　and　we　are　not　together！〃　。　。　。　。

〃No；　I　cannot　give　exact　directions。　But　take　the　Long　Road　and　turn　at　the　turning　by　the　tulip…tree；　and　you　will　find　me　at　home。　Come　right　in　without　knocking。〃


I　hung　up　the　receiver。　For　a　single　instant　it　had　seemed　almost　true；　and　indeed　I　believeI　wonder

Some　day；　I　thought；　just　a　bit　sadly；　for　I　shall　probably　not　be　here　thensome　day；　we　shall　be　able　to　call　our　friends　through　space　and　time。　Some　day　we　shall　discover　that　marvellously　simple　coherer　by　which　we　may　better　utilize　the　mysterious　ether　of　love。

For　a　time　I　was　sad　with　thoughts　of　the　unaccomplished　future；　and　then　I　reflected　that　if　I　could　not　call　up　the　Vedders　so　informally　I　could　at　least　write　down　a　few　paragraphs　which　would　give　them　some　faint　impression　of　that　time　and　place。　But　I　had　no　sooner　taken　out　my　note…book　and　put　down　a　sentence　or　two　than　I　stuck　fast。　How　foolish　and　feeble　written　words　are　anyway！　With　what　glib　facility　they　describe；　but　how　inadequately　they　convey。　A　thousand　times　I　have　thought　to　myself；　〃　If　only　I　could　WRITE！〃

Not　being　able　to　write　I　turned；　as　I　have　so　often　turned　before；　to　some　good　old　book；　trusting　that　I　might　find　in　the　writing　of　another　man　what　I　lacked　in　my　own。　I　took　out　my　battered　copy　of　Montaigne　and；　opening　it　at　random；　as　I　love　to　do；　came；　as　luck　would　have　it；　upon　a　chapter　devoted　to　coaches；　in　which　there　is　much　curious　（and　worthless　information；　darkened　with　Latin　quotations。　This　reading　had　an　unexpected　effect　upon　me。

I　could　not　seem　to　keep　my　mind　down　upon　the　printed　page；　it　kept　bounding　away　at　the　sight　of　the　distant　hills；　at　the　sound　of　a　woodpecker　on　a　dead　stub　which　stood　near　me；　and　at　the　thousand　and　one　faint　rustlings；　creepings；　murmurings；　tappings；　which　animate　the　mystery　of　the　forest。　How　dull　indeed　appeared　the　printed　page　in　comparison　with　the　book　of　life；　how　shut…in　its　atmosphere；　how　tinkling　and　distant　the　sound　of　its　voices。　Suddenly　I　shut　my　book　with　a　snap。

〃Musty　coaches　and　Latin　quotations！〃　I　exclaimed。　〃Montaigne's　no　writer　for　the　open　air。　He　belongs　at　a　study　fire　on　a　quiet　evening！〃

I　had　anticipated；　when　I　started　out；　many　a　pleasant　hour　by　the　roadside　or　in　the　woods　with　my　books；　but　this　was　almost　the　first　opportunity　I　had　found　for　reading　（as　it　was　almost　the　last）；　so　full　was　the　present　world　of　stirring　events。　As　for　poor　old　Montaigne；　I　have　been　out　of　harmony　with　him　ever　since；　nor　have　I　wanted　him　in　the　intimate　case　at　my　elbow。

After　a　long　time　in　the　forest；　and　the　sun　having　reached　the　high　heavens；　I　gathered　up　my　pack　and　set　forth　again　along　the　slope　of　the　hillsnot　hurrying；　just　drifting　and　enjoying　every　sight　and　sound。　And　thus　walking　I　came　in　sight；　through　the　trees；　of　a　glistening　pool　of　water　and　made　my　way　straight　toward　it。


A　more　charming　spot　I　have　rarely　seen。　In　some　former　time　an　old　mill　had　stood　at　the　foot　of　the　little　valley；　and　a　ruinous　stone　dam　still　held　the　water　in　a　deep；　quiet　pond　between　two　round　hills。　Above　it　a　brook　ran　down　through　the　woods；　and　below；　with　a　pleasant　musical　sound；　the　water　dripped　over　the　mossy　stone　lips　of　the　dam　and　fell　into　the　rocky　pool　below。　Nature　had　long　ago　healed　the　wounds　of　men；　she　had　half…covered　the　ruined　mill　with　verdure；　had　softened　the　stone　walls　of　the　dam　with　mosses　and　lichens；　and　had　crept　down　the　steep　hillside　and　was　now　leaning　so　far　out　over　the　pool　that　she　could　see　her　reflection　in　the　quiet　water。

Near　the　upper　end　of　the　pond　I　found　a　clear　white　sand…bank；　where　no　doubt　a　thousand　fishermen　had　stood；　half　hidden　by　the　willows；　to　cast　for　trout　in　the　pool　below。　I　intended　merely　to　drink　and　moisten　my　face；　but　as　I　knelt　by　the　pool　and　saw　my　reflection　in　the　clear　water　wanted　something　more　than　that！　In　a　moment　I　had　thrown　aside　my　bag　and　clothes　and　found　myself　wading　naked　into　the　water。

It　was　cold！　I　stood　a　moment　there　in　the　sunny　air；　the　great　world　open　around　me；　shuddering；　for　I　dreaded　the　plungeand　then　with　a　run；　a　shout　and　a　splash　I　took　the　deep　water。　Oh；　but　it　was　fine！　With　long；　deep　strokes　I　carried　myself　fairly　to　the　middle　of　the　pond。　The　first　chill　was　succeeded　by　a　tingling　glow；　and　I　can　convey　no　idea　whatever　of　the　glorious　sense　of　exhilaration　I　had。　I　swam　with　the　broad　front　stroke；　I　swam　on　my　side；　head　half　submerged；　with　a　deep　under　stroke；　and　I　rolled　over　on　my　back　and　swam　with　the　water　lapping　my　chin。　Thus　I　came　to　the　end　of　the　pool　near　the　old　dam；　touched　my　feet　on　the　bottom；　gave　a　primeval　whoop；　and　dove　back　into　the　water　again。　I　have　rarely　experienced　keener　physical　joy。　After　swimming　thus　boisterously　for　a　time；　I　quieted　down　to　long；　leisurely　strokes；　conscious　of　the　water　playing　across　my　shoulders　and　singing　at　my　ears；　and　finally；　reaching　the　centre　of　the　pond；　I　turned　over　on　my　back　and；　paddling　lazily；　watched　the　slow　procession　of　light　clouds　across　the　sunlit　openings　of　the　trees　above　me。　Away　up　in　the　sky　I　could　see　a　hawk　slowly　swimming　about　（in　his　element　as　I　was　in　mine）；　and　nearer　at　hand；　indeed　fairly　in　the　thicket　about　the　pond；　I　could　hear　a　wood…thrush　singing。

And　so；　shaking　the　water　out　of　my　hair　and　swimming　with　long　and　leisurely　strokes；　I　returned　to　the　sand…bank；　and　there；　standing　in　a　spot　of　warm　sunshine；　I　dried　myself　with　the　towel　from　my　bag。　And　I　said　to　myself：

〃Surely　it　is　good　to　be　alive　at　a　time　like　this！〃

Slowly　I　drew　on　my　clothes；　idling　there　in　the　sand；　and　afterward　I　found　an　inviting　spot　in　an　old　meadow　where　I　threw　myself　down　on　the　grass　under　an　apple…tree　and　looked　up　into　the　shadowy　places　in　the　foliage　above　me。　I　felt　a　delicious　sense　of　physical　well…being；　and　I　was　pleasantly　tired。

So　I　lay　thereand　the　next　thing　I　knew；　I　turned　over；　feeling　cold　and　stiff；　and　opened　my　eyes　upon　the　dusky　shadows　of　late　evening。　I　had　been　sleeping　for　hours！


The　next　few　minutes　（or　was　it　an　hour　or　eternity？）；　I　recall　as　containing　some　of　the　most　exciting　and；　when　all　is　said；　amusing　incidents　in　my　whole　life。　And　I　got　quite　a　new　glimpse　of　that　sometimes　bumptious　person　known　as　David　Grayson。

The　first　sensation　I　had　was　one　of　complete　panic。　What　was　I　to　do？　Where　was　I　to　go？

Hastily　seizing　my　bagand　before　I　was　half　awakeI　started　rapidly　across　the　meadow；　in　my　excitement　tripping　and　falling　several　times　in　the　first　hundred　yards。　In　daylight　I　have　no　doubt　that　I　should　easily　have　seen　a　gateway　or　at　least　an　opening　from　the　old　meadow；　but　in　the　fast…gathering　darkness　it　seemed　to　me　that　the　open　field　was　surrounded　on　every　side　by　impenetrable　forests。　Absurd　as　it　may　seem；　for　no　one　knows　what　his　mind　will　do　at　such　a　moment；　I　recalled　vividly　a　passage　from　Stanley's　story　of　his　search　for　Livingstone；　in　which　he　relates　how　he　escaped　from　a　difficult　place　in　the　jungle　by　KEEPING　STRAIGHT　AHEAD。

I　print　these　words　in　capitals　because　they　seemed