the friendly road-第16章

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lace　in　the　jungle　by　KEEPING　STRAIGHT　AHEAD。

I　print　these　words　in　capitals　because　they　seemed　written　that　night　upon　the　sky。　KEEPING　STRAIGHT　AHEAD；　I　entered　the　forest　on　one　side　of　the　meadow　（with　quite　a　heroic　sense　of　adventure）；　but　scraped　my　shin　on　a　fallen　log　and　ran　into　a　tree　with　bark　on　it　that　felt　like　a　gigantic　currycomband　stopped！

Up　to　this　point　I　think　I　was　still　partly　asleep。　Now；　however；　I　waked　up。

〃All　you　need；〃　said　I　to　myself　in　my　most　matter…of…fact　tone；　〃is　a　little　cool　sense。　Be　quiet　now　and　reason　it　out。〃

So　I　stood　there　for　some　moments　reasoning　it　out；　with　the　result　that　I　turned　back　and　found　the　meadow　again。

〃What　a　fool　I've　been！〃　I　said。　〃Isn't　it　perfectly　plain　that　I　should　have　gone　down　to　the　pond；　crossed　over　the　inlet；　and　reached　the　road　by　the　way　I　came？〃

Having　thus　settled　my　problem；　and　congratulating　myself　on　my　perspicacity；　I　started　straight　for　the　mill…pond；　but　to　my　utter　amazement；　in　the　few　short　hours　while　I　had　been　asleep；　that　entire　body　of　water　had　evaporated；　the　dam　had　disappeared；　and　the　stream　had　dried　up。　I　must　certainly　present　the　facts　in　this　remarkable　case　to　some　learned　society。

I　then　decided　to　return　to　the　old　apple…tree　where　I　had　slept；　which　now　seemed　quite　like　home；　but；　strange　to　relate；　the　apple…tree　had　also　completely　vanished　from　the　enchanted　meadow。　At　that　I　began　to　suspect　that　in　coming　out　of　the　forest　I　had　somehow　got　into　another　and　somewhat　similar　old　field。　I　have　never　had　a　more　confused　or　eerie　sensation；　not　fear；　but　a　sort　of　helplessness　in　which　for　an　instant　I　actually　began　to　doubt　whether　it　was　I　myself；　David　Grayson；　who　stood　there　in　the　dark　meadow；　or　whether　I　was　the　victim　of　a　peculiarly　bad　dream。　I　suppose　many　other　people　have　had　these　sensations　under　similar　conditions；　but　they　were　new　to　me。

I　turned　slowly　around　and　looked　for　a　light；　I　think　I　never　wanted　so　much　to　see　some　sign　of　human　habitation　as　I　did　at　that　moment。

What　a　coddled　world　we　live　in；　truly。　That　being　out　after　dark　in　a　meadow　should　so　disturb　the　very　centre　of　our　being！　In　all　my　life；　indeed；　and　I　suppose　the　same　is　true　of　ninety…nine　out　of　a　hundred　of　the　people　in　America　to…day；　I　had　never　before　found　myself　where　nothing　stood　between　nature　and　me；　where　I　had　no　place　to　sleep；　no　shelter　for　the　nightnor　any　prospect　of　finding　one。　I　was　infinitely　less　resourceful　at　that　moment　than　a　rabbit；　or　a　partridge；　or　a　gray　squirrel。



Presently　I　sat　down　on　the　ground　where　I　had　been　standing；　with　a　vague　fear　（absurd　to　look　back　upon）　that　it；　too；　in　some　manner　might　slip　away　from　under　me。　And　as　I　sat　there　I　began　to　have　familiar　gnawings　at　the　pit　of　my　stomach；　and　I　remembered　that；　save　for　a　couple　of　Mrs。　Clark's　doughnuts　eaten　while　I　was　sitting　on　the　hillside；　ages　ago；　I　had　had　nothing　since　my　early　breakfast。

With　this　thought　of　my　predicamentand　the　glimpse　I　had　of　myself　〃hungry　and　homeless〃the　humour　of　the　whole　situation　suddenly　came　over　me；　and；　beginning　with　a　chuckle；　I　wound　up；　as　my　mind　dwelt　upon　my　recent　adventures；　with　a　long；　loud；　hearty　laugh。

As　I　laughedand　what　a　roar　it　made　in　that　darkness！I　got　up　on　my　feet　and　looked　up　at　the　sky。　One　bright　star　shone　out　over　the　woods；　and　in　high　heavens　I　could　see　dimly　the　white　path　of　the　Milky　Way。　And　all　at　once　I　seemed　again　to　be　in　command　of　myself　and　of　the　world。　I　felt　a　sudden　lift　and　thrill　of　the　spirits；　a　warm　sense　that　this　too　was　part　of　the　great　adventurethe　Thing　Itself。

〃This　is　the　light；〃　I　said　looking　up　again　at　the　sky　and　the　single　bright　star；　〃which　is　set　for　me　to…night。　I　will　make　my　bed　by　it。〃

I　can　hope　to　make　no　one　understand　（unless　he　understands　already）　with　what　joy　of　adventure　I　now　crept　through　the　meadow　toward　the　wood。　It　was　an　unknown；　unexplored　world　I　was　in；　and　I；　the　fortunate　discoverer；　had　here　to　shift　for　himself；　make　his　home　under　the　stars！　Marquette　on　the　wild　shores　of　the　Mississippi；　or　Stanley　in　Africa；　had　no　joy　that　I　did　not　know　at　that　moment。

I　crept　along　the　meadow　and　came　at　last　to　the　wood。　Here　I　chose　a　somewhat　sheltered　spot　at　the　foot　of　a　large　treeand　yet　a　spot　not　so　obscured　that　I　could　not　look　out　over　the　open　spaces　of　the　meadow　and　see　the　sky。　Here；　groping　in　the　darkness；　like　some　primitive　creature；　I　raked　together　a　pile　of　leaves　with　my　fingers；　and　found　dead　twigs　and　branches　of　trees；　but　in　that　moist　forest　（where　the　rain　had　fallen　only　the　day　before）　my　efforts　to　kindle　a　fire　were　unavailing。　Upon　this；　I　considered　using　some　pages　from　my　notebook；　but　another　alternative　suggested　itself：

〃Why　not　Montaigne？〃

With　that　I　groped　for　the　familiar　volume；　and　with　a　curious　sensation　of　satisfaction　I　tore　out　a　handful　of　pages　from　the　back。

〃Better　Montaigne　than　Grayson；〃　I　said；　with　a　chuckle。　It　was　amazing　how　Montaigne　sparkled　and　crackled　when　he　was　well　lighted。

〃There　goes　a　bundle　of　quotations　from　Vergil；〃　I　said；　〃and　there's　his　observations　on　the　eating　of　fish。　There　are　more　uses　than　one　for　the　classics。〃

So　I　ripped　out　a　good　part　of　another　chapter；　and　thus；　by　coaxing；　got　my　fire　to　going。　It　was　not　difficult　after　that　to　find　enough　fuel　to　make　it　blaze　up　warmly。

I　opened　my　bag　and　took　out　the　remnants　of　the　luncheon　which　Mrs。　Clark　had　given　me　that　morning；　and　I　was　surprised　and　delighted　to　find；　among　the　other　things；　a　small　bottle　of　coffee。　This　suggested　all　sorts　of　pleasing　possibilities　and；　the　spirit　of　invention　being　now　awakened；　I　got　out　my　tin　cup；　split　a　sapling　stick　so　I　could　fit　it　into　the　handle；　and　set　the　cup；　full　of　coffee；　on　the　coals　at　the　edge　of　the　fire。　It　was　soon　heated；　and　although　I　spilled　some　of　it　in　getting　it　off；　and　although　it　was　well　spiced　with　ashes；　I　enjoyed　it；　with　Mrs。　Clark's　doughnuts　and　sandwiches　（some　of　which　I　toasted　with　a　sapling　fork）　as　thoroughly；　I　think；　as　ever　I　enjoyed　any　meal。

How　little　we　knowwe　who　dread　lifehow　much　there　is　in　life！

My　activities　around　the　fire　had　warmed　me　to　the　bone；　and　after　I　was　well　through　with　my　meal　I　gathered　a　plentiful　supply　of　wood　and　placed　it　near　at　hand；　I　got　out　my　waterproof　cape　and　put　it　on；　and；　finally　piling　more　sticks　on　the　fire；　I　sat　down　comfortably　at　the　foot　of　the　tree。


I　wish　I　could　convey　the　mystery　and　the　beauty　of　that　night。　Did　you　ever　sit　by　a　campfire　and　watch　the　flames　dance；　and　the　sparks　fly　upward　into　the　cool　dark　air？　Did　you　ever　see　the　fitful　light　among　the　tree…depths；　at　one　moment　opening　vast　shadowy　vistas　into　the　forest；　at　the　next　dying　downward　and　leaving　it　all　in　sombre　mystery？　It　came　to　me　that　night　with　the　wonderful　vividness　of　a　fresh　experience。

And　what　a　friendly　and　companionable　thing　a　campfire　is！　How　generous　and　outright　it　is！　It　plays　for　you　when　you　wish　so　be　lively；　and　it　glows　for　you　when　you　wish　to　be　reflective。

After　a　while；　for　I　did　not　feel　in　the　least　sleepy；　I　stepped　out　of　the　woods　to　the　edge　of　the　pasture。　All　around　me　lay　the　dark　and　silent　earth；　and　above　the　blue　bowl　of　the　sky；　all　glorious　with　the　blaze　of　a　million　worlds。　Sometimes　I　have　been　oppressed　by　this　spectacle　of　utter　space；　of　infinite　distance；　of　forces　too　great　for　me　to　grasp　or　understand；　but　that　night　it　came　upon　me　with　fresh　wonder　and　power；　and　with　a　sense　of　great　humility　that　I　belonged　here　too；　that　I　was　a　part　of　it　alland　would　not　be　neglected　or　forgotten。　It　seemed　to　me　I　never　had　a　moment　of　greater　faith　than　that。

And　so；　with　a　sense　of　satisfaction　and　peace；　I　returned　to　my　fire。　As　I　sat　there　I　could　hear　the　curious　noises　of　the　woods；　the　little　droppings；　cracklings；　rustlings　which　seemed　to　make　all　the　world　alive。　I　even　fancied　I　could　see　small　bright　eyes　looking　out　at　my　fire；　and　once　or　twice　I　was　almost　sure　I　heard　voiceswhisperingperhaps　the　voices　of　the　woods。

Occasionally　I　added；　with　some　amusement；　a　few　dry　pages　of　Montaigne　to　the　fire；　and　watched　the　cheerful　blaze　that　followed。

〃No；〃　said　I；　〃Montaigne　is　not　for　the　open　spaces　and　the　stars。　Without　a　roof　over　his　head　Montaigne　wouldwell；　die　of　sneezing。〃

So　I　sat　all　night　long　there　by　the　tree。　Occasionally　I　dropped　into　a　light　sleep；　and　then；　as　my　fire　died　down；　I　grew　chilly　and　awakened；　to　build　up　the　fire　and　doze　again。　I　saw　the　first　faint　gray　streaks　of　dawn　above　the　trees；　I　saw　the　pink　glow　in　the　east　before　the　sunrise；　and　I　watched　the　sun　himself　rise　upon　a　new　day

When　I　walked　out　into　the　meadow　by　daylight　and　looked　about　me　curiously；　I　saw；　not　forty　rods　away；　the　back　of　a　barn。


〃Be　you　the　fellow　that　was　daown　in　my　cowpasture　all　night？〃　asked　the　sturdy　farmer。

〃I'm　that　fellow；〃　I　said。

〃Why　didn't　you　come　right　up　to　the　house？〃

〃Well〃　I　said；　and　then　paused。

〃Well　。　。　。〃　said　I。



CHAPTER　VIII。　　THE　HEDGE

Strange；　strange；　how　small　the　big　world　is！

〃Why　didn't　you　come　right　into　the　house？〃　the　sturdy　farmer　had　asked　me　when　I　came　out　of　the　meadow　where　I　had　spent　the　night　under　the　stars。

〃Well；〃　I　said；　turning　the　question　as　adroitly　as　I　could；　〃I'll　make　it　up　by　going　into　the　house　now。〃

So　I　went　with　him　into　his　fine；　comfortable　house。

〃This　is　my　wife；〃　said　he。

A　woman　stood　there　facing　me。　〃Oh！〃　she　exclaimed；　〃Mr。　Grayson！〃

I　recalled　swiftly　a　childa　child　she　seemed　thenwith　braids　down　her　back；　whom　I　had　known　when　I　first　came　to　my　farm。　She　had　grown　up；　married；　and　had　borne　three　children；　while　I　had　been　looking　the　other　way　for　a　minute　or　two。　She　had　not　been　in　our　neighborhood　for　several　years。

〃And　how　is　your　sister　and　Doctor　McAlway？〃

Well；　we　had　quite　a　wonderful　visit；　she　made　breakfast　for　me；　asking　and　talking　eagerly　as　I　ate。

〃We've　just　had　news　that　old　Mr。　Toombs　is　dead。〃

〃Dead！〃　I　exclaimed；　dropping　my　fork；　〃old　Nathan　Toombs！〃

〃Yes；　he　was　my　uncle。　Did　you　know　him？〃

〃I　knew　Nathan　Toombs；〃　I　said。

I　spent　two　days　there　with　the　Ransomes；　for　they　would　not　hear　of　my　leaving；　and　half　of　our　spare　time；　I　think；　was　spent　in　discussing　Nathan　Toombs。　I　was　not　able　to　get　him　out　of　my　mind　for　days；　for　his　death　was　one　of　those　events　which　prove　so　much　and　leave　so　much　unproven。

I　can　recall　vividly　my　astonishment　at　the　first　evidence　I　ever　had　of　the　strange　old　man　or　of　his　work。　It　was　not　very　long　after　I　came　to　my　farm　to　live。　I　had　taken　to　spending　my　spare　eveningsthe　long　evenings　of　summerin　exploring　the　country　roads　for　miles　around；　getting　acquainted　with　each　farmstead；　each　bit　of　grove　and　meadow　and　marsh；　making　my　best　bow　to　each　unfamiliar　hill；　and　taking　everywhere　that　toll　of　pleasure　which　comes　of　quiet　discovery。

One　evening；　having　walked　farther　than　usual；　I　came　quite　suddenly　around　a　turn　in　the　road　and　saw　stretching　away　before　me　an　extraordinary　sight。

I　feel　that　I　am　conveying　no　adequate　impression　of　what　I　beheld　by　giving　i