the friendly road-第19章

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Old　Toombs　is　dead。　Like　Jehoram；　King　of　Judah；　of　whom　it　is　terribly　said　in　the　Book　of　Chronicles；　〃he　departed　without　being　desired。〃

Of　this　story　of　Nathan　Toombs　we　talked　much　and　long　there　in　the　Ransome　home。　I　was　with　them；　as　I　said；　about　two　dayskept　inside　most　of　the　time　by　a　driving　spring　rain　which　filled　the　valley　with　a　pale　gray　mist　and　turned　all　the　country　roads　into　running　streams。　One　morning；　the　weather　having　cleared；　I　swung　my　bag　to　my　shoulder；　and　with　much　warmth　of　parting　I　set　my　face　again　to　the　free　road　and　the　open　country。



CHAPTER　IX。　　THE　MAN　POSSESSED

I　suppose　I　was　predestined　（and　likewise　foreordained）　to　reach　the　city　sooner　or　later。　My　fate　in　that　respect　was　settled　for　me　when　I　placed　my　trust　in　the　vagrant　road。　I　thought　for　a　time　that　I　was　more　than　a　match　for　the　Road；　but　I　soon　learned　that　the　Road　was　more　than　a　match　for　me。　Sly？　There's　no　name　for　it。　Alluring；　lovable；　mysteriousas　the　heart　of　a　woman。　Many　a　time　I　followed　the　Road　where　it　led　through　innocent　meadows　or　climbed　leisurely　hill　slopes　only　to　find　that　it　had　crept　around　slyly　and　led　me　before　I　knew　it　into　the　back　door　of　some　busy　town。

Mostly　in　this　country　the　towns　squat　low　in　the　valleys；　they　lie　in　wait　by　the　rivers；　and　often　I　scarcely　know　of　their　presence　until　I　am　so　close　upon　them　that　I　can　smell　the　breath　of　their　heated　nostrils　and　hear　their　low　growlings　and　grumblings。

My　fear　of　these　lesser　towns　has　never　been　profound。　I　have　even　been　bold　enough；　when　I　came　across　one　of　them；　to　hasten　straight　through　as　though　assured　that　Cerberus　was　securely　chained；　but　I　found；　after　a　time；　what　I　might　indeed　have　guessed；　that　the　Road；　also　led　irresistibly　to　the　lair　of　the　Old　Monster　himself；　the　He…one　of　the　species；　where　he　lies　upon　the　plain；　lolling　under　his　soiled　gray　blanket　of　smoke。

It　is　wonderful　to　be　safe　at　home　again；　to　watch　the　tender；　reddish　brown　shoots　of　the　Virginia　creeper　reaching　in　at　my　study　window；　to　see　the　green　of　my　own　quiet　fields；　to　hear　the　peaceful　clucking　of　the　hens　in　the　sunny　dooryardand　Harriet　humming　at　her　work　in　the　kitchen。


When　I　left　the　Ransomes　that　fine　spring　morning；　I　had　not　the　slightest　presentiment　of　what　the　world　held　in　store　for　me。　After　being　a　prisoner　of　the　weather　for　so　long；　I　took　to　the　Road　with　fresh　joy。　All　the　fields　were　of　a　misty　greenness　and　there　were　pools　still　shining　in　the　road；　but　the　air　was　deliciously　clear；　clean；　and　soft。　I　came　through　the　hill　country　for　three　or　four　miles；　even　running　down　some　of　the　steeper　places　for　the　very　joy　the　motion　gave　me；　the　feel　of　the　air　on　my　face。

Thus　I　came　finally　to　the　Great　Road；　and　stood　for　a　moment　looking　first　this　way；　then　that。

〃Where　now？〃　I　asked　aloud。

With　an　amusing　sense　of　the　possibilities　that　lay　open　before　me；　I　closed　my　eyes；　turned　slowly　around　several　times　and　then　stopped。　When　I　opened　my　eyes　I　was　facing　nearly　southward：　and　that　way　I　set　out；　not　knowing　in　the　least　what　Fortune　had　presided　at　that　turning。　If　I　had　gone　the　other　way

I　walked　vigorously　for　two　or　three　hours；　meeting　or　passing　many　people　upon　the　busy　road。　Automobiles　there　were　in　plenty；　and　loaded　wagons；　and　jolly　families　off　for　town；　and　a　herdsman　driving　sheep；　and　small　boys　on　their　way　to　school　with　their　dinner　pails；　and　a　gypsy　wagon　with　lean；　led　horses　following　behind；　and　even　a　Jewish　peddler　with　a　crinkly　black　beard；　whom　I　was　on　the　very　point　of　stopping。

〃I　should　like　sometime　to　know　a　Jew；〃　I　said　to　myself。

As　I　travelled；　feeling　like　one　who　possesses　hidden　riches；　I　came　quite　without　warning　upon　the　beginning　of　my　great　adventure。　I　had　been　looking　for　a　certain　thing　all　the　morning；　first　on　one　side　of　the　road；　then　the　other；　and　finally　I　was　rewarded。　There　it　was；　nailed　high　upon　tree；　the　curious；　familiar　sign：

＇　REST　＇

I　stopped　instantly。　It　seemed　like　an　old　friend。

〃Well；〃　said　I。　〃I'm　not　at　all　tired；　but　I　want　to　be　agreeable。〃

With　that　I　sat　down　on　a　convenient　stone；　took　off　my　hat；　wiped　my　forehead；　and　looked　about　me　with　satisfaction；　for　it　was　a　pleasant　country。

I　had　not　been　sitting　there　above　two　minutes　when　my　eyes　fell　upon　one　of　the　oddest　specimens　of　humanity　（I　thought　then）　that　ever　I　saw。　He　had　been　standing　near　the　roadside；　just　under　the　tree　upon　which　I　had　seen　the　sign；　〃Rest。〃　My　heart　dotted　and　carried　one。

〃The　sign　man　himself！〃　I　exclaimed。

I　arose　instantly　and　walked　down　the　road　toward　him。

〃A　man　has　only　to　stop　anywhere　here；〃　I　said　exultantly；　〃and　things　happen。

The　stranger's　appearance　was　indeed　extraordinary。　He　seemed　at　first　glimpse　to　be　about　twice　as　large　around　the　hips　as　he　was　at　the　shoulders；　but　this　I　soon　discovered　to　be　due　to　no　natural　avoir…dupois　but　to　the　prodigious　number　of　soiled　newspapers　and　magazines　with　which　the　low…hanging　pockets　of　his　overcoat　were　stuffed。　For　he　was　still　wearing　an　old　shabby　overcoat　though　the　weather　was　warm　and　brightand　on　his　head　was　an　odd　and　outlandish　hat。　It　was　of　fur；　flat　at　the　top；　flat　as　a　pie　tin；　with　the　moth…eaten　earlaps　turned　up　at　the　sides　and　looking　exactly　like　small　furry　ears。　These；　with　the　round　steel　spectacles　which　he　worethe　only　distinctive　feature　of　his　countenancegave　him　an　indescribably　droll　appearance。

〃A　fox！〃　I　thought。

Then　I　looked　at　him　more　closely。

〃No；〃　said　I；　〃an　owl；　an　owl！〃

The　stranger　stepped　out　into　the　road　and　evidently　awaited　my　approach。　My　first　vivid　impression　of　his　faceI　remember　it　afterward　shining　with　a　strange　inward　illuminationwas　not　favourable。　It　was　a　deep…lined；　scarred；　worn…looking　face；　insignificant　if　not　indeed　ugly　in　its　features；　and　yet；　even　at　the　first　glance；　revealing　something　inexplainableincalculable

〃Good　day；　friend；〃　I　said　heartily。

Without　replying　to　my　greeting；　he　asked：

〃Is　this　the　road　to　Kilburn？〃with　a　faint　flavour　of　foreignness　in　his　words。

〃I　think　it　is；〃　I　replied；　and　I　noticed　as　he　lifted　his　hand　to　thank　me　that　one　finger　was　missing　and　that　the　hand　itself　was　cruelly　twisted　and　scarred。

The　stranger　instantly　set　off　up　the　Road　without　giving　me　much　more　attention　than　he　would　have　given　any　other　signpost。　I　stood　a　moment　looking　after　himthe　wings　of　his　overcoat　beating　about　his　legs　and　the　small　furry　ears　on　his　cap　wagging　gently。

〃There；〃　said　I　aloud；　〃is　a　man　who　is　actually　going　somewhere。〃

So　many　men　in　this　world　are　going　nowhere　in　particular　that　when　one　comes　alongeven　though　he　be　amusing　and　insignificantwho　is　really　（and　passionately）　going　somewhere；　what　a　stir　he　communicates　to　a　dull　world！　We　catch　sparks　of　electricity　from　the　very　friction　of　his　passage。

It　was　so　with　this　odd　stranger。　Though　at　one　moment　I　could　not　help　smiling　at　him；　at　the　next　I　was　following　him。

〃It　may　be；〃　said　I　to　myself；　〃that　this　is　really　the　sign　man！〃

I　felt　like　Captain　Kidd　under　full　sail　to　capture　a　treasure　ship；　and　as　I　approached　I　was　much　agitated　as　to　the　best　method　of　grappling　and　boarding。　I　finally　decided；　being　a　lover　of　bold　methods；　to　let　go　my　largest　gun　firstfor　moral　effect。

〃So；〃　said　I；　as　I　ran　alongside；〃you　are　the　man　who　puts　up　the　signs。〃

He　stopped　and　looked　at　me。

〃What　signs？〃

〃Why　the　sign　'Rest'　along　this　road。〃

He　paused　for　some　seconds　with　a　perplexed　expression　on　his　face。

〃Then　you　are　not　the　sign　man？〃　I　said。

〃No；〃　he　replied；　〃I　ain't　any　sign　man。〃

I　was　not　a　little　disappointed；　but　having　made　my　attack；　I　determined　to　see　if　there　was　any　treasure　aboardwhich；　I　suppose；　should　be　the　procedure　of　any　well…regulated　pirate。

〃I'm　going　this　way　myself；〃　I　said；　〃and　if　you　have　no　objections〃

He　stood　looking　at　me　curiously；　indeed　suspiciously；　through　his　round　spectacles。

〃Have　you　got　the　passport？〃　he　asked　finally。

〃The　passport！〃　I　exclaimed；　mystified　in　my　turn。

〃Yes；〃　said　he；　〃the　passport。　Let　me　see　your　hand。〃

When　I　held　out　my　hand　he　looked　at　it　closely　for　a　moment；　and　then　took　it　with　a　quick　warm　pressure　in　one　of　his；　and　gave　it　a　little　shake；　in　a　way　not　quite　American。

〃You　are　one　of　us；〃　said　he；　〃you　work。〃

I　thought　at　first　that　it　was　a　bit　of　pleasantry；　and　I　was　about　to　return　it　in　kind　when　I　saw　plainly　in　his　face　a　look　of　solemn　intent。

〃So；〃　he　said；　〃we　shall　travel　like　comrades。〃

He　thrust　his　scarred　hand　through　my　arm；　and　we　walked　up　the　road　side　by　side；　his　bulging　pockets　beating　first　against　his　legs　and　then　against　mine；　quite　impartially。

〃I　think；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃that　we　shall　be　arrested　at　Kilburn。〃

〃We　shall！〃　I　exclaimed　with　something；　I　admit；　of　a　shock。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　is　all　in　the　day's　work。〃

〃How　is　that？〃

He　stopped　in　the　road　and　faced　me。　Throwing　back　his　overcoat　he　pointed　to　a　small　red　button　on　his　coat　lapel。

〃They　don't　want　me　in　Kilburn；〃　said　he；　〃the　mill　men　are　strikin'　there；　and　the　bosses　have　got　armed　men　on　every　corner。　Oh；　the　capitalists　are　watchin'　for　me；　all　right。〃

I　cannot　convey　the　strange　excitement　I　felt。　It　seemed　as　though　these　words　suddenly　opened　a　whole　new　world　around　mea　world　I　had　heard　about　for　years；　but　never　entered。　And　the　tone　in　which　he　had　used　the　word　〃capitalist！〃　I　had　almost　to　glance　around　to　make　sure　that　there　were　no　ravening　capitalists　hiding　behind　the　trees。

〃So　you　are　a　Socialist；〃　I　said。

〃Yes；〃　he　answered。　〃I'm　one　of　those　dangerous　persons。〃

First　and　last　I　have　read　much　of　Socialism；　and　thought　about　it；　too；　from　the　quiet　angle　of　my　farm　among　the　hills；　but　this　was　the　first　time　I　had　ever　had　a　live　Socialist　on　my　arm。　I　could　not　have　been　more　surprised　if　the　stranger　had　said；　〃Yes；　I　am　Theodore　Roosevelt。〃

One　of　the　discoveries　we　keep　making　all　our　life　long　（provided　we　remain　humble）　is　the　humorous　discovery　of　the　ordinariness　of　the　extraordinary。　Here　was　this　disrupter　of　society；　this　man　of　the　red　flaghere　he　was　with　his　mild　spectacled　eyes　and　his　furry　ears　wagging　as　he　walked。　It　was　unbelievable！and　the　sun　shining　on　him　quite　as　impartially　as　it　shone　on　me。

Coming　at　last　to　a　pleasant　bit　of　woodland；　where　a　stream　ran　under　the　roadway；　I　said：

〃Stranger；　let's　sit　down　and　have　a　bite　of　luncheon。〃

He　began　to　expostulate；　said　he　was　expected　in　Kilburn。

〃Oh；　I've　plenty　for　two；〃　I　said；　〃and　I　can　say；　at　least；　that　I　am　a　firm　believer　in　cooperation。

Without　more　urging　he　followed　me　into　the　woods；　where　we　sat　down　comfortably　under　a　tree。

Now；　when　I　take　a　fine　thick　sandwich　out　of　my　bag；　I　always　feel　like　making　it　a　polite　bow；　and　before　I　bite　into　a　big　brown　doughnut；　I　am　tempted　to　say；　〃By　your　leave；　madam；〃　and　as　for　MINCE　PIEBeau　Brummel　himself　could　not　outdo　me　in　respectful　consideration。　But　Bill　Hahn　neither　saw；　nor　smelled；　nor；　I　think；　tasted　Mrs。　Ransome's　cookery。　As　soon　as　we　sat　down　he　began　talking。　From　time　to　time　he　woul