eben holden-第2部分

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nd　that　everything　had　to　be　sold。　Uncle　Eb　and　I　…　a　little　lad；　a　very　little　lad　of　six　…　were　all　that　was　left　of　what　had　been　in　that　home。　Some　were　for　sending　me　to　the　county　house；　but　they　decided；　finally；　to　turn　me　over　to　a　dissolute　uncle；　with　some　allowance　for　my　keep。　Therein　Uncle　Eb　was　to　be　reckoned　with。　He　had　set　his　heart　on　keeping　me；　but　he　was　a　farm…hand　without　any　home　or　visible　property　and　not；　therefore；　in　the　mind　of　the　authorities；　a　proper　guardian。　He　had　me　with　him　in　the　old　house；　and　the　very　night　he　heard　they　were　coming　after　me　in　the　morning；　we　started　on　our　journey。　I　remember　he　was　a　long　time　tying　packages　of　bread　and　butter　and　tea　and　boiled　eggs　to　the　rim　of　the　basket；　so　that　they　hung　on　the　outside。　Then　he　put　a　woollen　shawl　and　an　oilcloth　blanket　on　the　bottom；　pulled　the　straps　over　his　shoulders　and　buckled　them；　standing　before　the　looking…glass；　and；　hang　put　on　my　cap　and　coat；　stood　me　on　the　table；　and　stooped　so　that　I　could　climb　into　the　basket　…　a　pack　basket；　that　he　had　used　in　hunting；　the　top　a　little　smaller　than　the　bottom。　Once　in；　I　could　stand　comfortably　or　sit　facing　sideways；　my　back　and　knees　wedged　from　port　to　starboard。　With　me　in　my　place　he　blew　out　the　lantern　and　groped　his　way　to　the　road；　his　cane　in　one　hand；　his　rifle　in　the　other。　Fred；　our　old　dog　…　a　black　shepherd；　with　tawny　points　…　came　after　us。　Uncle　Eb　scolded　him　and　tried　to　send　him　back；　but　I　pleaded　for　the　poor　creature　and　that　settled　it；　he　was　one　of　our　party。

'Dunno　how　we'll　feed　him；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'Our　own　mouths　are　big　enough　t'　take　all　we　can　carry；　but　I　hain'　no　heart　t'　leave　'im　all　'lone　there。'

I　was　old　for　my　age；　they　tell　me；　and　had　a　serious　look　and　a　wise　way　of　talking；　for　a　boy　so　young；　but　I　had　no　notion　of　what　lay　before　or　behind　us。

'Now；　boy；　take　a　good　look　at　the　old　house；'　I　remember　he　whispered　to　me　at　the　gate　that　night　''Tain't　likely　ye'll　ever　see　it　ag'in。　Keep　quiet　now；'　he　added；　letting　down　the　bars　at　the　foot　of　the　lane。　'We're　goin'　west　an'　we　mustn't　let　the　grass　grow　under　us。　Got　t'be　purty　spry　I　can'tell　ye。'

It　was　quite　dark　and　he　felt　his　way　carefully　down　the　cow…paths　into　the　broad　pasture。　With　every　step　I　kept　a　sharp　lookout　for　swifts；　and　the　moon　shone　after　a　while；　making　my　work　easier。

I　had　to　hold　my　head　down；　presently；　when　the　tall　brush　began　to　whip　the　basket　and　I　heard　the　big　boots　of　Uncle　Eb　ripping　the　briars。　Then　we　came　into　the　blackness　of　the　thick　timber　and　I　could　hear　him　feeling　his　way　over　the　dead　leaves　with　his　cane。　I　got　down；　shortly；　and　walked　beside　him；　holding　on　to　the　rifle　with　one　hand。　We　stumbled；　often；　and　were　long　in　the　trail　before　we　could　see　the　moonlight　through　the　tree　columns。　In　the　clearing　I　climbed　to　my　seat　again　and　by　and　by　we　came　to　the　road　where　my　companion　sat　down　resting　his　load　on　a　boulder。

'Pretty　hot；　Uncle　Eb；　pretty　hot；'　he　said　to　himself；　fanning　his　brow　with　that　old　felt　hat　he　wore　everywhere。　'We've　come　three　mile　er　more　without　a　stop　an'　I　guess　we'd　better　rest　a　jiffy。'

My　legs　ached　too；　and　I　was　getting　very　sleepy。　I　remember　the　jolt　of　the　basket　as　he　rose；　and　hearing　him　say；　'Well；　Uncle　Eb；　I　guess　we'd　better　be　goin'。'

The　elbow　that　held　my　head；　lying　on　the　rim　of　the　basket；　was　already　numb；　but　the　prickling　could　no　longer　rouse　me；　and　half…dead　with　weariness；　I　fell　asleep。　Uncle　Eb　has　told　me　since；　that　I　tumbled　out　of　the　basket　once；　and　that　he　had　a　time　of　it　getting　me　in　again；　but　I　remember　nothing　more　of　that　day's　history。

When　I　woke　in　the　morning；　I　could　hear　the　crackling　of　fire；　and　felt　very　warm　and　cosy　wrapped　in　the　big　shawl。　I　got　a　cheery　greeting　from　Uncle　Eb；　who　was　feeding　the　fire　with　a　big　heap　of　sticks　that　he　had　piled　together。　Old　Fred　was　licking　my　hands　with　his　rough　tongue；　and　I　suppose　that　is　what　waked　me。　Tea　was　steeping　in　the　little　pot　that　hung　over　the　fire；　and　our　breakfast　of　boiled　eggs　and　bread　and　butter　lay　on　a　paper　beside　it。　I　remember　well　the　scene　of　our　little　camp　that　morning。　We　had　come　to　a　strange　country；　and　there　was　no　road　in　sight。　A　wooded　hill　lay　back　of　us；　and；　just　before；　ran　a　noisy　little　brook；　winding　between　smooth　banks；　through　a　long　pasture　into　a　dense　wood。　Behind　a　wall　on　the　opposite　shore　a　great　field　of　rustling　corn　filled　a　broad　valley　and　stood　higher　than　a　man's　head。

While　I　went　to　wash　my　face　in　the　clear　water　Uncle　Eb　was　husking　some　ears　of　corn　that　he　took　out　of　his　pocket；　and　had　them　roasting　over　the　fire　in　a　moment。　We　ate　heartily；　giving　Fred　two　big　slices　of　bread　and　butter；　packing　up　with　enough　remaining　for　another　day。　Breakfast　over　we　doused　the　fire　and　Uncle　Eb　put　on　his　basket　He　made　after　a　squirrel；　presently；　with　old　Fred；　and　brought　him　down　out　of　a　tree　by　hurling　stones　at　him　and　then　the　faithful　follower　of　our　camp　got　a　bit　of　meat　for　his　breakfast。　We　climbed　the　wall；　as　he　ate；　and　buried　ourselves　in　the　deep　corn。　The　fragrant；　silky　tassels　brushed　my　face　and　the　corn　hissed　at　our　intrusion；　crossing　its　green　sabers　in　our　path。　Far　in　the　field　my　companion　heaped　a　little　of　the　soft　earth　for　a　pillow；　spread　the　oil　cloth　between　rows　and；　as　we　lay　down；　drew　the　big　shawl　over　us。　Uncle　Eb　was　tired　after　the　toil　of　that　night　and　went　asleep　almost　as　soon　as　he　was　down。　Before　I　dropped　off　Fred　came　and　licked　my　face　and　stepped　over　me；　his　tail　wagging　for　leave；　and　curled　upon　the　shawl　at　my　feet。　I　could　see　no　sky　in　that　gloomy　green　aisle　of　corn。　This　going　to　bed　in　the　morning　seemed　a　foolish　business　to　me　that　day　and　I　lay　a　long　time　looking　up　at　the　rustling　canopy　overhead。　I　remember　listening　to　the　waves　that　came　whispering　out　of　the　further　field；　nearer　and　nearer；　until　they　swept　over　us　with　a　roaring　swash　of　leaves；　like　that　of　water　flooding　among　rocks；　as　I　have　heard　it　often。　A　twinge　of　homesick　ness　came　to　me　and　the　snoring　of　Uncle　Eb　gave　me　no　comfort。　I　remember　covering　my　head　and　crying　softly　as　I　thought　of　those　who　had　gone　away　and　whom　I　was　to　meet　in　a　far　country；　called　Heaven；　whither　we　were　going。　I　forgot　my　sorrow；　finally；　in　sleep。　When　I　awoke　it　had　grown　dusk　under　the　corn。　I　felt　for　Uncle　Eb　and　he　was　gone。　Then　I　called　to　him。

'Hush；　boy！　lie　low；'　he　whispered；　bending　over　me；　a　sharp　look　in　his　eye。'　'Fraid　they're　after　us。'

He　sat　kneeling　beside　me；　holding　Fred　by　the　collar　and　listening。　I　could　hear　voices；　the　rustle　of　the　corn　and　the　tramp　of　feet　near　by。　It　was　thundering　in　the　distance　…　that　heavy；　shaking　thunder　that　seems　to　take　hold　of　the　earth；　and　there　were　sounds　in　the　corn　like　the　drawing　of　sabers　and　the　rush　of　many　feet。　The　noisy　thunder　clouds　came　nearer　and　the　voices　that　had　made　us　tremble　were　no　longer　heard。　Uncle　Eb　began　to　fasten　the　oil　blanket　to　the　stalks　of　corn　for　a　shelter。　The　rain　came　roaring　over　us。　The　sound　of　it　was　like　that　of　a　host　of　cavalry　coming　at　a　gallop。　We　lay　bracing　the　stalks；