eben holden-第32章

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age。　He　turned　the　horse's　head；　let　up　on　the　reins　and　whistled。　I　have　never　felt　such　a　thrill　as　then。　Our　horse　leaped　into　the　deep　grass　running　like　a　wild　deer。

'Hi　there！　hi　there！'　Uncle　Eb　shouted；　bouncing　in　his　seat；　as　we　went　over　stones　and　hummocks　going　like　the　wind。

'Go；　ye　brown　devil！'　he　yelled；　his　hat　flying　off　as　he　shook　the　reins。

The　mare　lost　her　stride；　we　flashed　by　and　came　up　into　the　road。　Looking　back　I　saw　her　jumping　up　and　down　a　long　way　behind　us　and　Dean　whipping　her。　Uncle　Eb；　his　hands　over　the　dasher；　had　pulled　down　to　a　trot　Ahead　of　us　we　could　see　our　folks　…　men　and　women　…　at　the　gate　looking　down　the　road　at　us　waving　hats　and　handkerchieis。　They　had　heard　the　noise　of　the　battle。　Uncle　Eb　let　up　on　the　reins　and　looked　back　snorting　with　amusement。　In　a　moment　we　pulled　up　at　our　gate。　Dean　came　along　slowly。

'Thet's　a　putty　good　mare；'　said　Uncle　Eb。

'Yer　welcome　to　her；'　said　Dean　sullenly。

'Wouldn't　hev　her；'　said　Uncle　Eb。

'Why　not？'　said　the　trader　a　look　of　relief　coming　over　his　face。

'Can't　go　fast　enough　for　my　use；'　Uncle　Eb　answered。　'Ye　can　jest　hitch　her　in　here　awhile　an'　the　first　day　ye　come　over　with　a　hundred　dollars　ye　can　hev　her　'n　the　whistler；　both　on　'em。　Thet　whistler's　a　grand　hoss！　Can　hold　his　breath　longer'n　any　hoss　I　ever　knew！'

The　sum　named　was　that　we　had　paid　him　for　the　highiy　accomplished　animal。　Dean　had　the　manhood　to　pay　up　then　and　there　and　said　he　would　send　for　the　other　horse；　which　he　never　did。

'Guess　he　won't　bother　us　any　more　when　we　stop　t'　look　at　the　scenery；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　laughing　as　Dean　drove　away。　'Kind　o'　resky　business　buyin'　hosses；'　he　added。　'Got　t'　jedge　the　owner　as　well　as　the　hoss。　If　there's　anything　the　matter　with　his　conscience　it'll　come　out　in　the　hoss　somewhere　every　time。　Never　knew　a　mean　man　t'　own　a　good　hoss。　Remember；　boy；　's　a　lame　soul　thet　drives　a　limpin'　hoss。'

'No　use　talkin'；　Bill　ain'　no　jedge　uv　a　hoss'　said　David　Brower。　'He'll　hev　t'　hev　an　education　er　he'll　git　t'　the　poorhouse　someday　sartin。'

'Wall　he's　a　good　jedge　o'　gals　anyway；'　said　Uncle　Eb。

As　for　myself　I　was　now　hopelessly　confirmed　in　my　dislike　of　farming　and　I　never　traded　horses　again。

Chapter　23

Late　in　August　Uncle　Eb　and　I　took　our　Black　Hawk　stallion　to　the　fair　in　HilIsborough　and　showed　him　for　a　prize。　He　was　fit　for　the　eye　of　a　king　when　we　had　finished　grooming　him；　that　morning；　and　led　him　out；　rearing　in　play；　his　eyes　flashing　from　under　his　broad　plume；　so　that　all　might　have　a　last　look　at　him。　His　arched　neck　and　slim　barrel　glowed　like　satin　as　the　sunlight　fell　upon　him。　His　black　mane　flew；　he　shook　the　ground　with　his　hoofs　playing　at　the　halter's　end。　He　hated　a　harness　and　once　in　it　lost　half　his　conceit。　But　he　was　vainest　of　all　things　in　Faraway　when　we　drove　off　with　him　that　morning。

All　roads　led　to　HilIsborough　fair　time。　Up　and　down　the　long　hills　we　went　on　a　stiff　jog　passing　lumber　wagons　with　generations　enough　in　them　to　make　a　respectable　genealogy；　the　old　people　in　chairs；　light　wagons　that　carried　young　men　and　their　sweethearts；　baclswoodsmen　coming　out　in　ancient　vehicles　upon　reeling；　creaking　wheels　to　get　food　for　a　year's　reflection　…　all　thickening　the　haze　of　the　late　summer　with　the　dust　of　the　roads。　And　Hillsborough　itself　was　black　with　people。　The　shouts　of　excited　men；　the　neighing　of　horses；　the　bellowing　of　cattle；　the　wailing　of　infants；　the　howling　of　vendors；　the　pressing　crowd；　had　begun　to　sow　the　seed　of　misery　in　the　minds　of　those　accustomed　only　to　the　peaceflil　quietude　of　the　farm。　The　staring　eye；　the　palpitating　heart；　the　aching　head；　were　successive　stages　in　the　doom　of　many。　The　fair　had　its　floral　hall　carpeted　with　sawdust　and　redolent　of　cedar；　its　dairy　house；　its　mechanics'　hall　sacred　to　fiuming　implements；　its　long　sheds　ftill　of　sheep　and　cattle；　its　dining…hall；　its　temporary　booths　of　rough　lumber；　its　half…mile　track　and　grandstand。　Here　voices　of　beast　and　vendor　mingied　in　a　chorus　of　cupidity　and　distress。　In　Floral　Hall　Sol　Rollin　was　on　exhibition。　He　gave　me　a　cold　nod；　his　lips　set　for　a　tune　as　yet　inaudible。　He　was　surveying　sundry　examples　of　rustic　art　that　hung　on　the　circular　railing　of　the　gallery　and　tryingto　preserve　a　calm　breast。　He　was　looking　at　Susan　Baker's　painted　cow　that　hung　near　us。

'Very　descriptive；'　he　said　when　I　pressed　him　for　his　notion　of　it。　'Rod　Baker's　sister　Susan　made　thet　cow。　Gits　tew　dollars　an'　fifty　cents　every　fair　time　…　wish　I　was　dewin　's　well。'

'That's　one　of　the　most　profitable　cows　in　this　country；'　I　said。

'Looks　a　good　deal　like　a　new　breed。'

'Yes；'　he　answered　soberly；　then　he　set　his　lips；　threw　a　sweeping　glance　into　the　gallery；　and　passed　on。

Susan　Baker's　cow　was　one　of　the　permanent　features　of　the　county　fair；　and　was　indeed　a　curiosity　not　less　remarkable　than　the　sacred　ox　of　Mr　Bamum。

Here　also　I　met　a　group　of　the　pretty　girls　who　had　been　my　schoolmates。　They　surrounded　me；　chattering　like　magpies。

'There's　going　to　be　a　dance　at　our　house　tonight；'　said　one　of　them；　'and　you　must　come。'

'I　cannot；　I　must　go　home；'　I　said。

'Of　course！'　said　a　red…cheeked　saucy　miss。　'The　stuck…up　thing！　He　wouldn't　go　anywhere　unless　he　could　have　his　sister　with　him。'

Then　they　went　away　laughing。

I　found　Ab　Thomas　at　the　rifle　range。　He　was　whittling　as　he　considered　a　challenge　from　Tip　Taylor　to　shoot　a　match。　He　turned　and　'hefted'　the　rifle；　silently；　and　then　he　squinted　over　the　barrel　two　or　three　times。

'Dunno　but　what　I'll　try　ye　once；'　he　said　presently；　'jes　t'　see。'　

Once　started　they　grew　red　in　their　faces　and　shot　themselves　weary　in　a　reckless　contest　of　skiIl　and　endurance。　A　great　hulking　fellow；　half　drunk　and　a　bit　quarrelsome；　came　up；　presently；　and　endeavoured　to　help　Ab　hold　his　rifle。　The　latter　brushed　him　away　and　said　nothing　for　a　moment。　But　every　time　he　tried　to　take　aim　the　man　jostled　him。

An　looked　up　slowly　and　calmly；　his　eyebrows　tilted　for　his　aim；　and　said；　'Go　off　I　tell　ye。'　Then　he　set　himself　and　took　aim　again。

'Le'me　hold　it；'　said　the　man；　reaching　for　the　barrel。　'Shoot　better　if　I　do　the　ainin'。'　A　laugh　greeted　this　remark。　Ab　looked　up　again。　There　was　a　quick　start　in　his　great　slouching　figure。

'Take　yer　hand　off　o'　thet；'　he　said　a　little　louder　than　before。　

The　man；　aching　for　more　applause；　grew　more　impertinent　Ab　quietly　handed　the　rifle　to　its　owner。　Then　something　happened　suddenly。　It　was　so　quickly　over　I　am　not　quite　sure　of　the　order　of　business；　but　anyhow　he　seized　the　intruder　by　the　shoulders　flinging　him　down　so　heavily　it　knocked　the　dust　out　of　the　grass。

'A　fight！'　somebody　shouted　and　men　and　boys　came　runing　from　all　sides。　We　were　locked　in　a　pushing　crowd　before　I　could　turn。　The　intruder　lay　stunned　a　moment。　Then　he　rose；　bare　headed；　his　back　covered　with　dust；　pushed　his　way　out　and　ran。

Ab　turned　quietly　to　the　range。

'Hedn't　orter　t'　come　an'　try　t'　dew　my　aimin'；'　he　said　mildly；　by　way　of　protest；　'I　won't　hev　it。'

Then　he　enquired　about　the　score　and　calmly　took　aim　again。　The　stallion　show　came　on　that　afternoon。

'They　can't　never　beat　thet　hoss；'　Uncle　Eb　had　said　to　me。

''Fraid　they　will；'　I　answered。　'They're　better　hitched　for　one　thing。'

'But　they　hain't　got　the　ginger　in　'em；'　said　he；　'er　the　git　up　'n　git。　If　we　can　show　what's　in　him　the　Hawk'll　beat　'em　easy。'

If　we　won　I　was　to　get　the　prize　but　I　had　small　hope　of　winning。　When　I　saw　one　after　another　prance　out；　in　sparkling　silver　harness　adorned　with　rosettes　of　ribbon　…　light　stepping；　beautiful　creatures　all　of　them　…　I　could　see　nothing　but　defeat　for　us。　Indeed　I　could　see　we　had　been　too　confident。　I　dreaded　the　moment　when　Uncle　Eb　should　drive　down　with　Black　Hawk　in　a　plain　leather　harness；　drawing　a　plainer　buggy。　I　had　planned　to　spend　the　prize　money　taking　Hope　to　the　harvest　ball　at　Rickard's；　and　I　had　worked　hard　to　put　the　Hawk　in　good　fettle。　I　began　to　feel　the　bitterness　of　failure。

'Black　Hawk！　Where　is　Black　Hawk？'　said　one　of　the　judges　loudly。

'Owned　by　David　Brower　o'　Faraway；'　said　anot