eben holden-第6章

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rowled　a　little　and　started　to　run。　Uncle　Eb　shouted　'whoa'；　and　held　him　back；　and　then　the　dog　got　down　on　his　belly　and　trembled　until　we　patted　his　head　and　gave　him　a　kind　word。　He　seemed　to　understand　presently　and　came　along　with　a　steady　stride。　Our　hostess　met　us　at　the　gate　and　the　look　of　her　face　when　she　bade　us　goodbye　and　tucked　some　cookies　into　my　pocket；　has　always　lingered　in　my　memory　and　put　in　me　a　mighty　respect　for　all　women。　The　sound　of　her　voice；　the　tears；　the　waving　of　her　handkerchief；　as　we　went　away；　are　among　the　things　that　have　made　me　what　I　am。

We　stowed　our　packages　in　the　wagon　box　and　I　walked　a　few　miles　and　then　got　into　the　empty　basket。　Fred　tipped　his　load　over　once　or　twice；　but　got　a　steady　gait　in　the　way　of　industry　after　a　while　and　a　more　cheerful　look。　We　had　our　dinner　by　the　roadside　on　the　bank　of　a　brook；　an　hour　or　so　after　midday；　and　came　to　a　little　village　about　sundown。　As　we　were　nearing　it　there　was　some　excitement　among　the　dogs　and　one　of　them　tackled　Fred。　He　went　into　battle　very　promptly；　the　wagon　jumping　and　rattling　until　it　turned　bottom　up。　Re…enforced　by　Uncle　Eb's　cane　he　soon　saw　the　heels　of　his　aggressor　and　stood　growling　savagely。　He　was　like　the　goal　in　a　puzzle　maze　all　wound　and　tangled　in　his　harness　and　it　took　some　time　to　get　his　face　before　him　and　his　feet　free。

At　a　small　grocery　where　groups　of　men；　just　out　of　the　fields；　were　sitting；　their　arms　bare　to　the　elbows；　we　bought　more　bread　and　butter。　In　paying　for　it　Uncle　Eb　took　a　package　out　of　his　trouser　pocket　to　get　his　change。　It　was　tied　in　a　red　handkerchief　and　I　remember　it　looked　to　be　about　the　size　of　his　fist。　He　was　putting　it　back　when　it　fell　from　his　hand；　heavily；　and　I　could　hear　the　chink　of　coin　as　it　struck。　One　of　the　men；　who　sat　near；　picked　it　up　and　gave　it　back　to　him。　As　I　remember　well；　his　kindness　had　an　evil　flavour；　for　he　winked　at　his　companions；　who　nudged　each　other　as　they　smiled　knowingly。　Uncle　Eb　was　a　bit　cross；　when　I　climbed　into　the　basket；　and　walked　along　in　silence　so　rapidly　it　worried　the　dog　to　keep　pace。　The　leading　rope　was　tied　to　the　stock　of　the　rifle　and　Fred's　walking　gait　was　too　slow　for　the　comfort　of　his　neck。

'You　shifless　cuss！　I'll　put　a　kink　in　your　neck　fer　you　if　ye　don't　walk　up；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　looked　back　at　the　dog；　in　a　temper　wholly　unworthy　of　him。

We　had　crossed　a　deep　valley　and　were　climbing　a　long　hill　in　the　dusky　twilight

'Willie；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　'your　eyes　are　better'n　mine　…　look　back　and　see　if　anyone's　comin'。'

'Can't　see　anyone；'　I　answered。

'Look　'way　back　in　the　road　as　fur　as　ye　can　see。

I　did　so；　but　I　could　see　no　one。　He　slackened　his　pace　a　little　after　that　and　before　we　had　passed　the　hill　it　was　getting　dark。　The　road　ran　into　woods　and　a　river　cut　through　them　a　little　way　from　the　clearing。

'Supper　time；　Uncle　Eb；'　I　suggested；　as　we　came　to　the　bridge。

'Supper　time；　Uncle　Eb；'　he　answered；　turning　down　to　the　shore。

I　got　out　of　the　basket　then　and　followed　him　in　the　brush。　Fred　found　it　hard　travelling　here　and　shortly　we　took　off　his　harness　and　left　the　wagon；　transferring　its　load　to　the　basket；　while　we　pushed　on　to　find　a　camping　place。　Back　in　the　thick　timber　a　long　way　from　the　road；　we　built　a　fire　and　had　our　supper。　It　was　a　dry　nook　in　the　pines　…'tight　as　a　house；'　Uncle　Eb　said　…　and　carpeted　with　the　fragrant　needles。　When　we　lay　on　our　backs　in　the　firelight　I　remember　the　weary；　droning　voice　of　Uncle　Eb　had　an　impressive　accompaniment　of　whispers。　While　he　told　stories　1　had　a　glowing　cinder　on　the　end　of　a　stick　and　was　weaving　fiery　skeins　in　the　gloom。

He　had　been　telling　me　of　a　panther　he　had　met　in　the　woods；　one　day；　and　how　the　creature　ran　away　at　the　sight　of　him。

'Why's　a　panther　'fraid　o'　folks？'　I　enquired。

'Wall；　ye　see；　they　used　t'　be　friendly；　years　'n　years　ago　…　folks　'n　panthers　…　but　they　want　eggszac'ly　cal'lated　t'　git　along　t'gether　some　way。　An'　ol'　she　panther　gin　'em　one　uv　her　cubs；　a　great　while　ago；　jes　t'　make　frien's。　The　cub　he　grew　big　'n　used　t'　play　'n　be　very　gentle。　They　wuz　a　boy　he　tuk　to；　an'　both　on　'em　got　very　friendly。　The　boy　'n　the　panther　went　off　one　day　'n　the　woods　…　guess　'twas　more　'n　a　hundred　year　ago　…　an'　was　lost。　Walked　all　over'n　fin'ly　got　t'　gom'　round　'n　round　'n　a　big　circle　'til　they　was　both　on　'em　tired　out。　Come　night　they　lay　down　es　hungry　es　tew　bears。　The　boy　he　was　kind　o'　'fraid　'o　the　dark；　so　he　got　up　clus　t'　the　panther　'n　lay　'tween　his　paws。　The　boy　he　thought　the　panther　smelt　funny　an'　the　panther　he　didn't　jes'　like　the　smell　o'　the　boy。　An'　the　boy　he　hed　the　legache　'n　kicked　the　panther　'n　the　belly；　so　't　he　kin'　o'　gagged　'n　spit　an'　they　want　neither　on　'em　reel　comf'able。　The　sof　paws　o'　the　panther　was　jes'　like　pincushions。　He'd　great　hooks　in　'em　sharper　'n　the　p'int　uv　a　needle。　An'　when　he　was　goin'　t'　sleep　he'd　run　'em　out　jes'　like　an　ol'　cat　…　kind　o'　playflil　…　'n　purr　'n　pull。　All　t'　once　the　boy　felt　sumthin'　like　a　lot　o'　needles　prickin'　his　back。　Made　him　jump　'n　holler　like　Sam　Hill。　The　panther　he　spit　sassy　'n　riz　up　'n　smelt　o'　the　ground。　Didn't　neither　on　'em　know　what　was　the　matter。　Bime　bye　they　lay　down　ag'in。　'Twant　only　a　little　while　'fore　the　boy　felt　somethin'　prickin'　uv　him。　He　hollered　'n　kicked　ag'in。　The　panther　he　growled　'n　spit　'n　dumb　a　tree　'n　sot　on　a　limb　'n　peeked　over　at　thet　queer　little　critter。　Couldn't　neither　on　'em　understan'　it。　The　boy　c'u'd　see　the　eyes　o'　the　panther　'n　the　dark。　Shone　like　tew　live　coals　eggszac'ly。　The　panther　'd　never　sot　'n　a　tree　when　he　was　hungry；　'n　see　a　boy　below　him。　Sumthin'　tol'　him　t'　jump。　Tail　went　swish　in　the　leaves　like　thet。　His　whiskers　quivered；　his　tongue　come　out。　C'u'd　think　o'　nuthin'　but　his　big　empty　belly。　The　boy　was　scairt。　He　up　with　his　gun　quick　es　a　flash。　Aimed　at　his　eyes　'n　let　'er　flicker。　Blew　a　lot　o'　smoke　'n　bird　shot　'n　paper　waddin'　right　up　in　t'　his　face。　The　panther　he　lost　his　whiskers　'n　one　eye　'n　got　his　hide　fill'　o'　shot　'n　fell　off　the　tree　like　a　ripe　apple　'n　run　fer　his　life。　Thought　he'd　never　see　nuthin'　c'u'd　growl　'n　spits　'　powerful　es　thet　boy。　Never　c'u'd　bear　the　sight　uv　a　man　after　thet。　Allwus　made　him　gag　'n　spit　t'　think　o'　the　man　critter。　Went　off　tew　his　own　folks　'n　tol'　o'　the　boy　'at　spit　fire　'n　smoke　'n　growled　so't　almos'　tore　his　ears　off　An'　now；　whenever　they　hear　a　gun　go　off　they　allwus　thank　it's　the　man　critter　growlin'。　An'　they　gag　'n　spit　'n　look　es　if　it　made　'em　sick　t'　the　stomach。　An'　the　man　folks　they　didn't　hev　no　good　'pimon　o'　the　panthers　after　thet。　Haint　never　been　frien's　any　more。　Fact　is　a　man；　he　can　be　any　kind　uv　a　beast；　but　a　panther　he　can't　be　nuthin'　but　jest　a　panther。'

Then；　too；　as　we　lay　there　in　the　firelight；　Uncle　Eb　told　the　remarkable　story　of　the　gingerbread　hear。　He　told　it　slowly；　as　if　his　invention　were　severely　taxed。

'Once　they　wuz　a　boy　got　lost。　Was　goin'　cross　lots　t'　play　with　'nother　boy　'n　lied　t'　go　through　a　strip　o'　woods。　Went　off　the　trail　t'　chase　a　butterfly　'n　got　lost。　Hed　his　kite　'n'　cross…gun　'n'　he　wandered　all　over　'til　he　was　tired　'n　hungry。　Then　he　lay　down　t'　cry　on　a　bed　o'　moss。　Putty　quick　they　was　a　big　black　bear　come　along。

'〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　the　bear。

'〃Hungry；〃　says　the　boy。

'〃Tell　ye　what　I'll　dew；〃　says　the　bear。　〃If　ye'll　scratch　my　back　fer　me　I'll　let　ye　cut　a　piece　o'　my　tail　off　t'　eat。〃

'Bear's　tail；　ye　know；　hes　a　lot　o'　meat　on　it　…　heam　tell　it　was　gran'　good　fare。　So　the　boy　he　scratched　the　bear's　back　an'　the　bear　he　grinned　an'　made　his　paw　go　patitty…pat　on　the　ground　…　it　did　feel　so　splendid。　Then　the　boy　tuk　his　jack…knife　'n　begun　t'　cut　off　the　bear's　tail。　The　bear　he　flew　mad　'n　growled　'n　growled　so　the　boy　he　stopped　'n　didn't　dast　cut　no　more。

'〃Hurts　awful；〃　says　the　bear。　〃Couldn't　never　stan'　it。　Tell　ye　what　I'll　dew。　Ye　scratched　my　back　an'　now　I'll　scratch　your'n。〃

'Gee　whiz！'　said　I。

'Yessir；　that's　what　the　bear　said；'　Uncle　Eb　went　on。　'The　boy　he　up　'n　run　like　a　nailer。　The　bear　he　laughed　hearty　'n　scratched　the　ground　like　Sam　Hill；　'n　fl