eben holden-第6节

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ot　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　flung　the　dirt　higher'n　his　head。

'〃Look　here；〃　says　he；　as　the　boy　stopped；　〃I　jes'　swallered　a　piece　o　mutton。　Run　yer　hand　int'　my　throat　an　I'll　let　ye　hev　it。〃

'The　bear　he　opened　his　mouth　an'　showed　his　big　teeth。'

'Whew！'　I　whistled。

'Thet's　eggszac'ly　what　he　done；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'He　showed　'em　plain。　The　boy　was　scairter'n　a　weasel。　The　bear　he　jumped　up　'an　down　on　his　hind　legs　'n　laughed　'n'　hollered　'n'　shook　himself

'〃Only　jes'　foolin；〃　says　he；　when　he　see　the　boy　was　goin'　t'　run　ag'in。　〃What　ye　'fraid　uv？〃

'〃Can't　bear　t'　stay　here；〃　says　the　boy；　'less　ye'll　keep　yer　mouth　shet。〃

'An　the　bear　he　shet　his　mouth　'n　pinted　to　the　big　pocket　'n　his　fur　coat　'n　winked　'n　motioned　t'　the　boy。

'The　bear　he　reely　did　hev　a　pocket　on　the　side　uv　his　big　fur　coat。　The　boy　slid　his　hand　in　up　t'　the　elbow。　Wha'　d'ye　s'pose　he　found？'

'Durmo；'　said　I。

'Sumthin'　t'　eat；'　he　continued。　'Boy　liked　it　best　uv　all　things。'

I　guessed　everything　I　could　think　of；　from　cookies　to　beefsteak；　and　gave　up。

'Gingerbread；'　said　he；　soberly；　at　lengrh。

'Thought　ye　said　bears　couldn't　talk〃　I　objected。

'Wall；　the　boy　'd　fell　asleep　an'　he'd　only　dreamed　o'　the　bear；'　said　Uncle　Eb。　'Ye　see；　bears　can'talk　when　boys　are　dreamin'　uv　'em。　Come　daylight；　the　boy　got　up　'n　ketched　a　crow。　Broke　his　wing　with　the　cross…gun。　Then　he　tied　the　kite　swing　on　t'　the　crow's　leg；　an'　the　crow　flopped　along　'n　the　boy　followed　him　'n　bime　bye　they　come　out　a　cornfield；　where　the　crow'd　been　used　t'　comin'　fer　his　dinner。'

'What　'come　o'　the　boy？'　said　I。

'Went　home；'　said　he；　gaping；　as　he　lay　on　his　back　and　looked　up　at　the　tree…tops。　'An'　he　allwus　said　a　bear　was　good　comp'ny　if　he'd　only　keep　his　mouth　shet　…　jes'　like　some　folks　I've　hearn　uv。'　

'An'　what　'come　o'　the　crow？'

'Went　t'　the　ol'　crow　doctor　'n　got　his　wing　fixed；'　he　said；　drowsily。　And　in　a　moment　I　heard　him　snoring。

We　had　been　asleep　a　long　time　when　the　barking　of　Fred　woke　us。　I　could　just　see　Uncle　Eb　in　the　dim　light　of　the　fire；　kneeling　beside　me；　the　rifle　in　his　hand。

'I'll　fill　ye　full　o'　lead　if　ye　come　any　nearer；'　he　shouted。

Chapter　4

We　listened　awhile　then　but　heard　no　sound　in　the　thicket；　although　Fred　was　growling　ominously；　his　hair　on　end。　As　for　myself　I　never　had　a　more　fearful　hour　than　that　we　suffered　before　the　light　of　morning　came。

I　made　no　outcry；　but　clung　to　my　old　companion；　trembling。　He　did　not　stir　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　we　crept　cautiously　into　the　small　hemlocks　on　one　side　of　the　opening。

'Keep　still；'　he　whispered；　'don't　move　er　speak。'

Presently　we　heard　a　move　in　the　brush　and　then　quick　as　a　flash　Uncle　Eb　lifted　his　rifle　and　fired　in　the　direction　of　it　Before　the　loud　echo　had　gone　off　in　the　woods　we　heard　something　break　through　the　brush　at　a　run。

''S　a　man；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　as　he　listened。　'He　ain't　a　losin'　no　time　nuther。'

We　sat　listening　as　the　sound　grew　fainter；　and　when　it　ceased　entirely　Uncle　Eb　said　he　must　have　got　to　the　road。　After　a　little　the　light　of　the　morning　began　sifting　down　through　the　tree…tops　and　was　greeted　with　innumerable　songs。

'He　done　noble；'　said　Uncle　Eb；　patting　the　old　dog　as　he　rose　to　poke　the　fire。　'Putty　good　chap　I　call　'im！　He　can　hev　half　o'　my　dinner　any　time　he　wants　it。'

'Who　do　you　suppose　it　was？'　I　enquired。

'Robbers；　I　guess；'　he　answered；　'an'　they'll　be　layin'　fer　us　when　we　go　out；　mebbe；　but；　if　they　are；　Fred'll　frnd　'em　an'　I've　got　Ol'　Trusty　here　'n'　I　guess　thet'll　take　care　uv　us。'

His　rifle　was　always　flattered　with　that　name　of　Ol'　Trusty　when　it　had　done　him　a　good　turn。

Soon　as　the　light　had　come　clear　he　went　out　in　the　near　woods　with　dog　and　rifle　and　beat　around　in　the　brush。　He　returned　shortly　and　said　he　had　seen　where　they　came　and　went。

'I'd　a　killed　em　deader　'n　a　door　nail；'　said　he；　laying　down　the　old　rifle；　'if　they'd　a　come　any　nearer。'

Then　we　brought　water　from　the　river　and　had　our　breakfast。　Fred　went　on　ahead　of　us；　when　we　started　for　the　road；　scurrying　through　the　brush　on　both　sides　of　the　trail；　as　if　he　knew　what　was　expected　of　him。　He　flushed　a　number　of　partridges　and　Uncle　Eb　killed　one　of　them　on　our　way　to　the　road。　We　resumed　our　journey　without　any　further　adventure。　It　was　so　smooth　and　level　under　foot　that　Uncle　Eb　let　me　get　in　the　wagon　after　Fred　was　hitched　to　it　The　old　dog　went　along　soberly　and　without　much　effort；　save　when　we　came　to　hills　or　sandy　places；　when　I　always　got　out　and　ran　on　behind。　Uncle　Eb　showed　me　how　to　brake　the　wheels　with　a　long　stick　going　downhill。　I　remember　how　it　hit　the　dog's　heels　at　the　first　down　grade；　and　how　he　ran　to　keep　out　of　the　way　of　it　We　were　going　like　mad　in　half　a　minute；　Uncle　Eb　coming　after　us　calling　to　the　dog。　Fred　only　looked　over　his　shoulder；　with　a　wild　eye；　at　the　rattling　wagon　and　ran　the　harder。　He　leaped　aside　at　the　bottom　and　then　we　went　all　in　a　heap。　Fortunately　no　harm　was　done。

'I　declare！'　said　Uncle　Eb　as　he　came　up　to　us；　puffing　like　a　spent　horse；　and　picked　me　up　unhurt　and　began　to　untangle　the　harness　of　old　Fred；　'I　guess　he　must　a　thought　the　devil　was　after　him。'

The　dog　growled　a　little　for　a　moment　and　bit　at　the　harness；　but　coaxing　reassured　him　and　he　went　along　all　right　again　on　the　level。　At　a　small　settlement　the　children　came　out　and　ran　along　beside　my　wagon；　laughing　and　asking　me　questions。　Some　of　them　tried　to　pet　the　dog；　but　old　Fred　kept　to　his　labour　at　the　heels　of　Uncle　Eb　and　looked　neither　to　right　nor　left。　We　stopped　under　a　tree　by　the　side　of　a　narrow　brook　for　our　dinner；　and　one　incident　of　that　meal　I　think　of　always　when　I　think　of　Uncle　Eb。　It　shows　the　manner　of　man　he　was　and　with　what　understanding　and　sympathy　he　regarded　every　living　thing。　In　rinsing　his　teapot　he　accidentally　poured　a　bit　of　water　on　a　big　bumble…bee。　The　poor　creature　struggled　to　lift　hill；　and　then　another　downpour　caught　him　and　still　another　until　his　wings　fell　drenched。　Then　his　breast　began　heaving　violently；　his　legs　st