登陆注册
14823800000010

第10章

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.

同类推荐
  • 岁华纪丽

    岁华纪丽

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说温室洗浴众僧经

    佛说温室洗浴众僧经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 雷峰宝卷

    雷峰宝卷

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • As You Like It

    As You Like It

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 唐书直笔

    唐书直笔

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 天衍大帝

    天衍大帝

    三年前,原本属于天才的少年被人废掉丹田,从此成为废物,饱受欺凌。一次意外的逃命,少年进入迷失谷中,得到高人传承无上功法并修复好丹田,从此开始了自己的崛起之路。打败废掉丹田之人、寻找失踪许久的父亲、与魔宗展开殊死斗争……这一路与天斗其乐无穷,与地斗其乐无穷,与人斗其乐无穷,这一路的精彩与荣耀你我共同见证。
  • 凌零叁

    凌零叁

    诸神之王耶和华的失踪,造就了这个乱世风雨。各地势力分分涌起。在这王与王的战争中,一个名为凌零叁的孤儿,从天幕中脱颖而出。他冷酷,他高傲,他剑锋所向之处,正是那高高在上的上帝之名,神王宝座!作者qq931096344欢迎吐槽现在在楚白衫的王战之听风吹雨连载
  • 魔之纪实

    魔之纪实

    这是一个不同于普通的世界,一群小伙伴刚刚来到这个世界,美丽的世界观和人物情节等待的着你们。。。
  • 黑道帝王的亿万宠儿

    黑道帝王的亿万宠儿

    她为了保护自己的亲人,和一个“牛郎”结了婚?!婚后,他邪魅的笑着,“老婆~我饿了!”她呆萌的眨了眨眼,“我去给你做!”他渐渐走近她,“我掌勺,你打下手!”她不屑的扫了一眼面前的大帅哥,“哼~逗我玩呢吧?大名鼎鼎的星辰集团大老板会做饭?!”他没有说话,渐渐逼近她,快速的将她拦腰抱起起,“你干什么啊!放我下来!”“做饭啊!先做个糖醋里脊怎么样?!”
  • 火澜

    火澜

    当一个现代杀手之王穿越到这个世界。是隐匿,还是崛起。一场血雨腥风的传奇被她改写。一条无上的强者之路被她踏破。修斗气,炼元丹,收兽宠,化神器,大闹皇宫,炸毁学院,打死院长,秒杀狗男女,震惊大陆。无止尽的契约能力,上古神兽,千年魔兽,纷纷前来抱大腿,惊傻世人。她说:在我眼里没有好坏之分,只有强弱之分,只要你能打败我,这世间所有都是你的,打不败我,就从这世间永远消失。她狂,她傲,她的目标只有一个,就是凌驾这世间一切之上。三国皇帝,魔界妖王,冥界之主,仙界至尊。到底谁才是陪着她走到最后的那个?他说:上天入地,我会陪着你,你活着,有我,你死,也一定有我。本文一对一,男强女强,强强联手,不喜勿入。
  • 万古帝圣决

    万古帝圣决

    混沌归一,阴阳相生人族百代昌盛,却暗藏杀机。看一名市井小人物,为探寻自身谜团,陷入灭世阴谋。救苍生于水火,成帝圣于乱世
  • TF凯始就这样爱了

    TF凯始就这样爱了

    她与他本是两个世界的人,但是爱神安排两人相遇。他们自认为今生今世非TA不可,一个高冷千金,为他放弃一切,为他出道,为他唱歌。可是他伤她太深,她走了,在韩国她成为了世界顶级的歌手,数年后,她回来了,她要夺回属于她的一切,包括他!可是命运弄人,她的富豪父亲说;你若敢和他在一起,他的未来就会断送在你的手里。就这样女孩为了男孩多年的梦想,狠心离开,男孩恨她,明明说好了要一起走,为什么要松手。后来男孩得知真相,女孩为了他才离开,他又恨自己没用连自己心爱的女人都保护不了,他要变得强大!两年后,在十年演唱会上,他日日思念的女孩回来了。。。。。。。。。
  • 佛说龙施女经

    佛说龙施女经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 凤擒凰

    凤擒凰

    大越朝少将军傅华昔回京述职第一天,就干下了一件惊天动地的事情。抢了自己妹妹的未婚夫婿,强迫人跟自己拜堂!可是,洞房之夜,傅华昔却发现,抢错人了,抢了个妖孽狐狸回来。退货吧,可是请神容易送神难,抢来的人却按着傅华昔入洞房去了。稀里糊涂之下,威武霸气的少将军成了那人的亲亲小娘子。某人则表示,吃到嘴里的肉才放心,不用担心她跑了,无论少将军如何威逼利诱,那人就是甩不掉。而且,那人身份显贵,背靠皇上皇后两大靠山,自己也不能下狠手往死里整啊。于是,傅华昔泪流满面,默默扛着夫君这座大山帮夫君打江山。少将军表示:抢人的勾当要谨慎呐!
  • 抚州曹山本寂禅师语录

    抚州曹山本寂禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。