cabin fever-第22部分

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lly。　On　his　bench　beyond　the　dead　line　Cash　sat　leaning　forward　with　his　elbows　on　his　knees；　and　sucked　at　a　pipe　gone　cold；　and　stared　abstractedly　into　the　fire。

Bud　looked　at　him　sitting　there。　For　the　first　time　since　their　trails　had　joined；　he　wondered　what　Cash　was　thinking　about；　wondered　with　a　new　kind　of　sympathy　about　Cash's　lonely　life；　that　held　no　ties；　no　warmth　of　love。　For　the　first　time　it　struck　him　as　significant　that　in　the　two　years；　almost；　of　their　constant　companionship；　Cash's　reminiscences　had　stopped　abruptly　about　fifteen　years　back。　Beyond　that　he　never　went；　save　now　and　then　when　he　jumped　a　space；　to　the　time　when　he　was　a　boy。　Of　what　dark　years　lay　between；　Bud　had　never　been　permitted　a　glimpse。

〃Some　kidthat　kid；〃　Bud　observed　involuntarily；　for　the　first　time　in　over　three　weeks　speaking　when　he　was　not　compelled　to　speak　to　Cash。　〃I　wish　I　knew　where　he　came　from。　He　wants　his　mother。〃

Cash　stirred　a　little；　like　a　sleeper　only　half　awakened。　But　he　did　not　reply；　and　Bud　gave　an　impatient　snort；　tiptoed　over　and　picked　up　the　discarded　clothes　of　Lovin　Child；　that　held　still　a　faint　odor　of　wood　smoke　and　rancid　grease；　and；　removing　his　shoes　that　he　might　move　silently；　went　to　work

He　washed　Lovin　Child's　clothes；　even　to　the　red　sweater　suit　and　the　fuzzy　red　〃bunny〃　cap。　He　rigged　a　line　before　the　fireplaceon　his　side　of　the　dead　line；　to　be　surehung　the　little　garments　upon　it　and　sat　up　to　watch　the　fire　while　they　dried。

While　he　rubbed　and　rinsed　and　wrung　and　hung　to　dry；　he　had　planned　the　details　of　taking　the　baby　to　Alpine　and　placing　it　in　good　hands　there　until　its　parents　could　be　found。　It　was　stolen；　he　had　no　doubt　at　all。　He　could　picture　quite　plainly　the　agony　of　the　parents；　and　common　humanity　imposed　upon　him　the　duty　of　shortening　their　misery　as　much　as　possible。　But　one　day　of　the　baby's　presence　he　had　taken；　with　the　excuse　that　it　needed　immediate　warmth　and　wholesome　food。　His　conscience　did　not　trouble　him　over　that　short　delay；　for　he　was　honest　enough　in　his　intentions　and　convinced　that　he　had　done　the　right　thing。

Cash　had　long　ago　undressed　and　gone　to　bed；　turning　his　back　to　the　warm；　fire…lighted　room　and　pulling　the　blankets　up　to　his　ears。　He　either　slept　or　pretended　to　sleep；　Bud　did　not　know　which。　Of　the　baby's　healthy　slumber　there　was　no　doubt　at　all。　Bud　put　on　his　overshoes　and　went　outside　after　more　wood；　so　that　there　would　be　no　delay　in　starting　the　fire　in　the　morning　and　having　the　cabin　warm　before　the　baby　woke。

It　was　snowing　fiercely；　and　the　wind　was　biting　cold。　Already　the　woodpile　was　drifted　under；　so　that　Bud　had　to　go　back　and　light　the　lantern　and　hang　it　on　a　nail　in　the　cabin　wall　before　he　could　make　any　headway　at　shovelling　off　the　heaped　snow　and　getting　at　the　wood　beneath。　He　worked　hard　for　half　an　hour；　and　carried　in　all　the　wood　that　had　been　cut。　He　even　piled　Cash's　end　of　the　hearth　high　with　the　surplus；　after　his　own　side　was　heaped　full。

A　storm　like　that　meant　that　plenty　of　fuel　would　be　needed　to　keep　the　cabin　snug　and　warm；　and　he　was　thinking　of　the　baby's　comfort　now；　and　would　not　be　hampered　by　any　grudge。

When　he　had　done　everything　he　could　do　that　would　add　to　the　baby's　comfort；　he　folded　the　little　garments　and　laid　them　on　a　box　ready　for　morning。　Then；　moving　carefully；　he　crawled　into　the　bed　made　warm　by　the　little　body。　Lovin　Child；　half　wakened　by　the　movement；　gave　a　little　throaty　chuckle；　murmured　〃M'ee；〃　and　threw　one　fat　arm　over　Bud's　neck　and　left　it　there。

〃Gawd；〃　Bud　whispered　in　a　swift　passion　of　longing；　〃I　wish　you　was　my　own　kid！〃　He　snuggled　Lovin　Child　close　in　his　arms　and　held　him　there；　and　stared　dim…eyed　at　the　flickering　shadows　on　the　wall。　What　he　thought；　what　visions　filled　his　vigil；　who　can　say？



CHAPTER　SIXTEEN。　THE　ANTIDOTE

Three　days　it　stormed　with　never　a　break；　stormed　so　that　the　men　dreaded　the　carrying　of　water　from　the　spring　that　became　ice…rimmed　but　never　froze　over；　that　clogged　with　sodden　masses　of　snow　half　melted　and　sent　faint　wisps　of　steam　up　into　the　chill　air。　Cutting　wood　was　an　ordeal；　every　armload　an　achievement。　Cash　did　not　even　attempt　to　visit　his　trap　line；　but　sat　before　the　fire　smoking　or　staring　into　the　flames；　or　pottered　about　the　little　domestic　duties　that　could　not　half　fill　the　days。

With　melted　snow　water；　a　bar　of　yellow　soap；　and　one　leg　of　an　old　pair　of　drawers；　he　scrubbed　on　his　knees　the　floor　on　his　side　of　the　dead　line；　and　tried　not　to　notice　Lovin　Child。　He　failed　only　because　Lovin　Child　refused　to　be　ignored；　but　insisted　upon　occupying　the　immediate　foreground　and　in　helping　much　as　he　had　helped　Marie　pack　her　suit　case　one　fateful　afternoon　not　so　long　before。

When　Lovin　Child　was　not　permitted　to　dabble　in　the　pan　of　soapy　water；　he　revenged　himself　by　bringing　Cash's　mitten　and　throwing　that　in；　and　crying　〃Ee？　Ee？〃　with　a　shameless　delight　because　it　sailed　round　and　round　until　Cash　turned　and　saw　it；　and　threw　it　out。

〃No；　no；　no！〃　Lovin　Child　admonished　himself　gravely；　and　got　it　and　threw　it　back　again。

Cash　did　not　say　anything。　Indeed；　he　hid　a　grin　under　his　thick；　curling　beard　which　he　had　grown　since　the　first　frost　as　a　protection　against　cold。　He　picked　up　the　mitten　and　laid　it　to　dry　on　the　slab　mantel；　and　when　he　returned；　Lovin　Child　was　sitting　in　the　pan；　rocking　back　and　forth　and　crooning　〃'Ock…a…　by！　'Ock…a…by！〃　with　the　impish　twinkle　in　his　eyes。

Cash　was　just　picking　him　out　of　the　pan　when　Bud　came　in　with　a　load　of　wood。　Bud　hastily　dropped　the　wood；　and　without　a　word　Cash　handed　Lovin　Child　across　the　dead　line；　much　as　he　would　have　handed　over　a　wet　puppy。　Without　a　word　Bud　took　him；　but　the　quirky　smile　hid　at　the　corners　of　his　mouth；　and　under　Cash's　beard　still　lurked　the　grin。

〃No；　no；　no！〃　Lovin　Child　kept　repeating　smugly；　all　the　while　Bud　was　stripping　off　his　wet　clothes　and　chucking　him　into　the　undershirt　he　wore　for　a　nightgown；　and　trying　a　man's　size　pair　of　socks　on　his　legs。

〃I　should　say　no…no…no！　You　doggone　little　rascal；　I'd　rather　herd　a　flea　on　a　hot　plate！　I've　a　plumb　good　notion　to　hog…tie　yuh　for　awhile。　Can't　trust　yuh　a　minute　nowhere。　Now　look　what　you　got　to　wear　while　your　clothes　dry！〃

〃Ee？　Ee？〃　invited　Lovin　Child；　gleefully　holding　up　a　muffled　little　foot　lost　in　the　depths　of　Bud's　sock。

〃Oh；　I　see；　all　right！　I'll　tell　the　world　I　see　you're　a　doggone　nuisance！　Now　see　if　you　can　keep　outa　mischief　till　I　get　the　wood　carried　in。〃　Bud　set　him　down　on　the　bunk；　gave　him　a　mail…order　catalogue　to　look　at；　and　went　out　again　into　the　storm。　When　he　came　back；　Lovin　Child　was　sitting　on　the　hearth　with　the　socks　off；　and　was　picking　bits　of　charcoal　from　the　ashes　and　crunching　them　like　candy　in　his　small；　white　teeth。　Cash　was　hurrying　to　finish　his　scrubbing　before　the　charcoal　gave　out；　and　was　keeping　an　eye　on　the　crunching　to　see　that　Lovin　Child　did　not　get　a　hot　ember。

〃H'yah！　You　young　imp！〃　Bud　shouted；　stubbing　his　toe　as　he　hurried　forward。　〃Watcha　think　you　area　fire…eater；　for　gosh　sake？〃

Cash　bent　his　head　lowit　may　have　been　to　hide　a　chuckle。　Bud　was　having　his　hands　full　with　the　kid；　and　he　was　trying　to　be　stern　against　the　handicap　of　a　growing　worship　of　Lovin　Child　and　all　his　little　ways。　Now　Lovin　Child　was　all　over　ashes；　and　the　clean　undershirt　was　clean　no　longer；　after　having　much　charcoal　rubbed　into　its　texture。　Bud　was　not　overstocked　with　clothes；　much　traveling　had　formed　the　habit　of　buying　as　he　needed　for　immediate　use。　With　Lovin　Child　held　firmly　under　one　arm；　where　he　would　he　sure　of　him；　he　emptied　his　〃war…bag〃　on　the　bunk　and　hunted　out　another　shirt

Lovin　Child　got　a　bath；　that　time；　because　of　the　ashes　he　had　managed　to　gather　on　his　feet　and　his　hands　and　his　head。　Bud　was　patient；　and　Lovin　Child　was　delightedly　unrepentantuntil　he　was　buttoned　into　another　shirt　of　Bud's；　and　the　socks　were　tied　on　him。

〃Now；　doggone　yuh；　I'm　goin'　to　stake　you　out；　or　hobble　yuh；　or　some　darn　thing；　till　I　get　that　wood　in！〃　he　thundered；　with　his　eyes　laughing。　〃You　want　to　freeze？　Hey？　Now　you're　goin'　to　stay　right　on　this　bunk　till　I　get　through；　because　I'm　goin'　to　tie　yuh　on。　You　may　hollerbut　you　little　son　of　a　gun；　you'll　stay　safe！〃

So　Bud　tied　him；　with　a　necktie　around　his　body　for　a　belt；　and　a　strap　fastened　to　that　and　to　a　stout　nail　in　the　wall　over　the　bunk。　And　Lovin　Child；　when　he　discovered　that　it　was　not　a　new　game　but　instead　a　check　upon　his　activities；　threw　himself　on　his　back　and　held　his　breath　until　he　was　purple；　and　then　screeched　with　rage。

I　don't　suppose　Bud　ever　carried　in　wood　so　fast　in　his　life。　He　might　as　well　have　taken　his　time；　for　Lovin　Child　was　in　one　of　his　fits　of　temper；　the　kind　that　his　grandmother　invariably　called　his　father's　cussedness　coming　out　in　him。　He　howled　for　an　hour　and　had　both　men　nearly　frantic　before　he　suddenly　stopped　and　began　to　play　with　the　things　he　had　scorned　before　to　touch；　the　things　that　had　made　him　bow　his　back　and　scream　when　they　were　offered　to　him　hopefully。

Bud；　his　sleeves　rolled　up；　his　hair　rumpled　and　the　perspiration　standing　thick　on　his　forehead；　stood　over　him　with　his　hands　on　his　hips；　the　picture　of　perturbed　helplessness。

〃You　doggone　little　devil！〃　he　breathed；　his　mind　torn　between　amusement　and　exasperation。　〃If　you　was　my　own　kid；　I'd　spank　yuh！　But；〃　he　added　with　a　little　chuckle；　〃if　you　was　my　own　kid；　I'd　tell　the　world　you　come　by　that　temper　honestly。　Darned　if　I　wouldn't〃

Cash；　sitting　dejected　on　the　side　of　his　own　bunk；　lifted　his　head；　and　after　that　his　hawklike　brows；　and　stared　from　the　face　of　Bud　to　the　face　of　Lovin　Child。　For　the　first　time　he　was　struck　with　the　resemblance　between　the　two。　The　twinkle　in　the　eyes；　the　quirk　of　the　lips；　the　shape　of　the　forehead　and；　emphasizing　them　all；　the　expression　of　having　a　secret　joke；　struck　him　with　a　kind　of　shock。　If　it　were　possible。。。　But；　even　in　the　delirium　of　fever；　Bud　had　never　hinted　that　he　had　a　child；　or　a　wife　even。　He　had　firmly　planted　in　Cash's　mind　the　impression　that　his　life　had　never　held　any　close　ties　whatsoever。　So；