rudder grange-第14部分

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needed。　　He　had　a　complete　outfit；　had　done　with　them　for　the　year；
and　I　was　perfectly　welcome。　　Here　was　rare　luck。　　He　gave　me　a
tent；　camp…stove；　dishes；　pots；　gun；　fishing…tackle；　a　big　canvas
coat　with　dozens　of　pockets　riveted　on　it；　a　canvas　hat；　rods；
reels；　boots　that　came　up　to　my　hips；　and　about　a　wagon…load　of
things　in　all。　　He　was　a　real　good　fellow。

We　laid　in　a　stock　of　canned　and　condensed　provisions；　and　I　bought
a　book　on　camping　out　so　as　to　be　well　posted　on　the　subject。　　On
the　Saturday　before　the　first　Monday　in　September　we　would　have
been　entirely　ready　to　start　had　we　decided　on　the　place　where　we
were　to　go。

We　found　it　very　difficult　to　make　this　decision。　　There　were
thousands　of　places　where　people　went　to　camp　out；　but　none　of　them
seemed　to　be　the　place　for　us。　　Most　of　them　were　too　far　away。　　We
figured　up　the　cost　of　taking　ourselves　and　our　camp　equipage　to
the　Adirondacks；　the　lakes；　the　trout…streams　of　Maine；　or　any　of
those　well…known　resorts；　and　we　found　that　we　could　not　afford
such　trips；　especially　for　a　vacation　of　but　fourteen　days。

On　Sunday　afternoon　we　took　a　little　walk。　　Our　minds　were　still
troubled　about　the　spot　toward　which　we　ought　to　journey　next　day；
and　we　needed　the　soothing　influences　of　Nature。　　The　country　to
the　north　and　west　of　our　little　farm　was　very　beautiful。　　About
half　a　mile　from　the　house　a　modest　river　ran；　on　each　side　of　it
were　grass…covered　fields　and　hills；　and　in　some　places　there　were
extensive　tracks　of　woodlands。

〃Look　here！〃　exclaimed　Euphemia；　stopping　short　in　the　little　path
that　wound　along　by　the　river　bank。　　〃Do　you　see　this　river；　those
woods；　those　beautiful　fields；　with　not　a　soul　in　them　or　anywhere
near　them；　and　those　lovely　blue　mountains　over　there？〃as　she
spoke　she　waved　her　parasol　in　the　direction　of　the　objects
indicated；　and　I　could　not　mistake　them。　　〃Now　what　could　we　want
better　than　this？〃　she　continued。　　〃Here　we　can　fish；　and　do
everything　that　we　want　to。　　I　say；　let　us　camp　here　on　our　own
river。　　I　can　take　you　to　the　very　spot　for　the　tent。　　Come　on！〃
And　she　was　so　excited　about　it　that　she　fairly　ran。

The　spot　she　pointed　out　was　one　we　had　frequently　visited　in　our
rural　walks。　　It　was　a　grassy　peninsula；　as　I　termed　it；　formed　by
a　sudden　turn　of　a　creek　which；　a　short　distance　below；　flowed　into
the　river。　　It　was　a　very　secluded　spot。　　The　place　was　approached
through　a　pasture…field；we　had　found　it　by　mere　accident；and
where　the　peninsula　joined　the　field　（we　had　to　climb　a　fence　just
there）；　there　was　a　cluster　of　chestnut　and　hickory　trees；　while
down　near　the　point　stood　a　wide…spreading　oak。

〃Here；　under　this　oak；　is　the　place　for　the　tent；〃　said　Euphemia；
her　face　flushed；　her　eyes　sparkling；　and　her　dress　a　little　torn
by　getting　over　the　fence　in　a　hurry。　　〃What　do　we　want　with　your
Adirondacks　and　your　Dismal　Swamps？　　This　is　the　spot　for　us！〃

〃Euphemia；〃　said　I；　in　as　composed　a　tone　as　possible；　although　my
whole　frame　was　trembling　with　emotion；　〃Euphemia；　I　am　glad　I
married　you！〃

Had　it　not　been　Sunday；　we　would　have　set　up　our　tent　that　night。

Early　the　next　morning；　old　John's　fifteen…dollar　horse　drew　from
our　house　a　wagon…load　of　camp…fixtures。　　There　was　some　difficulty
in　getting　the　wagon　over　the　field；　and　there　were　fences　to　be
taken　down　to　allow　of　its　passage；　but　we　overcame　all　obstacles；
and　reached　the　camp…ground　without　breaking　so　much　as　a　teacup。
Old　John　helped　me　pitch　the　tent；　and　as　neither　of　us　understood
the　matter　very　well；　it　took　us　some　time。　　It　was；　indeed；　nearly
noon　when　old　John　left　us；　and　it　may　have　been　possible　that　he
delayed　matters　a　little　so　as　to　be　able　to　charge　for　a　full
half…day　for　himself　and　horse。　　Euphemia　got　into　the　wagon　to
ride　back　with　him；　that　she　might　give　some　parting　injunctions　to
Pomona。

〃I'll　have　to　stop　a　bit　to　put　up　the　fences；　ma'am；〃　said　old
John；　〃or　Misther　Ball　might　make　a　fuss。〃

〃Is　this　Mr。　Ball's　land？〃　I　asked。

〃Oh　yes；　sir；　it's　Mr。　Ball's　land。〃

〃I　wonder　how　he'll　like　our　camping　on　it？〃　I　said；　thoughtfully。

〃I'd　'a'　thought；　sir；　you'd　'a'　asked　him　that　before　you　came；〃
said　old　John；　in　a　tone　that　seemed　to　indicate　that　he　had　his
doubts　about　Mr。　Ball。

〃Oh；　there'll　be　no　trouble　about　that；〃　cried　Euphemia。　　〃You　can
drive　me　past　Mr。　Ball's；it's　not　much　out　of　the　way；and　I'll
ask　him。〃

〃In　that　wagon？〃　said　I。　　〃Will　you　stop　at　Mr。　Ball's　door　in
that？〃

〃Certainly；〃　said　she；　as　she　arranged　herself　on　the　board　which
served　as　a　seat。　　〃Now　that　our　campaign　has　really　commenced；　we
ought　to　begin　to　rough　it；　and　should　not　be　too　proud　to　ride
even　in　ain　a〃

She　evidently　couldn't　think　of　any　vehicle　mean　enough　for　her
purpose。

〃In　a　green…grocery　cart；〃　I　suggested。

〃Yes；　or　in　a　red　one。　　Go　ahead；　John。〃

When　Euphemia　returned　on　foot；　I　had　a　fire　in　the　camp…stove　and
the　kettle　was　on。

〃Well；〃　said　Euphemia；　〃Mr。　Ball　says　it's　all　right；　if　we　keep
the　fence　up。　　He　don't　want　his　cows　to　get　into　the　creek；　and
I'm　sure　we　don't　want　'em　walking　over　us。　　He　couldn't
understand；　though；　why　we　wanted　to　live　out　here。　　I　explained
the　whole　thing　to　him　very　carefully；　but　it　didn't　seem　to　make
much　impression　on　him。　　I　believe　he　thinks　Pomona　has　something
the　matter　with　her；　and　that　we　have　come　to　stay　out　here　in　the
fresh　air　so　as　not　to　take　it。〃

〃What　an　extremely　stupid　man　Mr。　Ball　must　be！〃　I　said。

The　fire　did　not　burn　very　well；　and　while　I　was　at　work　at　it；
Euphemia　spread　a　cloth　upon　the　grass；　and　set　forth　bread　and
butter；　cheese；　sardines；　potted　ham；　preserves；　biscuits；　and　a
lot　of　other　things。

We　did　not　wait　for　the　kettle　to　boil；　but　concluded　to　do　without
tea　or　coffee；　for　this　meal；　and　content　ourselves　with　pure
water。　　For　some　reason　or　other；　however；　the　creek　water　did　not
seem　to　be　very　pure；　and　we　did　not　like　it　a　bit。

〃After　lunch；〃　said　I；　〃we　will　go　and　look　for　a　spring；　that　will
be　a　good　way　of　exploring　the　country。〃

〃If　we　can't　find　one；〃　said　Euphemia；　〃we　shall　have　to　go　to　the
house　for　water；　for　I　can　never　drink　that　stuff。〃

Soon　after　lunch　we　started　out。　　We　searched　high　and　low；　near
and　far；　for　a　spring；　but　could　not　find　one。

At　length；　by　merest　accident；　we　found　ourselves　in　the　vicinity
of　old　John's　little　house。　　I　knew　he　had　a　good　well；　and　so　we
went　in　to　get　a　drink；　for　our　ham　and　biscuits　had　made　us　very
thirsty。

We　told　old　John；　who　was　digging　potatoes；　and　was　also　very　much
surprised　to　see　us　so　soon；　about　our　unexpected　trouble　in
finding　a　spring。

〃No；〃　said　he；　very　slowly；　〃there　is　no　spring　very　near　to　you。
Didn't　you　tell　your　gal　to　bring　you　water？〃

〃No；〃　I　replied；　〃we　don't　want　her　coming　down　to　the　camp。　　She
is　to　attend　to　the　house。〃

〃Oh；　very　well；〃　said　John；　〃I　will　bring　you　water；　morning　and
night；good；　fresh　water；from　my　well；　for；well；　for　ten　cents
a　day。〃

〃That　will　be　nice；〃　said　Euphemia；　〃and　cheap；　too。　　And　then　it
will　be　well　to　have　John　come　every　day；　he　can　carry　our
letters。〃

〃I　don't　expect　to　write　any　letters。〃

〃Neither　do　I；〃　said　Euphemia；　〃but　it　will　be　pleasant　to　have
some　communication　with　the　outer　world。〃

So　we　engaged　old　John　to　bring　us　water　twice　a　day。　　I　was　a
little　disappointed　at　this；　for　I　thought　that　camping　on　the　edge
of　a　stream　settled　the　matter　of　water。　　But　we　have　many　things
to　learn　in　this　world。

Early　in　the　afternoon　I　went　out　to　catch　some　fish　for　supper。
We　agreed　to　dispense　with　dinner；　and　have　breakfast；　lunch；　and　a
good　solid　supper。

For　some　time　I　had　poor　luck。　　There　were　either　very　few　fish　in
the　creek；　or　they　were　not　hungry。

I　had　been　fishing　an　hour　or　more　when　I　saw　Euphemia　running
toward　me。

〃What's　the　matter？〃　said　I。

〃Oh！　nothing。　　I've　just　come　to　see　how　you　were　getting　along。
Haven't　you　been　gone　an　awfully　long　time？　　And　are　those　all　the
fish　you've　caught？　　What　little　bits　of　things　they　are！　　I
thought　people　who　camped　out　caught　big　fish　and　lots　of　them？〃

〃That　depends　a　good　deal　upon　where　they　go；〃　said　I。

〃Yes；　I　suppose　so；〃　replied　Euphemia；　〃but　I　should　think　a　stream
as　big　as　this　would　have　plenty　of　fish　in　it。　　However；　if　you
can't　catch　any；　you　might　go　up　to　the　road　and　watch　for　Mr。
Mulligan。　　He　sometimes　comes　along　on　Mondays。〃

〃I'm　not　going　to　the　road　to　watch　for　any　fish…man；〃　I　replied；　a
little　more　testily　than　I　should　have　spoken。　　〃What　sort　of　a
camping　out　would　that　be？　　But　we　must　not　be　talking　here　or　I
shall　never　get　a　bite。　　Those　fish　are　a　little　soiled　from
jumping　about　in　the　dust。　　You　might　wash　them　off　at　that　shallow
place；　while　I　go　a　little　further　on　and　try　my　luck。〃

I　went　a　short　distance　up　the　creek；　and　threw　my　line　into　a
dark；　shadowy　pool；　under　some　alders；　where　there　certainly　should
be　fish。　　And；　sure　enough；　in　less　than　a　minute　I　got　a　splendid
bite；not　only　a　bite；　but　a　pull。　　I　knew　that　I　had　certainly
hooked　a　big　fish！　　The　thing　actually　tugged　at　my　line　so　that　I
was　afraid　the　pole　would　break。　　I　did　not　fear　for　the　line；　for
that；　I　knew；　was　strong。　　I　would　have　played　the　fish　until　he
was　tired；　and　I　could　pull　him　out　without　risk　to　the　pole；　but　I
did　not　know　exactly　how　the　process　of　〃playing〃　was　conducted。　　I
was　very　much　excited。　　Sometimes　I　gave　a　jerk　and　a　pull；　and
then　the　fish　would　give　a　jerk　and　a　pull。

Directly　I　heard　some　one　running　toward　me；　and　then　I　heard
Euphemia　cry　out：

〃Give　him　the　butt！　　Give　him　the　butt！〃

〃Give　him　what？〃　I　exclaimed；　without　having　time　even　to　look　up
at　her。

〃The　butt！　the　butt！〃　she　cried；　almost　breathlessly。　　〃I　know
that's　right！　　I　read　how　Edward　Everett　Hale　did　it　in　the
Adirondacks。〃

〃No；　it　wasn't　Hale　at　all；〃　said　I；　as　I　jumped　about　the　bank；
〃it　was　Mr。　Murray。〃

〃Well；　it　was　one　of　those　fishing　ministers；　and　I　know　that　it
caught　the　fish。〃

〃I　know；　I　know。　　I　read　it；　but　I　don't　know　how　to　do　it。〃

〃Perhaps　you　ou