rudder grange-第15部分

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caught　the　fish。〃

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

〃Perhaps　you　ought　to　punch　him　with　it；〃　said　she。

〃No！　no！〃　I　hurriedly　replied；　〃I　can't　do　anything　like　that。　　I'm
going　to　try　to　just　pull　him　out　lengthwise。　　You　take　hold　of　the
pole　and　go　in　shore　as　far　as　you　can　and　I'll　try　and　get　hold　of
the　line。〃

Euphemia　did　as　I　bade　her；　and　drew　the　line　in　so　that　I　could
reach　it。　　As　soon　as　I　had　a　firm　hold　of　it；　I　pulled　in；
regardless　of　consequences；　and　hauled　ashore　an　enormous　cat…fish。

〃Hurrah！〃　I　shouted；　〃here　is　a　prize。〃

Euphemia　dropped　the　pole；　and　ran　to　me。

〃What　a　horrid　beast！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃Throw　it　in　again。〃

〃Not　at　all！〃　said　I。　　〃This　is　a　splendid　fish；　if　I　can　ever　get
him　off　the　hook。　　Don't　come　near　him！　　If　he　sticks　that　back…fin
into　you；　it　will　poison　you。〃

〃Then　I　should　think　it　would　poison　us　to　eat　him；〃　said　she。

〃No；　it's　only　his　fin。〃

〃I've　eaten　cat…fish；　but　I　never　saw　one　like　that；〃　she　said。
〃Look　at　its　horrible　mouth！　　And　it　has　whiskers　like　a　cat！〃

〃Oh！　you　never　saw　one　with　its　head　on；〃　I　said。　　〃What　I　want　to
do　is　to　get　this　hook　out。〃

I　had　caught　cat…fish　before；　but　never　one　so　large　as　this；　and　I
was　actually　afraid　to　take　hold　of　it；　knowing；　as　I　did；　that　you
must　be　very　careful　how　you　clutch　a　fish　of　the　kind。　　I　finally
concluded　to　carry　it　home　as　it　was；　and　then　I　could　decapitate
it；　and　take　out　the　hook　at　my　leisure。　　So　back　to　camp　we　went；
Euphemia　picking　up　the　little　fish　as　we　passed；　for　she　did　not
think　it　right　to　catch　fish　and　not　eat　them。　　They　made　her　hands
smell；　it　is　true；　but　she　did　not　mind　that　when　we　were　camping。

I　prepared　the　big　fish　（and　I　had　a　desperate　time　getting　the
skin　off）；　while　my　wife；　who　is　one　of　the　daintiest　cooks　in　the
world；　made　the　fire　in　the　stove；　and　got　ready　the　rest　of　the
supper。　　She　fried　the　fish；　because　I　told　her　that　was　the　way
cat…fish　ought　to　be　cooked；　although　she　said　that　it　seemed　very
strange　to　her　to　camp　out　for　the　sake　of　one's　health；　and　then
to　eat　fried　food。

But　that　fish　was　splendid！　　The　very　smell　of　it　made　us　hungry。
Everything　was　good；　and　when　supper　was　over　and　the　dishes
washed；　I　lighted　my　pipe　and　we　sat　down　under　a　tree　to　enjoy　the
evening。

The　sun　had　set　behind　the　distant　ridge；　a　delightful　twilight　was
gently　subduing　every　color　of　the　scene；　the　night　insects　were
beginning　to　hum　and　chirp；　and　a　fire　that　I　had　made　under　a　tree
blazed　up　gayly；　and　threw　little　flakes　of　light　into　the　shadows
under　the　shrubbery。

〃Now　isn't　this　better　than　being　cooped　up　in　a　narrow；
constricted　house？〃　said　I。

〃Ever　so　much　better！〃　said　Euphemia。　　〃Now　we　know　what　Nature　is。
We　are　sitting　right　down　in　her　lap；　and　she　is　cuddling　us　up。
Isn't　that　sky　lovely？　　Oh！　I　think　this　is　perfectly　splendid；〃
said　she；　making　a　little　dab　at　her　face；〃if　it　wasn't　for　the
mosquitoes。〃

〃They　ARE　bad；〃　I　said。　　〃I　thought　my　pipe　would　keep　them　off；
but　it　don't。　　There　must　be　plenty　of　them　down　at　that　creek。〃

〃Down　there！〃　exclaimed　Euphemia。　　〃Why　there　are　thousands　of　them
here！　　I　never　saw　anything　like　it。　　They're　getting　worse　every
minute。〃

〃I'll　tell　you　what　we　must　do；〃　I　exclaimed；　jumping　up。　　〃We　must
make　a　smudge。〃

〃What's　that？　do　you　rub　it　on　yourself？〃　asked　Euphemia；
anxiously。

〃No；　it's　only　a　great　smoke。　　Come；　let　us　gather　up　dry　leaves
and　make　a　smoldering　fire　of　them。〃

We　managed　to　get　up　a　very　fair　smudge；　and　we　stood　to　the
leeward　of　it；　until　Euphemia　began　to　cough　and　sneeze；　as　if　her
head　would　come　off。　　With　tears　running　from　her　eyes；　she
declared　that　she　would　rather　go　and　be　eaten　alive；　than　stay　in
that　smoke。

〃Perhaps　we　were　too　near　it；〃　said　I。

〃That　may　be；〃　she　answered；　〃but　I　have　had　enough　smoke。　　Why
didn't　I　think　of　it　before？　　I　brought　two　veils！　　We　can　put
these　over　our　faces；　and　wear　gloves。〃

She　was　always　full　of　expedients。

Veiled　and　gloved；　we　bade　defiance　to　the　mosquitoes；　and　we　sat
and　talked　for　half　an　hour　or　more。　　I　made　a　little　hole　in　my
veil；　through　which　I　put　the　mouth…piece　of　my　pipe。

When　it　became　really　dark；　I　lighted　the　lantern；　and　we　prepared
for　a　well…earned　night's　rest。　　The　tent　was　spacious　and
comfortable；　and　we　each　had　a　nice　little　cot…bed。

〃Are　you　going　to　leave　the　front…door　open　all　night？〃　said
Euphemia；　as　I　came　in　after　a　final　round　to　see　that　all　was
right。

〃I　should　hardly　call　this　canvas…flap　a　front…door；〃　I　said；　〃but
I　think　it　would　be　better　to　leave　it　open；　otherwise　we　should
smother。　　You　need　not　be　afraid。　　I　shall　keep　my　gun　here　by　my
bedside；　and　if　any　one　offers　to　come　in；　I'll　bring　him　to　a　full
stop　quick　enough。〃

〃Yes；　if　you　are　awake。　　But　I　suppose　we　ought　not　to　be　afraid　of
burglars　here。　　People　in　tents　never　are。　　So　you　needn't　shut
it。〃

It　was　awfully　quiet　and　dark　and　lonely；　out　there　by　that　creek；
when　the　light　had　been　put　out；　and　we　had　gone　to　bed。　　For　some
reason　I　could　not　go　to　sleep。　　After　I　had　been　lying　awake　for
an　hour　or　two；　Euphemia　spoke：

〃Are　you　awake？〃　said　she；　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　she　were　afraid　of
disturbing　the　people　in　the　next　room。

〃Yes；〃　said　I。　　〃How　long　have　you　been　awake？〃

〃I　haven't　been　asleep。〃

〃Neither　have　I。〃

〃Suppose　we　light　the　lantern；〃　said　she。　　〃Don't　you　think　it
would　be　pleasanter？〃

〃It　might　be；〃　I　replied；　〃but　it　would　draw　myriads　of　mosquitoes。
I　wish　I　had　brought　a　mosquito…net　and　a　clock。　　It　seems　so
lonesome　without　the　ticking。　　Good…night！　　We　ought　to　have　a　long
sleep；　if　we　do　much　tramping　about　to…morrow。〃

In　about　half　an　hour　more；　just　as　I　was　beginning　to　be　a　little
sleepy；　she　said：

〃Where　is　that　gun？〃

〃Here　by　me；〃　I　answered。

〃Well；　if　a　man　should　come　in；　try　and　be　sure　to　put　it　up　close
to　him　before　you　fire。　　In　a　little　tent　like　this；　the　shot　might
scatter　everywhere；　if　you're　not　careful。〃

〃All　right；〃　I　said。　　〃Good…night！〃

〃There's　one　thing　we　never　thought　of！〃　she　presently　exclaimed。

〃What's　that；〃　said　I。

〃Snakes；〃　said　she。

〃Well；　don't　let's　think　of　them。　　We　must　try　and　get　a　little
sleep。〃

〃Dear　knows！　　I've　been　trying　hard　enough；〃　she　said；　plaintively；
and　all　was　quiet　again。

We　succeeded　this　time　in　going　to　sleep；　and　it　was　broad　daylight
before　we　awoke。

That　morning；　old　John　came　with　our　water　before　breakfast　was
ready。　　He　also　brought　us　some　milk；　as　he　thought　we　would　want
it。　　We　considered　this　a　good　idea；　and　agreed　with　him　to　bring
us　a　quart　a　day。

〃Don't　you　want　some　wegetables？〃　said　he。　　〃I've　got　some　nice
corn　and　some　tomatoes；　and　I　could　bring　you　cabbage　and　peas。〃

We　had　hardly　expected　to　have　fresh　vegetables　every　day；　but
there　seemed　to　be　no　reason　why　old　John　should　not　bring　them；　as
he　had　to　come　every　day　with　the　water　and　milk。　　So　we　arranged
that　he　should　furnish　us　daily　with　a　few　of　the　products　of　his
garden。

〃I　could　go　to　the　butcher's　and　get　you　a　steak　or　some　chops；　if
you'd　let　me　know　in　the　morning；〃　said　he；　intent　on　the　profits
of　further　commissions。

But　this　was　going　too　far。　　We　remembered　we　were　camping　out；　and
declined　to　have　meat　from　the　butcher。

John　had　not　been　gone　more　than　ten　minutes　before　we　saw　Mr。　Ball
approaching。

〃Oh；　I　hope　he　isn't　going　to　say　we　can't　stay！〃　exclaimed
Euphemia。

〃How　d'ye　do？〃　said　Mr。　Ball；　shaking　hands　with　us。　　〃Did　you
stick　it　out　all　night？〃

〃Oh　yes；　indeed；〃　I　replied；　〃and　expect　to　stick　it　out　for　a　many
more　nights　if　you　don't　object　to　our　occupying　your　land。〃

〃No　objection　in　the　world；〃　said　he；　〃but　it　seems　a　little　queer
for　people　who　have　a　good　house　to　be　living　out　here　in　the
fields　in　a　tent；　now；　don't　it？〃

〃Oh；　but　you　see；〃　said　I；　and　I　went　on　and　explained　the　whole
thing　to　him；the　advice　of　the　doctor；　the　discussion　about　the
proper　place　to　go　to；　and　the　good　reasons　for　fixing　on　this
spot。

〃Ye…es；〃　said　he；　〃that's　all　very　well；　no　doubt。　　But　how's　the
girl？〃

〃What　girl？〃　I　asked。

〃Your　girl。　　The　hired　girl　you　left　at　the　house。〃

〃Oh；　she's　all　right；〃　said　I；　〃she's　always　well。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Mr。　Ball；　slowly　turning　on　his　heel；　〃if　you　say　so；
I　suppose　she　is。　　But　you're　going　up　to　the　house　to…day　to　see
about　her；　aren't　you？〃

〃Oh；　no；〃　said　Euphemia。　　〃We　don't　intend　to　go　near　the　house
until　our　camping　is　over。〃

〃Just　so；just　so；〃　said　Mr。　Ball；　〃I　expected　as　much。　　But　look
here；　don't　you　think　it　would　be　well　for　me　to　ask　Dr。　Ames　to
stop　in　and　see　how　she　is　gettin'　along？　　I　dare　say　you've　fixed
everything　for　her；　but　that　would　be　safer；　you　know。　　He's　coming
this　morning　to　vaccinate　my　baby；　and　he　might　stop　there；　just　as
well　as　not；　after　he　has　left　my　house。〃

Euphemia　and　I　could　see　no　necessity　for　this　proposed　visit　of
the　doctor；　but　we　could　not　well　object　to　it；　and　so　Mr。　Ball
said　he　would　be　sure　and　send　him。

After　our　visitor　had　gone；　the　significance　of　his　remarks　flashed
on　me。　　He　still　thought　that　Pomona　was　sick　with　something
catching；　and　that　we　were　afraid　to　stay　in　the　house　with　her。
But　I　said　nothing　about　this　to　Euphemia。　　It　would　only　worry
her；　and　our　vacation　was　to　be　a　season　of　unalloyed　delight。



CHAPTER　X。

WET　BLANKETS。


We　certainly　enjoyed　our　second　day　in　camp。　　All　the　morning；　and
a　great　part　of　the　afternoon；　we　〃explored。〃　　We　fastened　up　the
tent　as　well　as　we　could；　and　then；　I　with　my　gun；　and　Euphemia
with　the　fishing…pole；　we　started　up　the　creek。　　We　did　not　go　very
far；　for　it　would　not　do　to　leave　the　tent　too　long。　　I　did　not
shoot　anything；　but　Euphemia　caught　two　or　three　nice　little　fish；
and　we　enjoyed　the　sport　exceedingly。

Soon　after　we　returned　in　the　afternoon；　and　while　we　were　getting
things　in　order　for　supper；　we　had　a　call　from　two　of　our
neighbors；　Captain　Atkinson　and　wife。　　The　captain　greeted　us
hilariously。

〃Hello！〃　he　cried。　　〃Why；　this　is　g