rudder grange-第20部分

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I　looked　up　at　the　man；　he　was　a　thoroughbred　tramp；　burly；　dirty；
generally　unkempt；　but；　unlike　most　tramps；　he　looked　very　much
frightened。　　His　position；　on　a　high　crotch　of　an　apple…tree；　was
not　altogether　comfortable；　and　although；　for　the　present；　it　was
safe；　the　fellow　seemed　to　have　a　wavering　faith　in　the　strength　of
apple…tree　branches；　and　the　moment　he　saw　me；　he　earnestly
besought　me　to　take　that　dog　away；　and　let　him　down。

I　made　no　answer；　but　turning　to　Pomona；　I　asked　her　what　this　all
meant。

〃Why；　sir；　you　see；〃　said　she；　〃I　was　in　the　kitchen　bakin'　pies；
and　this　fellow　must　have　got　over　the　fence　at　the　side　of　the
house；　for　the　dog　didn't　see　him；　and　the　first　thing　I　know'd　he
was　stickin'　his　head　in　the　window；　and　he　asked　me　to　give　him
somethin'　to　eat。　　And　when　I　said　I'd　see　in　a　minute　if　there　was
anything　for　him；　he　says　to　me；　'Gim　me　a　piece　of　one　of　them
pies；'pies　I'd　just　baked　and　was　settin'　to　cool　on　the　kitchen
table！　　'No；　sir；'　says　I；　'I'm　not　goin'　to　cut　one　of　them　pies
for　you；　or　any　one　like　you。'　　'All　right！'　says　he。　　'I'll　come
in　and　help　myself。'　　He　must　have　known　there　was　no　man　about；
and；　comin'　the　way　he　did；　he　hadn't　seen　the　dog。　　So　he　come
round　to　the　kitchen　door；　but　I　shot　out　before　he　got　there　and
unchained　Lord　Edward。　　I　guess　he　saw　the　dog；　when　he　got　to　the
door；　and　at　any　rate　he　heard　the　chain　clankin'；　and　he　didn't　go
in；　but　just　put　for　the　gate。　　But　Lord　Edward　was　after　him　so
quick　that　he　hadn't　no　time　to　go　to　no　gates。　　It　was　all　he
could　do　to　scoot　up　this　tree；　and　if　he'd　been　a　millionth　part
of　a　minute　later　he'd　'a'　been　in　another　world　by　this　time。〃

The　man；　who　had　not　attempted　to　interrupt　Pomona's　speech；　now
began　again　to　implore　me　to　let　him　down；　while　Euphemia　looked
pitifully　at　him；　and　was　about；　I　think；　to　intercede　with　me　in
his　favor；　but　my　attention　was　drawn　off　from　her；　by　the　strange
conduct　of　the　dog。　　Believing；　I　suppose；　that　he　might　leave　the
tramp　for　a　moment；　now　that　I　had　arrived；　he　had　dashed　away　to
another　tree；　where　he　was　barking　furiously；　standing　on　his　hind
legs　and　clawing　at　the　trunk。

〃What's　the　matter　over　there？〃　I　asked。

〃Oh；　that's　the　other　fellow；〃　said　Pomona。　　〃He's　no　harm。〃　　And
then；　as　the　tramp　made　a　movement　as　if　he　would　try　to　come　down；
and　make　a　rush　for　safety；　during　the　absence　of　the　dog；　she
called　out；　〃Here；　boy！　here；　boy！〃　and　in　an　instant　Lord　Edward
was　again　raging　at　his　post；　at　the　foot　of　the　apple…tree。

I　was　grievously　puzzled　at　all　this；　and　walked　over　to　the　other
tree；　followed；　as　before；　by　Euphemia　and　Pomona。

〃This　one；〃　said　the　latter；　〃is　a　tree…man〃

〃I　should　think　so；〃　said　I；　as　I　caught　sight　of　a　person　in　gray
trowsers　standing　among　the　branches　of　a　cherry…tree　not　very　far
from　the　kitchen　door。　　The　tree　was　not　a　large　one；　and　the
branches　were　not　strong　enough　to　allow　him　to　sit　down　on　them；
although　they　supported　him　well　enough；　as　he　stood　close　to　the
trunk　just　out　of　reach　of　Lord　Edward。

〃This　is　a　very　unpleasant　position；　sir；〃　said　he；　when　I　reached
the　tree。　　〃I　simply　came　into　your　yard；　on　a　matter　of　business；
and　finding　that　raging　beast　attacking　a　person　in　a　tree；　I　had
barely　time　to　get　up　into　this　tree　myself；　before　he　dashed　at
me。　　Luckily　I　was　out　of　his　reach；　but　I　very　much　fear　I　have
lost　some　of　my　property。〃

〃No；　he　hasn't；〃　said　Pomona。　　〃It　was　a　big　book　he　dropped。　　I
picked　it　up　and　took　it　into　the　house。　　It's　full　of　pictures　of
pears　and　peaches　and　flowers。　　I've　been　lookin'　at　it。　　That's
how　I　knew　what　he　was。　　And　there　was　no　call　for　his　gittin'　up　a
tree。　　Lord　Edward　never　would　have　gone　after　him　if　he　hadn't　run
as　if　he　had　guilt　on　his　soul。〃

〃I　suppose；　then；〃　said　I；　addressing　the　individual　in　the　cherry…
tree；　〃that　you　came　here　to　sell　me　some　trees。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　he　quickly；　〃trees；　shrubs；　vines；　evergreens；
everything　suitable　for　a　gentleman's　country　villa。　　I　can　sell
you　something　quite　remarkable；　sir；　in　the　way　of　cherry…trees；
French　ones；　just　imported；　bear　fruit　three　times　the　size　of
anything　that　could　be　produced　on　a　tree　like　this。　　And　pears
fruit　of　the　finest　flavor　and　enormous　size〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Pomona。　　〃I　seen　them　in　the　book。　　But　they　must　grow
on　a　ground…vine。　　No　tree　couldn't　hold　such　pears　as　them。〃

Here　Euphemia　reproved　Pomona's　forwardness；　and　I　invited　the
tree…agent　to　get　down　out　of　the　tree。

〃Thank　you；〃　said　he；　〃but　not　while　that　dog　is　loose。　　If　you
will　kindly　chain　him　up；　I　will　get　my　book；　and　show　you
specimens　of　some　of　the　finest　small　fruit　in　the　world；　all
imported　from　the　first　nurseries　of　Europethe　Red…gold　Amber
Muscat　grape；the〃

〃Oh；　please　let　him　down！〃　said　Euphemia；　her　eyes　beginning　to
sparkle。

I　slowly　walked　toward　the　tramp…tree；　revolving　various　matters　in
my　mind。　　We　had　not　spent　much　money　on　the　place　during　the
winter；　and　we　now　had　a　small　sum　which　we　intended　to　use　for　the
advantage　of　the　farm；　but　had　not　yet　decided　what　to　do　with　it。
It　behooved　me　to　be　careful。

I　told　Pomona　to　run　and　get　me　the　dog…chain；　and　I　stood　under
the　tree；　listening；　as　well　as　I　could；　to　the　tree…agent　talking
to　Euphemia；　and　paying　no　attention　to　the　impassioned　entreaties
of　the　tramp　in　the　crotch　above　me。　　When　the　chain　was　brought；　I
hooked　one　end　of　it　in　Lord　Edward's　collar；　and　then　I　took　a
firm　grasp　of　the　other。　　Telling　Pomona　to　bring　the　tree…agent's
book　from　the　house；　I　called　to　that　individual　to　get　down　from
his　tree。　　He　promptly　obeyed；　and　taking　the　book　from　Pomona；
began　to　show　the　pictures　to　Euphemia。

〃You　had　better　hurry；　sir；〃　I　called　out。　　〃I　can't　hold　this　dog
very　long。〃　　And；　indeed；　Lord　Edward　had　made　a　run　toward　the
agent；　which　jerked　me　very　forcibly　in　his　direction。　　But　a
movement　by　the　tramp　had　quickly　brought　the　dog　back　to　his　more
desired　victim。

〃If　you　will　just　tie　up　that　dog；　sir；〃　said　the　agent；　〃and　come
this　way；　I　would　like　to　show　you　the　Meltinagua　pear；dissolves
in　the　mouth　like　snow；　sir；　trees　will　bear　next　year。〃

〃Oh；　come　look　at　the　Royal　Sparkling　Ruby　grape！〃　cried　Euphemia。
〃It　glows　in　the　sun　like　a　gem。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　agent；　〃and　fills　the　air　with　fragrance　during　the
whole　month　of　September〃

〃I　tell　you；〃　I　shouted；　〃I　can't　hold　this　dog　another　minute！
The　chain　is　cutting　the　skin　off　my　hands。　　Run；　sir；　run！　　I'm
going　to　let　go！〃

〃Run！　run！〃　cried　Pomona。　　〃Fly　for　your　life！〃

The　agent　now　began　to　be　frightened；　and　shut　up　his　book。

〃If　you　only　could　see　the　plates；　sir；　I'm　sure〃

〃Are　you　ready？〃　I　cried；　as　the　dog；　excited　by　Pomona's　wild
shouts；　made　a　bolt　in　his　direction。

〃Good…day；　if　I　must〃　said　the　agent；　as　he　hurried　to　the　gate。
But　there　he　stopped。

〃There　is　nothing；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃that　would　so　improve　your　place
as　a　row　of　the　Spitzenberg　Sweet…scented　Balsam　fir　along　this
fence。　　I'll　sell　you　three…year…old　trees〃

〃He's　loose！〃　I　shouted；　as　I　dropped　the　chain。

In　a　second　the　agent　was　on　the　other　side　of　the　gate。　　Lord
Edward　made　a　dash　toward　him；　but；　stopping　suddenly；　flew　back　to
the　tree　of　the　tramp。

〃If　you　should　conclude；　sir；〃　said　the　tree…agent；　looking　over
the　fence；　〃to　have　a　row　of　those　firs　along　here〃

〃My　good　sir；〃　said　I；　〃there　is　no　row　of　firs　there　now；　and　the
fence　is　not　very　high。　　My　dog；　as　you　see；　is　very　much　excited
and　I　cannot　answer　for　the　consequences　if　he　takes　it　into　his
head　to　jump　over。〃

The　tree…agent　turned　and　walked　slowly　away。

〃Now；　look…a…here；〃　cried　the　tramp　from　the　tree；　in　the　voice　of
a　very　ill…used　person；　〃ain't　you　goin'　to　fasten　up　that　dog；　and
let　me　git　down？〃

I　walked　up　close　to　the　tree　and　addressed　him。

〃No；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　not。　　When　a　man　comes　to　my　place；　bullies　a
young　girl　who　was　about　to　relieve　his　hunger；　and　then　boldly
determines　to　enter　my　house　and　help　himself　to　my　property；　I
don't　propose　to　fasten　up　any　dog　that　may　happen　to　be　after　him。
If　I　had　another　dog；　I'd　let　him　loose；　and　give　this　faithful
beast　a　rest。　　You　can　do　as　you　please。　　You　can　come　down　and
have　it　out　with　the　dog；　or　you　can　stay　up　there；　until　I　have
had　my　dinner。　　Then　I　will　drive　down　to　the　village　and　bring　up
the　constable；　and　deliver　you　into　his　hands。　　We　want　no　such
fellows　as　you　about。〃

With　that；　I　unhooked　the　chain　from　Lord　Edward；　and　walked　off　to
put　up　the　horse。　　The　man　shouted　after　me；　but　I　paid　no
attention。　　I　did　not　feel　in　a　good　humor　with　him。

Euphemia　was　much　disturbed　by　the　various　occurrences　of　the
afternoon。　　She　was　sorry　for　the　man　in　the　tree；　she　was　sorry
that　the　agent　for　the　Royal　Ruby　grape　had　been　obliged　to　go
away；　and　I　had　a　good　deal　of　trouble　during　dinner　to　make　her
see　things　in　the　proper　light。　　But　I　succeeded　at　last。

I　did　not　hurry　through　dinner；　and　when　we　had　finished　I　went　to
my　work　at　the　barn。　　Tramps　are　not　generally　pressed　for　time；
and　Pomona　had　been　told　to　give　our　captive　something　to　eat。

I　was　just　locking　the　door　of　the　carriage…house；　when　Pomona　came
running　to　me　to　tell　me　that　the　tramp　wanted　to　see　me　about
something　very　importantjust　a　minute；　he　said。　　I　put　the　key　in
my　pocket　and　walked　over　to　the　tree。　　It　was　now　almost　dark；　but
I　could　see　that　the　dog；　the　tramp；　and　the　tree　still　kept　their
respective　places。

〃Look…a…here；〃　said　the　individual　in　the　crotch；　〃you　don't　know
how　dreadful　oneasy　these　limbs　gits　after　you've　been　settin　up
here　as　long　as　I　have。　　And　I　don't　want　to　have　nuthin　to　do　with
no　constables。　　I'll　tell　you　what　I'll　do　if　you'll　chain　up　that
dog；　and　let　me　go；　I'll　fix　things　so　that　you'll　not　be　troubled
no　more　by　no　tramps。〃

〃How　will　you　do　that？〃　I　asked。

〃Oh；　never　you　mind；〃　said　he。　　〃I'll　give　you　my　word　of　honor
I'll　do　it。　　There's　a　reg'lar　understandin'　among　us　fellers；　you
know。〃

I　considered　the　matter。　　The　word　of　honor　of　a　fellow　su