the friendly road-第30部分

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About　noon　that　day　I　had　an　adventure　that　I　have　to　laugh　over　every　time　I　think　of　it。　It　was　unusual；　too；　as　being　almost　the　only　incident　of　my　journey　which　was　of　itself　in　the　least　thrilling　or　out　of　the　ordinary。　Why；　this　might　have　made　an　item　in　the　country　paper！

For　the　first　time　on　my　trip　I　saw　a　man　that　I　really　felt　like　calling　a　trampa　tramp　in　the　generally　accepted　sense　of　the　term。　When　I　left　home　I　imagined　I　should　meet　many　tramps；　and　perhaps　learn　from　them　odd　and　curious　things　about　life；　but　when　I　actually　came　into　contact　with　the　shabby　men　of　the　road；　I　began　to　be　puzzled。　What　was　a　tramp；　anyway？

I　found　them　all　strangely　different；　each　with　his　own　distinctive　history；　and　each　accounting　for　himself　as　logically　as　I　could　for　myself。　And　save　for　the　fact　that　in　none　of　them　I　met　were　the　outward　graces　and　virtues　too　prominently　displayed；　I　have　come　back　quite　uncertain　as　to　what　a　scientist　might　call　type…characteristics。　I　had　thought　of　following　Emerson　in　his　delightfully　optimistic　definition　of　a　weed。　A　weed；　he　says；　is　a　plant　whose　virtues　have　not　been　discovered。　A　tramp；　then；　is　a　man　whose　virtues　have　not　been　discovered。　Or；　I　might　follow　my　old　friend　the　Professor　（who　dearly　loves　all　growing　things）　in　his　even　kindlier　definition　of　a　weed。　He　says　that　it　is　merely　a　plant　misplaced。　The　virility　of　this　definition　has　often　impressed　me　when　I　have　tried　to　grub　the　excellent　and　useful　horseradish　plants　out　of　my　asparagus　bed！　Let　it　be　thena　tramp　is　a　misplaced　man；　whose　virtues　have　not　been　discovered。

Whether　this　is　an　adequate　definition　or　not；　it　fitted　admirably　the　man　I　overtook　that　morning　on　the　road。　He　was　certainly　misplaced；　and　during　my　brief　but　exciting　experience　with　him　I　discovered　no　virtues　whatever。

In　one　way　he　was　quite　different　from　the　traditional　tramp。　He　walked　with　far　too　lively　a　step；　too　jauntily；　and　he　had　with　him　a　small；　shaggy；　nondescript　dog；　a　dog　as　shabby　as　he；　trotting　close　at　his　heels。　He　carried　a　light　stick；　which　he　occasionally　twirled　over　in　his　hand。　As　I　drew　nearer　I　could　hear　him　whistling　and　even；　from　time　to　time；　breaking　into　a　lively　bit　of　song。　What　a　devil…may…care　chap　he　seemed；　anyway！　I　was　greatly　interested。

When　at　length　I　drew　alongside　he　did　not　seem　in　the　least　surprised。　He　turned；　glanced　at　me　with　his　bold　black　eyes；　and　broke　out　again　into　the　song　he　was　singing。　And　these　were　the　words　of　his　songat　least；　all　I　can　remember　of　them：

Oh；　I'm　so　fine　and　gay；　I'm　so　fine　and　gay；　I　have　to　take　a　dog　along；　To　kape　the　ga…irls　away。

What　droll　zest　he　put　into　it！　He　had　a　red　nose；　a　globular　red　nose　set　on　his　face　like　an　overgrown　strawberry；　and　from　under　the　worst　derby　hat　in　the　world　burst　his　thick　curly　hair。

〃Oh；　I'm　so　fine　and　gay；〃　he　sang；　stepping　to　the　rhythm　of　his　song；　and　looking　the　very　image　of　good…humoured　impudence。　I　can't　tell　how　amused　and　pleased　I　wasthough　if　I　had　known　what　was　to　happen　later　I　might　not　have　been　quite　so　friendlyyes；　I　would　too！

We　fell　into　conversation；　and　it　wasn't　long　before　I　suggested　that　we　stop　for　luncheon　together　somewhere　along　the　road。　He　cast　a　quick　appraising　eye　at　my　bag；　and　assented　with　alacrity。　We　climbed　a　fence　and　found　a　quiet　spot　near　a　little　brook。

I　was　much　astonished　to　observe　the　resources　of　my　jovial　companion。　Although　he　carried　neither　bag　nor　pack　and　appeared　to　have　nothing　whatever　in　his　pockets；　he　proceeded；　like　a　professional　prestidigitator；　to　produce　from　his　shabby　clothing　an　extraordinary　number　of　curious　thingsa　black　tin　can　with　a　wire　handle；　a　small　box　of　matches；　a　soiled　package　which　I　soon　learned　contained　tea；　a　miraculously　big　dry　sausage　wrapped　in　an　old　newspaper；　and　a　clasp…knife。　I　watched　him　with　breathless　interest。

He　cut　a　couple　of　crotched　sticks　to　hang　the　pail　on　and　in　two　or　three　minutes　had　a　little　fire；　no　larger　than　a　man's　hand；　burning　brightly　under　it。　（〃Big　fires；〃　said　he　wisely；　〃are　not　for　us。〃）　This　he　fed　with　dry　twigs；　and　in　a　very　few　minutes　he　had　a　pot　of　tea　from　which　he　offered　me　the　first　drink。　This；　with　my　luncheon　and　part　of　his　sausage；　made　up　a　very　good　meal。

While　we　were　eating；　the　little　dog　sat　sedately　by　the　fire。　From　time　to　time　his　master　would　say；　〃Speak；　Jimmy。〃

Jimmy　would　sit　up　on　his　haunches；　his　two　front　paws　hanging　limp；　turn　his　head　to　one　side　in　the　drollest　way　imaginable　and　give　a　yelp。　His　master　would　toss　him　a　bit　of　sausage　or　bread　and　he　would　catch　it　with　a　snap。

〃Fine　dog！〃　commented　my　companion。

〃So　he　seems；〃　said　I。

After　the　meal　was　over　my　companion　proceeded　to　produce　other　surprises　from　his　pocketsa　bag　of　tobacco；　a　brier　pipe　（which　he　kindly　offered　to　me　and　which　I　kindly　refused）；　and　a　soiled　packet　of　cigarette　papers。　Having　rolled　a　cigarette　with　practised　facility；　he　leaned　up　against　a　tree；　took　off　his　hat；　lighted　the　cigarette　and；　having　taken　a　long　draw　at　it；　blew　the　smoke　before　him　with　an　incredible　air　of　satisfaction。

〃Solid　comfort　this　herehey！〃　he　exclaimed。

We　had　some　further　talk；　but　for　so　jovial　a　specimen　he　was　surprisingly　uncommunicative。　Indeed；　I　think　he　soon　decided　that　I　somehow　did　not　belong　to　the　fraternity；　that　I　was　a　〃farmer〃in　the　most　opprobrious　senseand　he　soon　began　to　drowse；　rousing　himself　once　or　twice　to　roll　another　cigarette；　but　finally　dropping　（apparently；　at　least）　fast　asleep。

I　was　glad　enough　of　the　rest　and　quiet　after　the　strenuous　experience　of　the　last　；　two　daysand　I；　too；　soon　began　to　drowse。　It　didn't　seem　to　me　then　that　I　lost　consciousness　at　all；　but　I　suppose　I　must　have　done　so；　for　when　I　suddenly　opened　my　eyes　and　sat　up　my　companion　had　vanished。　How　he　succeeded　in　gathering　up　his　pail　and　packages　so　noiselessly　and　getting　away　so　quickly　is　a　mystery　to　me。

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃that's　odd。〃

Rousing　myself　deliberately　I　put　on　my　hat　and　was　about　to　take　up　my　bag　when　I　suddenly　discovered　that　it　was　open。　My　rain…cape　was　missing！　It　wasn't　a　very　good　rain…cape；　but　it　was　missing。

At　first　I　was　inclined　to　be　angry；　but　when　I　thought　of　my　jovial　companion　and　the　cunning　way　in　which　he　had　tricked　me；　I　couldn't　help　laughing。　At　the　same　time　I　jumped　up　quickly　and　ran　down　the　road。

〃I　may　get　him　yet；〃　I　said。

Just　as　I　stepped　out　of　the　woods　I　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　man　some　hundreds　of　yards　away；　turning　quickly　from　the　main　road　into　a　lane　or　by…path。　I　wasn't　altogether　sure　that　he　was　my　man；　but　I　ran　across　the　road　and　climbed　the　fence。　I　had　formed　the　plan　instantly　of　cutting　across　the　field　and　so　striking　the　by…road　farther　up　the　hill。　I　had　a　curious　sense　of　amused　exultation；　the　very　spirit　of　the　chase；　and　my　mind　dwelt　with　the　liveliest　excitement　on　what　I　should　say　or　do　if　I　really　caught　that　jolly　spark　of　impudence

So　I　came　by　way　of　a　thicket　along　an　old　stone　fence　to　the　by…road；　and　there；　sure　enough；　only　a　little　way　ahead　of　me；　was　my　man　with　the　shaggy　little　dog　close　at　his　heels。　He　was　making　pretty　good　time；　but　I　skirted　swiftly　along　the　edge　of　the　road　until　I　had　nearly　overtaken　him。　Then　I　slowed　down　to　a　walk　and　stepped　out　into　the　middle　of　the　road。　I　confess　my　heart　was　pounding　at　a　lively　rate。　The　next　time　he　looked　behind　himguiltily　enough；　too！I　said　in　the　calmest　voice　I　could　command：

〃Well；　brother；　you　almost　left　me　behind。〃

He　stopped　and　I　stepped　up　to　him。

I　wish　I　could　describe　the　look　in　his　facemingled　astonishment；　fear；　and　defiance。

〃My　friend；〃　I　said；　〃I'm　disappointed　in　you。〃

He　made　no　reply。

〃Yes；　I'm　disappointed。　You　did　such　a　very　poor　job。〃

〃Poor　job！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　and　I　slipped　my　bag　off　my　shoulder　and　began　to　rummage　inside。　My　companion　watched　me　silently　and　suspiciously。

〃You　should　not　have　left　the　rubbers。〃

With　that　I　handed　him　my　old　rubbers。　A　peculiar　expression　came　into　the　man's　face。

〃Say；　pardner；　what　you　drivin'　at？〃

〃Well；〃　I　said；　〃I　don't　like　to　see　such　evidences　of　haste　and　inefficiency。〃

He　stood　staring　at　me　helplessly；　holding　my　old　rubbers　at　arm's　length。

〃Come　on　now；〃　I　said；　〃that's　over。　We'll　walk　along　together。〃

I　was　about　to　take　his　arm；　but　quick　as　a　flash　he　dodged；　cast　both　rubbers　and　rain…cape　away　from　him；　and　ran　down　the　road　for　all　he　was　worth；　the　little　dog；　looking　exactly　like　a　rolling　ball　of　fur；　pelting　after　him。　He　never　once　glanced　back；　but　ran　for　his　life。　I　stood　there　and　laughed　until　the　tears　came；　and　ever　since　then；　at　the　thought　of　the　expression　on　the　jolly　rover's　face　when　I　gave　him　my　rubbers；　I've　had　to　smile。　I　put　the　rain…cape　and　rubbers　back　into　my　bag　and　turned　again　to　the　road。


Before　the　afternoon　was　nearly　spent　I　found　myself　very　tired；　for　my　two　days'　experience　in　the　city　had　been　more　exhausting　for　me；　I　think；　than　a　whole　month　of　hard　labour　on　my　farm。　I　found　haven　with　a　friendly　farmer；　whom　I　joined　while　he　was　driving　his　cows　in　from　the　pasture。　I　helped　him　with　his　milking　both　that　night　and　the　next　morning；　and　found　his　situation　and　family　most　interestingbut　I　shall　not　here　enlarge　upon　that　experience。

It　was　late　afternoon　when　I　finally　surmounted　the　hill　from　which　I　knew　well　enough　I　could　catch　the　first　glimpse　of　my　farm。　For　a　moment　after　I　reached　the　top　I　could　not　raise　my　eyes；　and　when　finally　I　was　able　to　raise　them　I　could　not　see。

〃There　is　a　spot　in　Arcadya　spot　in　Arcadya　spot　in　Arcady〃　So　runs　the　old　song。

There　IS　a　spot　in　Arcady；　and　at　the　centre　of　it　there　is　a　weather…worn　old　house；　and　not　far　away　a　perfect　oak　tree；　and　green　fields　all　about；　and　a　pleasant　stream　fringed　with　alders　in　the　little　valley。　And　out　of　the　chimney　into　the　sweet；　still　evening　air　rises　the　slow　white　smoke　of　the　supper…fire。

I　turned　from　the　main　road；　and　climbed　the　fence　and　walked　across　my　upper　field　to　the　old　wood　lane。　The　air　was　heavy　and　sweet　with　clover　blossoms；　and　along　the　f