the complete writings-3-第24章
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d himself up amid the roots of a gigantic pine； very much as a bear would do； I suppose； with his back against the trunk； and there passed the night comparatively dry and comfortable； but of this we knew nothing till morning； and had to trust to the assurance of a voice out of the darkness that he was all right。
Our own bed where we spread our blankets was excellent in one respect；there was no danger of tumbling out of it。 At first the rain pattered gently on the leaves overhead； and we congratulated ourselves on the snugness of our situation。 There was something cheerful about this free life。 We contrasted our condition with that of tired invalids who were tossing on downy beds； and wooing sleep in vain。 Nothing was so wholesome and invigorating as this bivouac in the forest。 But； somehow； sleep did not come。 The rain had ceased to patter； and began to fall with a steady determination； a sort of soak； soak； all about us。 In fact； it roared on the rubber blanket； and beat in our faces。 The wind began to stir a little； and there was a moaning on high。 Not contented with dripping； the rain was driven into our faces。 Another suspicious circumstance was noticed。 Little rills of water got established along the sides under the blankets； cold； undeniable streams； that interfered with drowsiness。 Pools of water settled on the bed； and the chaplain had a habit of moving suddenly； and letting a quart or two inside； and down my neck。 It began to be evident that we and our bed were probably the wettest objects in the woods。 The rubber was an excellent catch…all。 There was no trouble about ventilation； but we found that we had established our quarters without any provision for drainage。 There was not exactly a wild tempest abroad； but there was a degree of liveliness in the thrashing limbs and the creaking of the tree… branches which rubbed against each other； and the pouring rain increased in volume and power of penetration。 Sleep was quite out of the question； with so much to distract our attention。 In fine； our misery became so perfect that we both broke out into loud and sarcastic laughter over the absurdity of our situation。 We had subjected ourselves to all this forlornness simply for pleasure。 Whether Old Phelps was still in existence； we couldn't tell： we could get no response from him。 With daylight； if he continued ill and could not move； our situation would be little improved。 Our supplies were gone； we lay in a pond； a deluge of water was pouring down on us。 This was summer recreation。 The whole thing was so excessively absurd that we laughed again； louder than ever。 We had plenty of this sort of amusement。 Suddenly through the night we heard a sort of reply that started us bolt upright。 This was a prolonged squawk。 It was like the voice of no beast or bird with which we were familiar。 At first it was distant； but it rapidly approached； tearing through the night and apparently through the tree…tops； like the harsh cry of a web…footed bird with a snarl in it； in fact； as I said； a squawk。 It came close to us； and then turned； and as rapidly as it came fled away through the forest； and we lost the unearthly noise far up the mountain…slope。
〃What was that； Phelps？ 〃we cried out。 But no response came； and we wondered if his spirit had been rent away； or if some evil genius had sought it； and then； baffled by his serene and philosophic spirit； had shot off into the void in rage and disappointment。
The night had no other adventure。 The moon at length coming up behind the clouds lent a spectral aspect to the forest； and deceived us for a time into the notion that day was at hand； but the rain never ceased； and we lay wishful and waiting； with no item of solid misery wanting that we could conceive。
Day was slow a…coming； and didn't amount to much when it came； so heavy were the clouds； but the rain slackened。 We crawled out of our water…cure 〃pack；〃 and sought the guide。 To our infinite relief he announced himself not only alive； but in a going condition。 I looked at my watch。 It had stopped at five o'clock。 I poured the water out of it； and shook it； but； not being constructed on the hydraulic principle； it refused to go。 Some hours later we encountered a huntsman； from whom I procured some gun…grease； with this I filled the watch； and heated it in by the fire。 This is a most effectual way of treating a delicate Genevan timepiece。
The light disclosed fully the suspected fact that our bed had been made in a slight depression： the under rubber blanket spread in this had prevented the rain from soaking into the ground； and we had been lying in what was in fact a well…contrived bathtub。 While Old Phelps was pulling himself together； and we were wringing some gallons of water out of our blankets； we questioned the old man about the 〃squawk；〃 and what bird was possessed of such a voice。 It was not a bird at all； he said； but a cat； the black…cat of the woods； larger than the domestic animal； and an ugly customer； who is fond of fish； and carries a pelt that is worth two or three dollars in the market。 Occasionally he blunders into a sable…trap； and he is altogether hateful in his ways； and has the most uncultivated voice that is heard in the woods。 We shall remember him as one of the least pleasant phantoms of that cheerful night when we lay in the storm； fearing any moment the advent to one of us of the grimmest messenger。
We rolled up and shouldered our wet belongings； and； before the shades had yet lifted from the saturated bushes； pursued our march。 It was a relief to be again in motion； although our progress was slow； and it was a question every rod whether the guide could go on。 We had the day before us； but if we did not find a boat at the inlet a day might not suffice； in the weak condition of the guide； to extricate us from our ridiculous position。 There was nothing heroic in it； we had no object： it was merely； as it must appear by this time； a pleasure excursion； and we might be lost or perish in it without reward and with little sympathy。 We had something like a hour and a half of stumbling through the swamp when suddenly we stood in the little trail！ Slight as it was； it appeared to us a very Broadway to Paradise if broad ways ever lead thither。 Phelps hailed it and sank down in it like one reprieved from death。 But the boat？ Leaving him； we quickly ran a quarter of a mile down to the inlet。 The boat was there。 Our shout to the guide would have roused him out of a death…slumber。 He came down the trail with the agility of an aged deer： never was so glad a sound in his ear； he said； as that shout。 It was in a very jubilant mood that we emptied the boat of water； pushed off； shipped the clumsy oars； and bent to the two…mile row through the black waters of the winding； desolate channel； and over the lake； whose dark waves were tossed a little in the morning breeze。 The trunks of dead trees stand about this lake； and all its shores are ragged with ghastly drift…wood； but it was open to the sky； and although the heavy clouds still obscured all the mountain… ranges we had a sense of escape and freedom that almost made the melancholy scene lovely。
How lightly past hardship sits upon us！ All the misery of the night vanished； as if it had not been； in the shelter of the log cabin at Mud Pond； with dry clothes that fitted us as the skin of the bear fits him in the spring； a noble breakfast； a toasting fire； solicitude about our comfort； judicious sympathy with our suffering； and willingness to hear the now growing tale of our adventure。 Then came； in a day of absolute idleness； while the showers came and went； and the mountains appeared and disappeared in sun and storm； that perfect physical enjoyment which consists in a feeling of strength without any inclination to use it； and in a delicious languor which is too enjoyable to be surrendered to sleep。
'74 HOW SPRING CAME IN NEW ENGLAND
BY A READER OF 〃'93〃
New England is the battle…ground of the seasons。 It is La Vendee。 To conquer it is only to begin the fight。 When it is completely subdued； what kind of weather have you？ None whatever。
What is this New England？ A country？ No： a camp。 It is alternate
