第5章

BeforewereachedtheDeams’Iwishedthatwehadcarriedthemasmothertoldus，forwehadlostthree，andifwestoppedtohuntthem，morewouldhide。BythetimewedrovethemunderthefloodgatecrossingthecreekbetweenourlandandtheDeams’fourweregone。LeonleftmeonthegatewithbothswitchestokeepthemfromgoingbackandherantocallMrs。Deam。Shehadredhairandahottemper，andwewerenotveryanxioustoseeher，butwehadtodoit。WhileLeonwasgoneIwasthinkingprettyfastandIknewexactlyhowthingswouldhappen。FirsttimemothersawMrs。Deamshewouldaskheriftheduckswereallright，andshewouldtellthatfourweregone。Motherwouldaskhowmanyshehad，andshewouldsaytwelve，thenmotherwouldrememberthatshestarteduswithtwelveinthebasket——Ohwhat’stheuse！Somethinghadtobedone。Ithadtobedonequicklytoo，forIcouldhearAmandaDeam，herboySammyandLeoncomingacrossthebarnyard。Ilookedaroundindespair，butwhenthingsaretheveryworst，thereisalmostalwayssomewayout。

Onthedrystrawworkedbetweenandpushingagainstthepanelsofthefloodgate，notfarfromme，Isawabigblackwatersnake。I

tookonegoodlookatit：nocopperyhead，nogeometrypatterns，norattlebox，soIknewitwasn’tpoisonousandwouldn’tbiteuntilitwashurt，andifitdid，allyouhadtodowastosucktheplace，anditwouldn’tamounttomorethantwolittlepricksasifpinshadstuckyou；butabigsnakewasagoodexcuse。I

rolledfromthefloodgateamongtheducks，andcried，“Snake！“

Theyscatteredeverywhere。Thesnakelazilyuncoiledandslidacrossthestrawsoslowlythat——thankgoodness！AmandaDeamgotafairlookatit。Sheimmediatelybegantojumpupanddownandscream。Leongrabbedastickandcamerunningtothewater。I

criedsohehadtohelpmeoutfirst。

“Don’tlethercountthem！“Iwhispered。

Leongavemeoneswiftlookandallthemischiefinhisblueeyespeepedout。Hewasthefunniestboyyoueverknew，anyway。

Mostlyhelookedscowlyandabused。Hehadagrievanceagainsteverybodyandeverything。Hesaidnoneofuslikedhim，andweimposedonhim。FathersaidthatifhetannedLeon’sjacketforanything，andsethimdowntothinkitover，hewouldpoutawhile，thenhewouldlookthoughtful，suddenlyhisfacewouldlightupandhewouldgoawaysparkling；andyoucoulddependuponithewoulddothesamethingover，orsomethingworse，insideanhour。Whenhewantedto，hecouldsmilethemostwinningsmile，andhecouldcoaxyouintoanything。Mothersaidshedreadedtohavetoborrowadimefromhim，ifapeddlercaughtherwithoutchange，becausesheknewshe’dbekeptpayingitbackforthenextsixmonths。Rightnowhewasthebusiestkindofaboy。

“Whereisit？Letmegetagoodlickatit！Don’tscaretheducks！“hewouldcry，andchasethemfromonebanktotheother，whileAmandadancedandfoughtimaginarysnakes。Forawomanwhohadseenasmanyasshemusthaveinherlife，itwastoofunny。

Idon’tthinkIcouldlaughharder，orLeonandSammy。Weenjoyedourselvessomuchthatatlastshebegantobeangry。

Shequitdancing，andcommencedhuntingducks，forsure。Sheheldherskirtshigh，pokedalongthebanks，jumpedthecreekanddidn’talwaysgetclearacross。Herhairshookdown，shelostasidecomb，andshecouldn’tfindhalftheducks。

“Youyoungunspackrightoutofhere，“shesaid。“MeandSammycangetthembetterourselves，andifwedon’tfindallofthem，we’llknowwheretheyare。“

“Wehaven’tgotanyofyourducks，“Isaidangrily，butLeonsmiledhismostangelicsmile，anditseemedasifheweregoingtocry。

“Ofcourse，ifyouwanttoaccusemotherofstealingyourducks，youcan，“hesaidplaintively，“butIshouldthinkyou’dbeashamedtodoit，afterallthetroublewetooktocatchthembeforetheyswamtotheriver，whereyouneverwouldhavefoundoneofthem。Comeon，LittleSister，let’sgohome。“

HestartedandIfollowed。Assoonaswegotaroundthebendwesatonthebank，hungourfeetinthewater，leanedagainsteachotherandlaughed。Wejustlaughedourselvesalmostsick。WhenAmanda’sfacegotfirered，andherhaircamedown，andshejumpedanddidn’tgoquiteover，shelookedaperfectfright。

“Willsheeverfindallofthem？“Iaskedatlast。

“Ofcourse，“saidLeon。“Shewillcombthegrassandstrainthewateruntilshegetseveryone。“

“Hoo-hoo！“

IlookedatLeon。Hewassointentlywatchinganoldturkeybuzzardhangingintheair，heneverheardthecallthatmeantitwastimeforustobehomeandcleaningupforSunday。Itwasdifficulttohurry，forafterwehadbeensoapedandscoured，wehadtositonthebackstepsandcommittomemoryversesfromtheBible。Atlastwewadedtowardhome。Twooftheduckswehadlostswambeforeusalltheway，soweknewtheywerealive，andalltheyneededwasfinding。

“Ifshehadn’taccusedmotherofstealingheroldducks，I’dcatchthoseandcarrythembacktoher，“saidLeon。“Butsinceshethinkswearesomean，I’lljustletherandlittleSammyfindthem。“

Thenweheardtheirvoicesastheycamedownthecreek，soLeonreachedmehishandandwescamperedacrossthewaterandmeadow，neverstoppinguntilwesatonthetoprailofourbackorchardfence。Thereweheardanothercall，butthatwasonlytwo。Wesatthere，restedandlookedatthegreenapplesaboveourheads，wishingtheywereripe，andtalkingabouttheducks。WecouldseeMrs。DeamandSammycomingdownthecreek，oneoneachside。

Weslidfromthefenceandranintoaqueerhollowthatwascutintothehillbetweenthenever-failandtheBaldwinappletrees。

Thathollowwasovergrownwithweeds，andfulloftrimmingsfromtrees，stumps，everythingthatnoonewantedanyplaceelseintheorchard。Itwastheonlyunkeptspotonourland，andI

alwayswonderedwhyfatherdidn’tcleanitoutandmakeitlookrespectable。IsaidsotoLeonaswecrouchedtherewatchingdownthehillwhereMrs。DeamandSammyhuntedduckswithnotsuchverygrandsuccess。Theyseemedtohavesomanytheycouldn’tdecidewhethertogobackorgoon，sotheymusthavefoundmostofthem。

“YouknowI’vealwayshadmysuspicionsaboutthisplace，“saidLeon。“Thereissomewhereonourlandthatpeoplecanbehiddenforalongtime。Icanrememberwellenoughbeforethewareversolong，andwhileitwasgoingworst，wewouldfindthewagoncoveredwithmoremudinthemorningthanhadbeenonitatnight；andthehorseswouldbesplashedandtired。OnceIwasawakeinthenightandheardvoices。Itmademewantadrink，soIwentdownstairsforit，andranrightintothebiggest，blackestmanwhoevergrew。Iffatherandmotherhadn’tbeenthereI’dhavebeenscaredintofits。Nextmorninghewasgoneandtherewasn’tawhisper。FathersaidI’dhadbaddreams。

Thatnightthehorsesmadeanothermysterioustrip。Nowwheredidtheykeeptheblackmanallthatday？“

“Whatdidtheyhaveablackmanfor？“

“TheywerehelpinghimrunawayfromslaverytobefreeinCanada。Itwasallright。I’dhavedonethesamething。Theyhelpedalot。FatherwasafriendoftheGovernor。Therewerelettersfromhim，andtherewassomegoodreasonwhyfatherstayedathome，whenhewascrazyaboutthewar。IthinkthisfarmwaswhattheycalledanUndergroundStation。WhatIwanttoknowiswherethestationwas。“

“Maybeit’shere。Let’shunt，“Isaid。“Iftheblackmenwereheresometime，theywouldhavetobefed，andthisisnotfarfromthehouse。“

Sowetooklongsticksandbeganpokingintotheweeds。Thenwemovedthebrush，andsureasyoulive，wefoundanolddoorwithabigstoneagainstit。IlookedatLeonandhelookedatme。

“Hoo-hoo！“camemother’svoice，andthatwasthethirdcall。

“Hum！Mustbeforus，“saidLeon。“Webettergoassoonaswegetalittledryer。“

Hesliddownthebankononeside，andIontheother，andwepushedatthestone。Ithoughtweneverwouldgetitrolledawaysowecouldopenthedooracrack，butwhenwedidwhatwesawwasmostsurprising。Therewasalittleroom，dreadfullysmall。

butaroom。Therewasstrawscatteredoverthefloor，verydeepononeside，whereanoldblanketshowedthatithadbeenabed。

Acrosstheendtherewasashelf。Onitwasacandlestick，withahalf-burnedcandleinit，apiepanwithsomemouldycrumbs，crusts，bonesinit，andatincan。Leonpickedupthecanandlookedin。Icouldseetoo。

Ithadbeenusedforwaterorcoffee，astheplatehadforfood，once，butnowitwasstuffedfullofmoney。IsawLeonpullsomeoutandthenshoveitback，andhecametothedoorwhiteascouldbe，shutitbehindhimandbegantopushatthestone。

Whenwegotitinplaceweputthebrushoverit，andfixedeverythinglikeithadbeen。

AtlastLeonsaid：“That’sthetimewegotintosomethingnotintendedforus，andiffatherfindsitout，weareinforagoodthrashing。Areyoujustablubberingbaby，orareyoubigenoughtokeepstill？“

“IamoldenoughthatIcouldhavegonetoschooltwoyearsago，andIwon’ttell！“Isaidstoutly。

“Allright！Comeonthen，“saidLeon。“Idon’tknowbutmotherhasbeencallingus。“

Westarteduptheorchardpathatthefourthcall。

“Hoo-hoo！“answeredLeoninasicklittlevoicetomakeitsoundfaraway。MusthavemademotherthinkwewereonDeams’hill。

Thenwewentonsidebyside。

“SayLeon，youfoundtheStation，didn’tyou？“

“Don’ttalkaboutit！“snappedLeon。

Ichangedthesubject“Whosemoneydoyousupposethatis？“

“Ohcrackey！Youcandependonagirltoseeeverything，“

groanedLeon。“Doyouthinkyou’llbeabletostandtheswitchingthatjobwillbringyou，withoutgettingsickinbed？“

NowIneverhadbeensickinbed，andfromwhatIhadseenofotherpeoplewhowere，Ineverwantedtobe。Theideaofbeingswitcheduntilitmademesickwastoomuchforme。IshutmymouthtightandIneveropeneditabouttheStationplace。Aswereachedthemaiden’s-blushappletreecameanothercall，anditsoundedprettycross，Icantellyou。Leonreachedhishand。

“Now，it’stimetorun。Letmedothetalking。“

Wewereoutofbreathwhenwereachedthebackdoor。Therestoodthetubonthekitchenfloor，theboileronthestove，soap，towels，andcleanclothingonchairs。Leonhadhisturnathavinghisearswashedfirst，becausehecouldbathehimselfwhilemotherdidmyhair。

“WasMrs。Deamgladtogetherducksback？“sheaskedasshefine-combedLeon。

“Aw，younevercantellwhethershe’sgladaboutanythingornot，“growledLeon。“You’dhavethoughtfromthewaysheacted，thatwe’dbeentryingtostealherducks。Shesaidifshemissedanyshe’dknowwheretofindthem。“

“WellasIlive！“criedmother。“WhyIwouldn’thavebelievedthatofAmandaDeam。Youtoldheryouthoughttheywerewild，ofcourse。“

“Ididn’thaveachancetotellheranything。Theminutetheducksstruckthewatertheystartedrightbackdownstream，andtherewasabigsnake，andwehadanawfultime。Wegotwettryingtoheadthemback，andthenwedidn’tfindallofthem。“

“Theyarelikelittleeels。YoushouldhavehelpedAmanda。“

“Well，youcalledsocrosswethoughtyouwouldcomeafterus，sowehadtorun。“

“Oneneverknows，“sighedmother。“Ithoughtyouwereloitering。

OfcourseifIhadknownyouwerehavingtroublewiththeducks！

Ithinkyouhadbettergobackandhelpthem。“

“Didn’tIdoenoughtotakethemhome？Can’tSammyDeamcatchducksasfastasIcan？“

“Isupposeso，“saidmother。“AndImustgetyourbathingoutofthewayofsupper。YouusethetubwhileIdoLittleSister’shair。“

IalmosthatedSunday，becauseofwhathadtobedonetomyhaironSaturday，togetreadyforit。Allweekithungintwolongbraidsthatwerebrushedandarrangedeachmorning。ButonSaturdayithadtobecombedwithafinecomb，oiledandrolledaroundstripsoftinuntilSundaymorning。Motherdideverythingthoroughly。Sherakedthatfinecomboverourscalpsuntilshealmostraisedtheblood。Shehadn’ttimetofoolwithtangles，andwehadsomuchhairshedidn’tknowwhattodowithallofit，anyway。Whenshewasbusytalkingshereachedaroundtoofarandcombedacrossourforeheadsorrakedthetipofanear。

ButonSundaymorningweforgotallthat，whenwewalkeddowntheaislewithshiningcurlshangingbelowourwaists。Motherwasusingthefinecomb，whenshelookedup，andtherestoodMrs。

Freshett。Wecouldseeataglancethatshewasoutofbreath。

“HaveIbeatthem？“shecried。

“Whomareyoutryingtobeat？“askedmotherasshetoldMaytosetachairforMrs。Freshettandbringheradrink。

“Thegrave-kivermen，“shesaid。“Iwantedtogettoyoufirst。“

“Well，youhave，“saidmother。“Restawhileandthentellme。“

ButMrs。Freshettwassoexcitedshecouldn’trest。

“Ithoughttheywerecomingstraightondown，“shesaid，“buttheymusthaveturnedoffatthecrossroads。Iwanttodowhat’srightbymychildrenhereorthere，“pantedMrs。Freshett，“andthesemenseemedtothinkthecontrivancetheywassellin’

perfectlygrand，an’liketobeanaidtothesoul’ssalvation。

Niceasitseemed，an’convincin’astheytalked，Icouldn’tgettheconsentofmymindtoorder，untilIknowedifyouwasgoin’

tokiveryourdeadwiththecontraption。Noneoftherestoftheneighboursseemoverfriendlytome，an’I’vetoldJosiahmany’sthetime，thatIdidn’tcarearapiftheywa’n’t，solongasI

hadyou。SaysI，`Josiah，tomywayofthinkin’，sheistopcrustinthisneighbourhood，andI’monthesafesideapin’herwaysclostaspossible。’“