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30 - Murray's Adirondack Tales by William Henry Harrison Murray · Murrays Adirondack Tales

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Speaker 1: Chapter nine. Winter had passed and spring had come the
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Speaker 1: warm south. Like a fair enchantress, had sweetly forced her
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Speaker 1: way into the rigid presence of the ice King, and
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Speaker 1: persuaded him to move his throne to the far north,
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Speaker 1: giving her possession of his present kingdom. This he had
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Speaker 1: not done, all at once, or without many exhibition of
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Speaker 1: bad temper. At first, he swore, by all his placid
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Speaker 1: he would not move an inch, but would hold the
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Speaker 1: earth and all the streams and biting bondage forever. In
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Speaker 1: his quick rage, even made a dash at her, and
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Speaker 1: his icy breath blanched the roses in her cheek, and
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Speaker 1: frightened at a touch. She fled southward until she flung herself,
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Speaker 1: icy cold into the warm gulf stream. From her fervid bath,
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Speaker 1: she rose, with all the color in her cheek and
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Speaker 1: body glowing, her beauty and courage, returned from the warmth
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Speaker 1: and more ardent than before, Floating up to the north
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Speaker 1: again and again she practiced her sweethearts. At last her
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Speaker 1: charms proved irresistible. The icy heart of Winter melted and
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Speaker 1: yielding to the gentle but persistent pressure of her warm palms,
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Speaker 1: he gradually halting over and Anon, as if reluctant, moved
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Speaker 1: northward and finally left his late round to her sweet sovereignty.
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Speaker 1: Never did a kingdom welcome the coming of a queen
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Speaker 1: with greater alacrity. The pines shook off their covering of
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Speaker 1: snow and waved their branches in her honor. The lakes
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Speaker 1: steamed with fog, under the cover of which the blue
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Speaker 1: waves fought with the ice for liberty. They flung the
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Speaker 1: crystal blocks against the rocky islands, slid the great cakes
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Speaker 1: up the sandy beaches, and pushed the floating masses down
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Speaker 1: toward the open mouth of the outlet, which hungrily swallowed them.
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Speaker 1: The little streams swelled with importance and rushed ambitiously downward,
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Speaker 1: as if eager to join the battle waves. Amid the
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Speaker 1: fog between the lakes and the ice, the rivers chafed
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Speaker 1: their bands asunder and ran downward beneath the overhanging pines.
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Speaker 1: With rippling laughter. The hills began to sing. The first
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Speaker 1: partridge beat its roll call, then sounded the robin's flute.
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Speaker 1: The hermit thrush surprisy air with its one note of
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Speaker 1: miraculous purity, while from the open waters of the lake,
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Speaker 1: the loon, sarcastic even in its gladness, poured forth its
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Speaker 1: weird and mocking call. One morn, a little spotted fawn
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Speaker 1: stole timidly out from the dark balsam shadows, and stood
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Speaker 1: a moment with its small hoofs buried deep in the
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Speaker 1: bright sand, looked its wonder for an instant from its
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Speaker 1: clear eyes out upon the great stretch of water, and
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Speaker 1: then stole back, frightened at the level of distance. Perhaps
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Speaker 1: the next morning it came again, listened to the rippling
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Speaker 1: song that rained its thin sound around the curved shore,
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Speaker 1: boldly lapped the water with its tongue, and then frisked
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Speaker 1: bravely in circles. Next morn, a dozen of its kind
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Speaker 1: chased each other in the wildest happiness from end to
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Speaker 1: end of the bright beach. A few weeks and the
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Speaker 1: artibus flower came out sweetly as Modesty's own self. Then
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Speaker 1: the cold gray maples, the hard wiry looking birches, and
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Speaker 1: the leaden hued beeches took themselves a new expression. Their
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Speaker 1: hard looks softened, their rigid stiffness limbered to suavity. They
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Speaker 1: seemed to thicken in the air. Their branches became more pendant,
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Speaker 1: And one morning, a morning without a cloud, the sun
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Speaker 1: came up, flushed with determination, and to his ardor the
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Speaker 1: trees yielded and welcomed him, with every bud fully opened
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Speaker 1: and every leaf wide spread. So winter passed and spring
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Speaker 1: came to the woods. With the coming of spring, two
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Speaker 1: people whose presence had incidentally found its way into the
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Speaker 1: story departed, departed with a happiness in their hearts that
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Speaker 1: only they know, who have been delivered themselves, or have
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Speaker 1: had their friends delivered from the danger of death. For
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Speaker 1: Tom had entirely recovered his health and returned to his
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Speaker 1: city home and the duties of his profession. Strong and robust.
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Speaker 1: Their cabin that the old trapper had built nigh his own,
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Speaker 1: still stood with all the furniture in it, and often
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Speaker 1: during the summer that followed in the succeeding fall, the
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Speaker 1: old trapper would go to the door, look into the
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Speaker 1: familiar room, and say, I hope the children be both well,
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Speaker 1: and then, closing the door again, would go about his duties.
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Speaker 1: The young people departed, but the two old men remained.
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Speaker 1: The trapper, whose stalwart framed the coming of years, seemed
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Speaker 1: to bring no weakness, but only a kind of seasoning
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Speaker 1: as it were, each leaving him a little thinner, but
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Speaker 1: otherwise apparently unchanged. Continued to go about his duties with
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Speaker 1: his hapitual alacrity, and to enjoy his pleasure with the
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Speaker 1: same zest. Nature was a perpetual charm to him. His
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Speaker 1: trained eye grew each year more skillful in discriminating sight,
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Speaker 1: his mind opened more widely with a growing up apprehension
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Speaker 1: of her loveliness. In a hundred ways. She provoked his
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Speaker 1: humor continually to mirth, and at the same time the
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Speaker 1: years made sweet addition to his native reverence, so that
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Speaker 1: he presented the rarest and most beautiful of pictures, the
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Speaker 1: picture of a man to whose gravity and whose laughter
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Speaker 1: time makes equal addition. But to his guests, the passage
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Speaker 1: of time seemed to multiply his burdens. He gradually weakened
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Speaker 1: through the winter, and unless when talking with Tom in
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Speaker 1: reference to the possible recovery of his property, he showed
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Speaker 1: little interest in the conversation or enjoyment that was going
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Speaker 1: on around him. The young man had possessed himself of
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Speaker 1: all the points of the case, and at his departure,
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Speaker 1: had left with his unfortunate client the assurance that he
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Speaker 1: would recover from those who had cheated him at least
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Speaker 1: a competence, perhaps a fortune. The old trapper, with his
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Speaker 1: usual hopeful spirit, had predicted to the young people at
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Speaker 1: their going that what the winter had done for the
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Speaker 1: young lawyer, the summer would do for his client. He
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Speaker 1: needn't worry about the man, he said to Tom. You
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Speaker 1: needn't worry about him at all. He's sort of low
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Speaker 1: spirited now, and his appetite isn't first rate. But he'll
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Speaker 1: chirk up when summer comes and go to eton. And
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Speaker 1: a man with a good appetite can't die unless by
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Speaker 1: the lord's appointment and something unnatural happens. No, you needn't
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Speaker 1: worry about the man, for I shall keep my eye
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Speaker 1: on him. And if you can only warm them vagabonds
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Speaker 1: that steeved his money from him, and get the word
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Speaker 1: in afore the snow comes, the chances be that he'll
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Speaker 1: live twenty year yet, and twenty years a good bit
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Speaker 1: of time of a man hasn't anything to do but
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Speaker 1: enjoy it. But in spite of the old man's hopefulness,
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Speaker 1: his companion did not gain in strength. As time passed,
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Speaker 1: spring matured into summer, The long warm August days came
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Speaker 1: with their heat to the hills and the valleys, eliciting
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Speaker 1: a hundred odors from the sods in the trees, odors
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Speaker 1: pungent with the flavors of health. But however, find their ministry.
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Speaker 1: It seemed unable to revive either his drooping spirits or
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Speaker 1: give strength to his weakened body. The old trapper strove
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Speaker 1: to interest him in his sports, even made little excursions
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Speaker 1: here and there by land and water, hoping that the
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Speaker 1: gentle exercise would beget an appetite and fresh scenes would
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Speaker 1: bring back the departed animation to his spirits. The man
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Speaker 1: who had missed it accommodated himself with the utmost patience
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Speaker 1: to the plans of the trapper in his behalf, and
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Speaker 1: evidently strove to show his host that he appreciated the
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Speaker 1: kindness of his intentions. But the desired benefit which the
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Speaker 1: old trapper longed for was not experienced. Day by day,
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Speaker 1: his walk grew feebler on the carrys, his steps shorter
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Speaker 1: and more unsteady. In the boat, his arms weakened more
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Speaker 1: and more at the oar, until his stroke had so
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Speaker 1: little of strength in it as to be inefficient. But
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Speaker 1: the old man still persevered, and, placing his guest in
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Speaker 1: the stern of the boat and taking the oars himself,
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Speaker 1: continued to make little trips hither and yon for the
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Speaker 1: entertainment of his companion. You see, said the old trapper
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Speaker 1: to himself, it won't do to let a low spirited
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Speaker 1: man stay in one spot. You've got to keep a
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Speaker 1: movin or he'll get worse an worse. An If a
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Speaker 1: man keeps gettin worse and worse, somethin' starting to happen.
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Speaker 1: And I'm determined to keep the man alive till he
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Speaker 1: gets news from the boy, for I feel certain he'll
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Speaker 1: be good news when it comes. And good news is
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Speaker 1: the best physic in the world for a man that's
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Speaker 1: down spirit as he is. And so the old man
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Speaker 1: continued with a most touching perseverance his benevolent endeavors. But
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Speaker 1: in spite of all his efforts, his guests did not improve.
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Speaker 1: It was evident that the kindness of the old trapper
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Speaker 1: touched him deeply, and that he was making every exertion
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Speaker 1: in his power to show his appreciation. And only one
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Speaker 1: theme could the old trapper make him converse with animation,
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Speaker 1: and that was the prospect of Tom's success in the
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Speaker 1: appending lawsuit. Do you think do you really think, John Norton,
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Speaker 1: that there is any hope, said the man who had
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Speaker 1: missed it one day, as the old trapper was rowing
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Speaker 1: him around the lake shore. Think, said the trapper, old friend,
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Speaker 1: I know the boy will get your money. You see,
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Speaker 1: he's got right in his side, and that's as good
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Speaker 1: as an extra knife in a scrimmage. And the boy
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Speaker 1: is smart. You know he's smart, and that counts a
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Speaker 1: good deal on a tussle when things are sort of
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Speaker 1: nip and tuck. I tell you, friend, I'm mortally certain
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Speaker 1: that the boy has them vagabonds on the gridiron and
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Speaker 1: got them fairly similarin already he'll bring in a barrelful
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Speaker 1: of money afore the snow comes. I wish I could
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Speaker 1: think so, said the man. I could do a great
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Speaker 1: deal of good if I had the money. But a
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Speaker 1: man can't live beyond his time. You don't think, John Norton,
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Speaker 1: that a man can live beyond his time? Do you well?
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Speaker 1: That depends a good deal upon who fixes the time? Friend,
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Speaker 1: answered the trapper. I don't conceit that a vagabond and
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Speaker 1: live beyond the time of the Lord's appointment, especially if
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Speaker 1: he is actually catched in some open deviltry, and the
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Speaker 1: man he's wrong has his finger on the trigger, and
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Speaker 1: the sights be right. But if he be a good
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Speaker 1: man who hasn't any traps, and hasn't his name on him,
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Speaker 1: and no pelts in the cabin that he hasn't skinned,
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Speaker 1: I can see that the Lord gives him a good
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Speaker 1: deal of leeway and makes the time of his going
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Speaker 1: a little off and on like for real, honest man
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Speaker 1: ain't plenty enough to be shut down on two sudden,
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Speaker 1: And I can see that the Lord might alter his
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Speaker 1: mind a little if there was actual reason for it.
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Speaker 1: And so the two men would converse, and in each
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Speaker 1: successive conversation, the hopelessness of the one and the determined
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Speaker 1: cheerfulness of the others stood in stronger and stronger contrast.
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Speaker 1: At last, autumn came, and the man, in very feebleness,
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Speaker 1: unable to accompany the trapper on his trips, remained in
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Speaker 1: the cabin, having for his companion his dog the trapper,
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Speaker 1: while he continued his customary application short the lines of
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Speaker 1: his trapping to that extent that he should not be
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Speaker 1: compelled to stay out on the trail over night, for
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Speaker 1: he used to say to himself, Yes, how shorten the
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Speaker 1: lines is false? So I can come in every night,
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Speaker 1: for I don't just like the looks o things, for
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Speaker 1: it certainly looks as if the man was goin and
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Speaker 1: he shan't like for comfort while he stays these twives
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Speaker 1: if my beIN round will help him any And so
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Speaker 1: the old man shortened his lines, and every evening found
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Speaker 1: him in his cabin, ministering to the wants of his guest,
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Speaker 1: both by helpful act and cheerful word. But more than once,
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Speaker 1: when the old man was trailing the line of his traps,
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Speaker 1: he would pause, and, leaning on the muzzle of his rifle,
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Speaker 1: remained for several moments in profound thought, and his meditation
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Speaker 1: invariably ended in the remark, I certainly hope that the
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Speaker 1: boy's warming them vagabonds, and he'll get the news in soon,
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Speaker 1: for it looks to me as if the man was going.
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Speaker 1: And more than once, when the skinning of a mink
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Speaker 1: or an odter had once been nigh, he could have
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Speaker 1: heard him mutter as he worked. I hope the boy
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Speaker 1: will get the news in soon, for it certainly looks
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Speaker 1: as if the man was going. Yes, the man was
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Speaker 1: going slowly, but surely his spirit was preparing to make
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Speaker 1: its exit from the body. The old trapper did the
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Speaker 1: best he knew to sustain and comfort his guest. He
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Speaker 1: would sit in the long evenings and entertain him with
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Speaker 1: the experiences of his life, both grave and mirthful, thereby
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Speaker 1: shortening the otherwise tedious hours with his vivid descriptions, his
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Speaker 1: wise sayings, and his humorous remarks. It was a strange sight, truly,
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Speaker 1: these two men, both knowing that one was nigh to
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Speaker 1: the hour when mortal companionship would end, yet neither making
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Speaker 1: any allusion to the approaching event, the one entertaining the
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Speaker 1: other as best he might with spirited descriptions of men
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Speaker 1: and of scenes among which he had mingled, and of
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Speaker 1: stirring events in which he had been a principal actor,
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Speaker 1: the other listening to the narrations with pleased interests, as
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Speaker 1: if he were not already at the point at which
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Speaker 1: the scenes and doings of this earth become not and
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Speaker 1: his eyes were soon to look upon the scenes invisible
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Speaker 1: to mortal senses. And yet perhaps it were as well
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Speaker 1: if those of us who were called upon the Minister
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Speaker 1: to the elect the chosen of God to a happier
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Speaker 1: life than they had lived. Here should intimate more closely
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Speaker 1: than is our wont the wisdom of the trapper. For
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Speaker 1: there are ministries too fine for our bungling hands to apply,
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Speaker 1: and there are messages which heaven sends to the soul,
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Speaker 1: too sweet and gentle for our harsh voices to speak
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Speaker 1: in words. This is as it may. The two men
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Speaker 1: never alluded to the event, which both felt was inevitable
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Speaker 1: and would soon occur, but continue to impart and receive
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Speaker 1: entertainment as man ministers to man. But one evening the
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Speaker 1: trapper had remained in and about the cabin all day
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Speaker 1: from feeling that things can't last much longer in this way,
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Speaker 1: as he said to himself. One evening, after the dishes
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Speaker 1: had been cleared from the table and from the little
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Speaker 1: stand that stood by the side of the bed on
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Speaker 1: which the trapper's guest was lying, the old man had
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Speaker 1: seated himself in front of the fire, and a man
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Speaker 1: began the conversation, himself, John Norton. He said, day after
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Speaker 1: tomorrow will be Christmas. I came to you on Thanksgiving night,
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Speaker 1: and as I have got to go away before Christmas
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Speaker 1: Eve comes round. I thought I had better tell you
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Speaker 1: of some things that I would like to have done
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Speaker 1: when I'm gone, and perhaps ask your advice about some things.
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Speaker 1: I suppose you know what I mean, John Norton, Yes,
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Speaker 1: said the trapper, and rising from his chair, he moved
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Speaker 1: it up nearer the bed and reseated himself facing his guest. Yes, friend,
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Speaker 1: I know what you mean. And for the moment the
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Speaker 1: two men looked at each other, looked at each other calmly,
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Speaker 1: as two spirits might look at each other when in
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Speaker 1: the presence of some emergency they are about to draw
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Speaker 1: together in closest companionship. I have certainly had a hard
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Speaker 1: time on the earth, have I not, John Norton? Your
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Speaker 1: trail has been all up hill, friend, answered the trapper,
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Speaker 1: And he paused a moment, and then, with his eyes
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Speaker 1: still looking into the eyes of his guest, he repeated,
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Speaker 1: all up hill, friend, What shall I find beyond? John Norton,
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Speaker 1: queried the man. You'll find at all level, friend, said
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Speaker 1: the trapper. Do you think, asked the man again, Do
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Speaker 1: you think it will be hard for me to die?
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Speaker 1: You'll be easy, friend, answered the trapper. The dog Lucky,
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Speaker 1: who was lying on the bed near his master's feet,
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Speaker 1: crept slowly up along the side of the body until
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Speaker 1: he could command the faces of both speakers, and as
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Speaker 1: the dialog advanced, he watched them alternately. Why do you
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Speaker 1: think I shall die easily? The man asked, You be
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Speaker 1: too weak to die hard? The old man responded, are
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Speaker 1: you certain, John Norton, I am certain, was the reply.
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Speaker 1: The dialog had been carried on in the briefest possible sentences,
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Speaker 1: and between each sentence there was a pause. Each spoke
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Speaker 1: with the deliberation of a man asking and answering momentous questions.
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Speaker 1: In a moment, the dialog proceeded, I shall find her
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Speaker 1: over there, shall I not? Asked the man. You will
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Speaker 1: find her was a sententious response. In a body, In
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Speaker 1: a body was the answer. And the unknown those I
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Speaker 1: have never seen, John Norton, the maker of sight will
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Speaker 1: give you new eyes there, and you'll see. After this,
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Speaker 1: there was silence. The man evidently was pondering, as a
16:53
Speaker 1: man ponders when he lies on the edge of the
16:56
Speaker 1: great unseen. A log in the fireplace broke in the
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Speaker 1: middle and flamed brilliantly. One of the hounds rose, turned
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Speaker 1: round and lay down again, Lucky rubbed his head in
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Speaker 1: mute tenderness against the arm of his master that lay
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Speaker 1: within reach. Outside the world was white. The moon stood
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Speaker 1: in the sky above the moon. What was there above
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Speaker 1: the moon? Heaven? Perhaps? Where shall I go, old trapper?
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Speaker 1: When I go out of this body and this cabin,
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Speaker 1: all old trails end at the edge of the great
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Speaker 1: clearin From there each spirit blazes its own line. Answered
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Speaker 1: the trapper, I have seed where a good many trails stopped. Friend,
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Speaker 1: I have never seed the direction they took out o
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Speaker 1: that it would be comforting to know just what would
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Speaker 1: happen after death, mused the man. You never know what
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Speaker 1: a sunrise is till you see it, returned the trapper,
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Speaker 1: It'll be sunrise, sunrise are o night? That's enough, And
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Speaker 1: the old man said it with the reverence of profoundest trust.
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Speaker 1: The man toyed with one of Lucky's ears a moment,
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Speaker 1: looked at him as a man can only look at
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Speaker 1: a creature from whom he had received no pain, but
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Speaker 1: who has given to him such faith and love has
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Speaker 1: belonged only to deep affection. And then he said, will
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Speaker 1: Lucky be there? It was a strange coincidence, a strange coincidence, truly.
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Speaker 1: But when the man said, will Lucky be there, the dog,
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Speaker 1: with loving tongue lapped the back of his master's hand
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Speaker 1: as it lay against his muzzle, looked into his master's
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Speaker 1: face and lapped his hand. That was all your question is, answered,
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Speaker 1: said the trapper. I accept the answer, said the man.
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Speaker 1: A creature of such intelligence and such affection cannot die,
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Speaker 1: such love can never perish. After this, for several minutes
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Speaker 1: neither spoke at length. The trapper said, you said, friend,
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Speaker 1: you said you had something to tell me, some directions
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Speaker 1: and the like, something perhaps you wanted done. And maybe
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Speaker 1: it's as well you should speak of it now. I've
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Speaker 1: done a good many things for red skin and white
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Speaker 1: both ard they was gone. And if you want anything done, friend,
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Speaker 1: if the doin of a be within the range of
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Speaker 1: my gifts, you have only to say it, for it'll
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Speaker 1: be done according as you say. Of course, said the man,
19:32
Speaker 1: speaking after a pause. I want you to bury my
19:36
Speaker 1: body after I have left it. It shall be done,
19:40
Speaker 1: responded the trapper. I wish you would bury it just
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Speaker 1: by the rock on the bank to the east, which
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Speaker 1: commands a view up the lake. It's a cheerful spot
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Speaker 1: for a grave, answered the trapper, For the view is
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Speaker 1: a good un and your body, when you have left,
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Speaker 1: it shall be buried where you say again? There was
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Speaker 1: a pause. Be any wish, asked the trapper as to
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Speaker 1: how I should bury your body? Art you're gone? Any
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Speaker 1: directions about the service, and he verses a scripturer of
20:09
Speaker 1: the like none at all, answered the man. You may
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Speaker 1: follow your own notions, John Norton, there will be what
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Speaker 1: one mourner, and he looked at his dog. Two returned
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Speaker 1: the trapper. Thank you, replied the man. I believe you,
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Speaker 1: and he smiled gratefully. What about the dog, said the trapper.
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Speaker 1: The man hesitated a moment, and then timidly, can he
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Speaker 1: be of no service to you? The trapper understood the
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Speaker 1: hesitation of his guest and answered, the dog shall stay
20:43
Speaker 1: with me till he dies. He shall not lack for food,
20:46
Speaker 1: and a corner of the hearthstone shall be his. That
20:49
Speaker 1: is all I think, said the man, unless but he
20:54
Speaker 1: won't get it. I don't think he will, said the trapper. No,
20:59
Speaker 1: I don't think he will. But if he should, what
21:02
Speaker 1: do you wish done with it? Then? I have thought
21:05
Speaker 1: it all over, said the man, I held to it
21:09
Speaker 1: as my last hope, but you would have sent us
21:12
Speaker 1: word before. Now in my pack you will find a paper.
21:17
Speaker 1: In it are written directions. There will be nothing to give,
21:20
Speaker 1: but if there were, the paper gives it as I
21:24
Speaker 1: would have it given. Is there anything else, asked the trapper. Yes,
21:30
Speaker 1: said the man, and he stretched forth his hand, which
21:33
Speaker 1: the trapper met with his own. Yes, John Norton, there
21:37
Speaker 1: is something else. The gratitude of a dying man with
21:42
Speaker 1: a bed to lie on because you have given it
21:44
Speaker 1: to him, a house to die in because you have
21:47
Speaker 1: opened its doors at his coming. The gratitude of a
21:51
Speaker 1: dying man who owes more happiness than the last year
21:55
Speaker 1: of his life than the world had given him in
21:57
Speaker 1: twenty years to you, The gratitude of a dying man
22:02
Speaker 1: who knows his body will have burial by friendly hands
22:06
Speaker 1: and not be put in the pauper's corner by the
22:09
Speaker 1: cold charity of those who are glad to get rid
22:12
Speaker 1: of a beggar. The God of the friendless reward you abundantly,
22:16
Speaker 1: old trapper, as your deeds deserve, and give you peace
22:21
Speaker 1: in your dying hour as your goodness has given me,
22:25
Speaker 1: and a friendly hand to bury your body as you
22:29
Speaker 1: I know, will bear mine. Amen, said the trapper, and
22:34
Speaker 1: the two men unclasp their hands, the one turning toward
22:37
Speaker 1: the fire, the other sinking back upon the pillow from
22:41
Speaker 1: which his earnestness he had partially risen. The trapper busied
22:45
Speaker 1: himself for a few moments in mending the fire. He
22:48
Speaker 1: placed some large logs in such a way that they
22:51
Speaker 1: would hold their heat during the night, And then, as
22:54
Speaker 1: he prepared to go to his own bed, he said, friend,
22:58
Speaker 1: you will wake me if you want an than during
23:00
Speaker 1: the night. A word will be enough. I sleep light. Yes,
23:05
Speaker 1: I will wake you if I want anything, answered the man.
23:10
Speaker 1: I feel as if I should sleep now. This was
23:13
Speaker 1: all that was said, and a few moments the trapper
23:16
Speaker 1: stretched himself on his bed and fell asleep. The man
23:20
Speaker 1: moved himself on to his other side, put his hand
23:23
Speaker 1: under his cheek, and in a moment he too fell asleep,
23:27
Speaker 1: And so both slept. One awoke. The trapper awoke at
23:31
Speaker 1: earliest dawn, but the other slept on, slept through the dawn,
23:36
Speaker 1: and the day slept on awoke not forever. At least,
23:41
Speaker 1: the eyes of his body never opened. For the man
23:44
Speaker 1: who had missed it was gone. The trapper awoke, and,
23:49
Speaker 1: stepping to the bedside of his guest, gave one look,
23:52
Speaker 1: and then he went to the large chest, took a
23:55
Speaker 1: piece of white cloth from its steps, and spread it
23:58
Speaker 1: tenderly over the sleeper's face, And as he turned away, said,
24:02
Speaker 1: simply to himself, perhaps it was the best way. Christmas
24:07
Speaker 1: day in the cities. The bells were ringing in the wilderness.
24:11
Speaker 1: No motion stirred the air into sound. On the bank
24:15
Speaker 1: which commanded the view up the lake, near the rock
24:18
Speaker 1: was a grave, a grave half filled. At one end
24:22
Speaker 1: of the grave stood the trapper, leaning on a shovel.
24:26
Speaker 1: At the other end of the grave stood a dog shivering.
24:29
Speaker 1: Far up the lake, a runner on snowshoes was hurrying
24:32
Speaker 1: toward the north. When he reached the northern shore and
24:36
Speaker 1: clombed the bank, the grave was filled. The runner took
24:40
Speaker 1: a letter from his breast pocket and handed to the trapper.
24:43
Speaker 1: The trapper took it, studied the address a moment, and said, friend,
24:49
Speaker 1: you'll find fire and food in the cabin. The man
24:52
Speaker 1: understood the command and shuffled toward the house. The old
24:56
Speaker 1: man broke the seal, and spreading the letter out on
24:59
Speaker 1: his knees, studied it contents. The hand in which it
25:02
Speaker 1: was written was none of the plainest to eyes unused
25:05
Speaker 1: to penmanship. I don't get the run of all of it,
25:09
Speaker 1: said the old man to himself. The boy says, he's
25:12
Speaker 1: got his case, and here's a figure two and a
25:15
Speaker 1: three and a five. Yes, that's a five, and the
25:20
Speaker 1: three ciphers be plain two hundred and thirty five thousand dollars.
25:27
Speaker 1: It's a big sum, no doubt, though I don't quite
25:30
Speaker 1: get the size of the figures. And the old man
25:33
Speaker 1: looked at the letter, and then he looked at the grave.
25:37
Speaker 1: It's a big sum. It's a big sum, he added,
25:41
Speaker 1: as he turned toward the cabin. The boy has done well,
25:45
Speaker 1: but the news comes a little too late. It was evening.
25:49
Speaker 1: The old trapper sat in his cabin alone, and his
25:52
Speaker 1: hand was a letter the runner had brought him. By
25:55
Speaker 1: dint of great perseverance, he had mastered every word of
25:58
Speaker 1: its contents. It was written in Tom's happiest vain and
26:03
Speaker 1: told of a great success. The old man folded the
26:06
Speaker 1: letter carefully, laid it on the table, and again he said,
26:10
Speaker 1: it came a little too late, Yes, it came a
26:13
Speaker 1: little too late. I'll go and see where Lucky is.
26:17
Speaker 1: And rising from his chair, he put on his cap
26:20
Speaker 1: and opened the door. The moon was shining at its
26:23
Speaker 1: full and as he neared the grave he saw the
26:26
Speaker 1: object of his search lying at full length upon it.
26:29
Speaker 1: He whistled to him, but he did not stir. He
26:32
Speaker 1: approached and put his hand on the body. The dog
26:36
Speaker 1: was dead. The old trapper rose, looked a moment at
26:40
Speaker 1: the grave and at the dead dog upon it, and
26:43
Speaker 1: as he turned away again, he said, perhaps it was
26:47
Speaker 1: the best way. Perhaps it was that night, one looking
26:52
Speaker 1: through the window might have seen the old trapper sitting
26:54
Speaker 1: by the fire with a book on his knees, a
26:57
Speaker 1: large book bound with board covers, trust in leather, a
27:01
Speaker 1: book printed with large old fashioned letters. The old man
27:05
Speaker 1: was reading aloud to himself, and moving his fingers slowly
27:08
Speaker 1: along as he read the words. Says here, he muttered.
27:13
Speaker 1: It says here that to him that hath shall be given.
27:17
Speaker 1: That's certainly rational, if the man has behaved himself. But
27:21
Speaker 1: that from him that hath not shall be taken, even
27:24
Speaker 1: that which he hath That bothers me, muttered the trapper.
27:30
Speaker 1: I know it be so, for the grave by the
27:32
Speaker 1: rock proves it. But why it be so that certainly
27:36
Speaker 1: bothers me. Perhaps Henry can tell me when he comes
27:41
Speaker 1: in the end end of chapter nine, end of the
27:48
Speaker 1: Story of the Man Who Missed It and of Murray's
27:51
Speaker 1: at Rondack Tales by W. H. H. Murray, recording by
27:56
Speaker 1: Keith Sallass