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SometimesIhadacompanioninmyfishing,whocamethroughthevillagetomyhousefromtheothersideofthetown,andthecatchingofthedinnerwasasmuchasocialexerciseastheeatingofit.
Hermit.Iwonderwhattheworldisdoingnow.
Ihavenotheardsomuchasalocustoverthesweet–fernthesethreehours.
Thepigeonsareallasleepupontheirroosts—noflutterfromthem.
Wasthatafarmer'snoonhornwhichsoundedfrombeyondthewoodsjustnow?
ThehandsarecomingintoboiledsaltbeefandciderandIndianbread.Whywillmenworrythemselvesso?Hethatdoesnoteatneednotwork.Iwonderhowmuchtheyhavereaped.
WhowouldlivetherewhereabodycanneverthinkforthebarkingofBose?Andoh,thehousekeeping!
tokeepbrightthedevil'sdoor–knobs,andscourhistubsthisbrightday!Betternotkeepahouse.
Say,somehollowtree;andthenformorningcallsanddinner–parties!Onlyawoodpeckertapping.
Oh,theyswarm;thesunistoowarmthere;theyareborntoofarintolifeforme.
Ihavewaterfromthespring,andaloafofbrownbreadontheshelf.—Hark!Iheararustlingoftheleaves.
Isitsomeill–fedvillagehoundyieldingtotheinstinctofthechase?
orthelostpigwhichissaidtobeinthesewoods,whosetracksIsawaftertherain?
Itcomesonapace;mysumachsandsweetbrierstremble.—Eh,Mr.Poet,isityou?Howdoyouliketheworldto–day?
Poet.Seethoseclouds;howtheyhang!
That'sthegreatestthingIhaveseento–day.
There'snothinglikeitinoldpaintings,nothinglikeitinforeignlands—unlesswhenwewereoffthecoastofSpain.That'satrueMediterraneansky.
Ithought,asIhavemylivingtoget,andhavenoteatento–day,thatImightgoa–fishing.That'sthetrueindustryforpoets.ItistheonlytradeIhavelearned.Come,let'salong.
Hermit.Icannotresist.Mybrownbreadwillsoonbegone.
Iwillgowithyougladlysoon,butIamjustconcludingaseriousmeditation.IthinkthatIamneartheendofit.Leavemealone,then,forawhile.
Butthatwemaynotbedelayed,youshallbediggingthebaitmeanwhile.
Anglewormsarerarelytobemetwithintheseparts,wherethesoilwasneverfattenedwithmanure;theraceisnearlyextinct.
Thesportofdiggingthebaitisnearlyequaltothatofcatchingthefish,whenone'sappetiteisnottookeen;andthisyoumayhavealltoyourselftoday.
Iwouldadviseyoutosetinthespadedownyonderamongtheground–nuts,whereyouseethejohnswortwaving.
IthinkthatImaywarrantyouonewormtoeverythreesodsyouturnup,ifyoulookwellinamongtherootsofthegrass,asifyouwereweeding.
Or,ifyouchoosetogofarther,itwillnotbeunwise,forIhavefoundtheincreaseoffairbaittobeverynearlyasthesquaresofthedistances.
Hermitalone.Letmesee;wherewasI?
MethinksIwasnearlyinthisframeofmind;theworldlayaboutatthisangle.ShallIgotoheavenora–fishing?
IfIshouldsoonbringthismeditationtoanend,wouldanothersosweetoccasionbelikelytooffer?
IwasasnearbeingresolvedintotheessenceofthingsaseverIwasinmylife.
Ifearmythoughtswillnotcomebacktome.
Ifitwoulddoanygood,Iwouldwhistleforthem.
Whentheymakeusanoffer,isitwisetosay,Wewillthinkofit?
Mythoughtshaveleftnotrack,andIcannotfindthepathagain.WhatwasitthatIwasthinkingof?Itwasaveryhazyday.
IwilljusttrythesethreesentencesofConfutsee;theymayfetchthatstateaboutagain.
Iknownotwhetheritwasthedumpsorabuddingecstasy.Mem.
Thereneverisbutoneopportunityofakind.
Poet.Hownow,Hermit,isittoosoon?
Ihavegotjustthirteenwholeones,besideseveralwhichareimperfectorundersized;buttheywilldoforthesmallerfry;theydonotcoverupthehooksomuch.
Thosevillagewormsarequitetoolarge;ashinermaymakeamealoffonewithoutfindingtheskewer.
Hermit.Well,then,let'sbeoff.ShallwetotheConcord?There'sgoodsportthereifthewaterbenottoohigh.
Whydopreciselytheseobjectswhichwebeholdmakeaworld?
Whyhasmanjustthesespeciesofanimalsforhisneighbors;asifnothingbutamousecouldhavefilledthiscrevice?
IsuspectthatPilpay&Co.haveputanimalstotheirbestuse,fortheyareallbeastsofburden,inasense,madetocarrysomeportionofourthoughts.
Themicewhichhauntedmyhousewerenotthecommonones,whicharesaidtohavebeenintroducedintothecountry,butawildnativekindnotfoundinthevillage.
Isentonetoadistinguishednaturalist,anditinterestedhimmuch.
WhenIwasbuilding,oneofthesehaditsnestunderneaththehouse,andbeforeIhadlaidthesecondfloor,andsweptouttheshavings,wouldcomeoutregularlyatlunchtimeandpickupthecrumbsatmyfeet.
Itprobablyhadneverseenamanbefore;anditsoonbecamequitefamiliar,andwouldrunovermyshoesandupmyclothes.
Itcouldreadilyascendthesidesoftheroombyshortimpulses,likeasquirrel,whichitresembledinitsmotions.
Atlength,asIleanedwithmyelbowonthebenchoneday,itranupmyclothes,andalongmysleeve,androundandroundthepaperwhichheldmydinner,whileIkeptthelatterclose,anddodgedandplayedatbopeepwithit;andwhenatlastIheldstillapieceofcheesebetweenmythumbandfinger,itcameandnibbledit,sittinginmyhand,andafterwardcleaneditsfaceandpaws,likeafly,andwalkedaway.
Aphoebesoonbuiltinmyshed,andarobinforprotectioninapinewhichgrewagainstthehouse.
InJunethepartridge(Tetraoumbellus),whichissoshyabird,ledherbroodpastmywindows,fromthewoodsinthereartothefrontofmyhouse,cluckingandcallingtothemlikeahen,andinallherbehaviorprovingherselfthehenofthewoods.
Theyoungsuddenlydisperseonyourapproach,atasignalfromthemother,asifawhirlwindhadsweptthemaway,andtheysoexactlyresemblethedriedleavesandtwigsthatmanyatravelerhasplacedhisfootinthemidstofabrood,andheardthewhiroftheoldbirdassheflewoff,andheranxiouscallsandmewing,orseenhertrailherwingstoattracthisattention,withoutsuspectingtheirneighborhood.
Theparentwillsometimesrollandspinroundbeforeyouinsuchadishabille,thatyoucannot,forafewmoments,detectwhatkindofcreatureitis.
Theyoungsquatstillandflat,oftenrunningtheirheadsunderaleaf,andmindonlytheirmother'sdirectionsgivenfromadistance,norwillyourapproachmakethemrunagainandbetraythemselves.
Youmayeventreadonthem,orhaveyoureyesonthemforaminute,withoutdiscoveringthem.
Ihaveheldtheminmyopenhandatsuchatime,andstilltheironlycare,obedienttotheirmotherandtheirinstinct,wastosquattherewithoutfearortrembling.
Soperfectisthisinstinct,thatonce,whenIhadlaidthemontheleavesagain,andoneaccidentallyfellonitsside,itwasfoundwiththerestinexactlythesamepositiontenminutesafterward.
Theyarenotcallowliketheyoungofmostbirds,butmoreperfectlydevelopedandprecociouseventhanchickens.
Theremarkablyadultyetinnocentexpressionoftheiropenandsereneeyesisverymemorable.
Allintelligenceseemsreflectedinthem.
Theysuggestnotmerelythepurityofinfancy,butawisdomclarifiedbyexperience.
Suchaneyewasnotbornwhenthebirdwas,butiscoevalwiththeskyitreflects.
Thewoodsdonotyieldanothersuchagem.
Thetravellerdoesnotoftenlookintosuchalimpidwell.
Theignorantorrecklesssportsmanoftenshootstheparentatsuchatime,andleavestheseinnocentstofallapreytosomeprowlingbeastorbird,orgraduallyminglewiththedecayingleaveswhichtheysomuchresemble.
Itissaidthatwhenhatchedbyahentheywilldirectlydisperseonsomealarm,andsoarelost,fortheyneverhearthemother'scallwhichgathersthemagain.Theseweremyhensandchickens.
Itisremarkablehowmanycreatureslivewildandfreethoughsecretinthewoods,andstillsustainthemselvesintheneighborhoodoftowns,suspectedbyhuntersonly.
Howretiredtheottermanagestolivehere!
Hegrowstobefourfeetlong,asbigasasmallboy,perhapswithoutanyhumanbeinggettingaglimpseofhim.
Iformerlysawtheraccooninthewoodsbehindwheremyhouseisbuilt,andprobablystillheardtheirwhinneringatnight.
CommonlyIrestedanhourortwointheshadeatnoon,afterplanting,andatemylunch,andreadalittlebyaspringwhichwasthesourceofaswampandofabrook,oozingfromunderBrister'sHill,halfamilefrommyfield.
Theapproachtothiswasthroughasuccessionofdescendinggrassyhollows,fullofyoungpitchpines,intoalargerwoodabouttheswamp.
There,inaverysecludedandshadedspot,underaspreadingwhitepine,therewasyetaclean,firmswardtositon.
Ihaddugoutthespringandmadeawellofcleargraywater,whereIcoulddipupapailfulwithoutroilingit,andthitherIwentforthispurposealmosteverydayinmidsummer,whenthepondwaswarmest.
Thither,too,thewoodcockledherbrood,toprobethemudforworms,flyingbutafootabovethemdownthebank,whiletheyraninatroopbeneath;butatlast,spyingme,shewouldleaveheryoungandcircleroundandroundme,nearerandnearertillwithinfourorfivefeet,pretendingbrokenwingsandlegs,toattractmyattention,andgetoffheryoung,whowouldalreadyhavetakenuptheirmarch,withfaint,wirypeep,singlefilethroughtheswamp,asshedirected.
OrIheardthepeepoftheyoungwhenIcouldnotseetheparentbird.
Theretootheturtledovessatoverthespring,orflutteredfromboughtoboughofthesoftwhitepinesovermyhead;ortheredsquirrel,coursingdownthenearestbough,wasparticularlyfamiliarandinquisitive.
Youonlyneedsitstilllongenoughinsomeattractivespotinthewoodsthatallitsinhabitantsmayexhibitthemselvestoyoubyturns.
Iwaswitnesstoeventsofalesspeacefulcharacter.
OnedaywhenIwentouttomywood–pile,orrathermypileofstumps,Iobservedtwolargeants,theonered,theothermuchlarger,nearlyhalfaninchlong,andblack,fiercelycontendingwithoneanother.
Havingoncegotholdtheyneverletgo,butstruggledandwrestledandrolledonthechipsincessantly.
Lookingfarther,Iwassurprisedtofindthatthechipswerecoveredwithsuchcombatants,thatitwasnotaduellum,butabellum,awarbetweentworacesofants,theredalwayspittedagainsttheblack,andfrequentlytworedonestooneblack.
ThelegionsoftheseMyrmidonscoveredallthehillsandvalesinmywood–yard,andthegroundwasalreadystrewnwiththedeadanddying,bothredandblack.
ItwastheonlybattlewhichIhaveeverwitnessed,theonlybattle–fieldIevertrodwhilethebattlewasraging;internecinewar;theredrepublicansontheonehand,andtheblackimperialistsontheother.
Oneverysidetheywereengagedindeadlycombat,yetwithoutanynoisethatIcouldhear,andhumansoldiersneverfoughtsoresolutely.
Iwatchedacouplethatwerefastlockedineachother'sembraces,inalittlesunnyvalleyamidthechips,nowatnoondaypreparedtofighttillthesunwentdown,orlifewentout.
Thesmallerredchampionhadfastenedhimselflikeavicetohisadversary'sfront,andthroughallthetumblingsonthatfieldneverforaninstantceasedtognawatoneofhisfeelersneartheroot,havingalreadycausedtheothertogobytheboard;whilethestrongerblackonedashedhimfromsidetoside,and,asIsawonlookingnearer,hadalreadydivestedhimofseveralofhismembers.
Theyfoughtwithmorepertinacitythanbulldogs.
Neithermanifestedtheleastdispositiontoretreat.
Itwasevidentthattheirbattle–crywas"Conquerordie."
Inthemeanwhiletherecamealongasingleredantonthehillsideofthisvalley,evidentlyfullofexcitement,whoeitherhaddespatchedhisfoe,orhadnotyettakenpartinthebattle;probablythelatter,forhehadlostnoneofhislimbs;whosemotherhadchargedhimtoreturnwithhisshieldoruponit.
OrperchancehewassomeAchilles,whohadnourishedhiswrathapart,andhadnowcometoavengeorrescuehisPatroclus.
Hesawthisunequalcombatfromafar—fortheblackswerenearlytwicethesizeofthered—hedrewnearwithrapidpacetillhestoodonhisguardwithinhalfaninchofthecombatants;then,watchinghisopportunity,hesprangupontheblackwarrior,andcommencedhisoperationsneartherootofhisrightforeleg,leavingthefoetoselectamonghisownmembers;andsotherewerethreeunitedforlife,asifanewkindofattractionhadbeeninventedwhichputallotherlocksandcementstoshame.
Ishouldnothavewonderedbythistimetofindthattheyhadtheirrespectivemusicalbandsstationedonsomeeminentchip,andplayingtheirnationalairsthewhile,toexcitetheslowandcheerthedyingcombatants.
Iwasmyselfexcitedsomewhatevenasiftheyhadbeenmen.
Themoreyouthinkofit,thelessthedifference.
AndcertainlythereisnotthefightrecordedinConcordhistory,atleast,ifinthehistoryofAmerica,thatwillbearamoment'scomparisonwiththis,whetherforthenumbersengagedinit,orforthepatriotismandheroismdisplayed.
FornumbersandforcarnageitwasanAusterlitzorDresden.ConcordFight!
Twokilledonthepatriots'side,andLutherBlanchardwounded!
WhyhereeveryantwasaButtrick—"Fire!forGod'ssakefire!"
—andthousandssharedthefateofDavisandHosmer.Therewasnotonehirelingthere.
Ihavenodoubtthatitwasaprincipletheyfoughtfor,asmuchasourancestors,andnottoavoidathree–pennytaxontheirtea;andtheresultsofthisbattlewillbeasimportantandmemorabletothosewhomitconcernsasthoseofthebattleofBunkerHill,atleast.
ItookupthechiponwhichthethreeIhaveparticularlydescribedwerestruggling,carrieditintomyhouse,andplaceditunderatumbleronmywindow–sill,inordertoseetheissue.
Holdingamicroscopetothefirst–mentionedredant,Isawthat,thoughhewasassiduouslygnawingatthenearforelegofhisenemy,havingseveredhisremainingfeeler,hisownbreastwasalltornaway,exposingwhatvitalshehadtheretothejawsoftheblackwarrior,whosebreastplatewasapparentlytoothickforhimtopierce;andthedarkcarbunclesofthesufferer'seyesshonewithferocitysuchaswaronlycouldexcite.
Theystruggledhalfanhourlongerunderthetumbler,andwhenIlookedagaintheblacksoldierhadseveredtheheadsofhisfoesfromtheirbodies,andthestilllivingheadswerehangingoneithersideofhimlikeghastlytrophiesathissaddle–bow,stillapparentlyasfirmlyfastenedasever,andhewasendeavoringwithfeeblestruggles,beingwithoutfeelersandwithonlytheremnantofaleg,andIknownothowmanyotherwounds,todivesthimselfofthem;whichatlength,afterhalfanhourmore,heaccomplished.
Iraisedtheglass,andhewentoffoverthewindow–sillinthatcrippledstate.
Whetherhefinallysurvivedthatcombat,andspenttheremainderofhisdaysinsomeHoteldesInvalides,Idonotknow;butIthoughtthathisindustrywouldnotbeworthmuchthereafter.
Ineverlearnedwhichpartywasvictorious,northecauseofthewar;butIfeltfortherestofthatdayasifIhadhadmyfeelingsexcitedandharrowedbywitnessingthestruggle,theferocityandcarnage,ofahumanbattlebeforemydoor.
KirbyandSpencetellusthatthebattlesofantshavelongbeencelebratedandthedateofthemrecorded,thoughtheysaythatHuberistheonlymodernauthorwhoappearstohavewitnessedthem.
"AEneasSylvius,"saythey,"aftergivingaverycircumstantialaccountofonecontestedwithgreatobstinacybyagreatandsmallspeciesonthetrunkofapeartree,"addsthat"thisactionwasfoughtinthepontificateofEugeniustheFourth,inthepresenceofNicholasPistoriensis,aneminentlawyer,whorelatedthewhole,historyofthebattlewiththegreatestfidelity."
AsimilarengagementbetweengreatandsmallantsisrecordedbyOlausMagnus,inwhichthesmallones,beingvictorious,aresaidtohaveburiedthebodiesoftheirownsoldiers,butleftthoseoftheirgiantenemiesapreytothebirds.
ThiseventhappenedprevioustotheexpulsionofthetyrantChristierntheSecondfromSweden.
ThebattlewhichIwitnessedtookplaceinthePresidencyofPolk,fiveyearsbeforethepassageofWebster'sFugitive–SlaveBill.
ManyavillageBose,fitonlytocourseamud–turtleinavictuallingcellar,sportedhisheavyquartersinthewoods,withouttheknowledgeofhismaster,andineffectuallysmelledatoldfoxburrowsandwoodchucks'holes;ledperchancebysomeslightcurwhichnimblythreadedthewood,andmightstillinspireanaturalterrorinitsdenizens;—nowfarbehindhisguide,barkinglikeacaninebulltowardsomesmallsquirrelwhichhadtreeditselfforscrutiny,then,canteringoff,bendingthebusheswithhisweight,imaginingthatheisonthetrackofsomestraymemberofthejerbillafamily.
OnceIwassurprisedtoseeacatwalkingalongthestonyshoreofthepond,fortheyrarelywandersofarfromhome.Thesurprisewasmutual.
Neverthelessthemostdomesticcat,whichhaslainonarugallherdays,appearsquiteathomeinthewoods,and,byherslyandstealthybehavior,provesherselfmorenativetherethantheregularinhabitants.
Once,whenberrying,Imetwithacatwithyoungkittensinthewoods,quitewild,andtheyall,liketheirmother,hadtheirbacksupandwerefiercelyspittingatme.
AfewyearsbeforeIlivedinthewoodstherewaswhatwascalleda"wingedcat"inoneofthefarm–housesinLincolnnearestthepond,Mr.GilianBaker's.
WhenIcalledtoseeherinJune,1842,shewasgonea–huntinginthewoods,aswasherwont(Iamnotsurewhetheritwasamaleorfemale,andsousethemorecommonpronoun),buthermistresstoldmethatshecameintotheneighborhoodalittlemorethanayearbefore,inApril,andwasfinallytakenintotheirhouse;thatshewasofadarkbrownish–graycolor,withawhitespotonherthroat,andwhitefeet,andhadalargebushytaillikeafox;thatinthewinterthefurgrewthickandflattedoutalonghersides,formingstripestenortwelveincheslongbytwoandahalfwide,andunderherchinlikeamuff,theuppersideloose,theundermattedlikefelt,andinthespringtheseappendagesdroppedoff.
Theygavemeapairofher"wings,"whichIkeepstill.
Thereisnoappearanceofamembraneaboutthem.
Somethoughtitwaspartflyingsquirrelorsomeotherwildanimal,whichisnotimpossible,for,accordingtonaturalists,prolifichybridshavebeenproducedbytheunionofthemartenanddomesticcat.
Thiswouldhavebeentherightkindofcatformetokeep,ifIhadkeptany;forwhyshouldnotapoet'scatbewingedaswellashishorse?
Inthefalltheloon(Colymbusglacialis)came,asusual,tomoultandbatheinthepond,makingthewoodsringwithhiswildlaughterbeforeIhadrisen.
AtrumorofhisarrivalalltheMill–damsportsmenareonthealert,ingigsandonfoot,twobytwoandthreebythree,withpatentriflesandconicalballsandspy–glasses.
Theycomerustlingthroughthewoodslikeautumnleaves,atleasttenmentooneloon.
Somestationthemselvesonthissideofthepond,someonthat,forthepoorbirdcannotbeomnipresent;ifhediveherehemustcomeupthere.
ButnowthekindOctoberwindrises,rustlingtheleavesandripplingthesurfaceofthewater,sothatnolooncanbeheardorseen,thoughhisfoessweepthepondwithspy–glasses,andmakethewoodsresoundwiththeirdischarges.
Thewavesgenerouslyriseanddashangrily,takingsideswithallwater–fowl,andoursportsmenmustbeataretreattotownandshopandunfinishedjobs.Buttheyweretoooftensuccessful.
WhenIwenttogetapailofwaterearlyinthemorningIfrequentlysawthisstatelybirdsailingoutofmycovewithinafewrods.
IfIendeavoredtoovertakehiminaboat,inordertoseehowhewouldmanoeuvre,hewoulddiveandbecompletelylost,sothatIdidnotdiscoverhimagain,sometimes,tillthelatterpartoftheday.
ButIwasmorethanamatchforhimonthesurface.Hecommonlywentoffinarain.
AsIwaspaddlingalongthenorthshoreoneverycalmOctoberafternoon,forsuchdaysespeciallytheysettleontothelakes,likethemilkweeddown,havinglookedinvainoverthepondforaloon,suddenlyone,sailingoutfromtheshoretowardthemiddleafewrodsinfrontofme,setuphiswildlaughandbetrayedhimself.
Ipursuedwithapaddleandhedived,butwhenhecameupIwasnearerthanbefore.
Hedivedagain,butImiscalculatedthedirectionhewouldtake,andwewerefiftyrodsapartwhenhecametothesurfacethistime,forIhadhelpedtowidentheinterval;andagainhelaughedlongandloud,andwithmorereasonthanbefore.
HemanoeuvredsocunninglythatIcouldnotgetwithinhalfadozenrodsofhim.
Eachtime,whenhecametothesurface,turninghisheadthiswayandthat,hecoolysurveyedthewaterandtheland,andapparentlychosehiscoursesothathemightcomeupwheretherewasthewidestexpanseofwaterandatthegreatestdistancefromtheboat.
Itwassurprisinghowquicklyhemadeuphismindandputhisresolveintoexecution.
Heledmeatoncetothewidestpartofthepond,andcouldnotbedrivenfromit.
Whilehewasthinkingonethinginhisbrain,Iwasendeavoringtodivinehisthoughtinmine.
Itwasaprettygame,playedonthesmoothsurfaceofthepond,amanagainstaloon.
Suddenlyyouradversary'scheckerdisappearsbeneaththeboard,andtheproblemistoplaceyoursnearesttowherehiswillappearagain.
Sometimeshewouldcomeupunexpectedlyontheoppositesideofme,havingapparentlypasseddirectlyundertheboat.
Solong–windedwasheandsounweariable,thatwhenhehadswumfarthesthewouldimmediatelyplungeagain,nevertheless;andthennowitcoulddivinewhereinthedeeppond,beneaththesmoothsurface,hemightbespeedinghiswaylikeafish,forhehadtimeandabilitytovisitthebottomofthepondinitsdeepestpart.
ItissaidthatloonshavebeencaughtintheNewYorklakeseightyfeetbeneaththesurface,withhookssetfortrout—thoughWaldenisdeeperthanthat.
Howsurprisedmustthefishesbetoseethisungainlyvisitorfromanotherspherespeedinghiswayamidtheirschools!
Yetheappearedtoknowhiscourseassurelyunderwaterasonthesurface,andswammuchfasterthere.
OnceortwiceIsawaripplewhereheapproachedthesurface,justputhisheadouttoreconnoitre,andinstantlydivedagain.
Ifoundthatitwasaswellformetorestonmyoarsandwaithisreappearingastoendeavortocalculatewherehewouldrise;foragainandagain,whenIwasstrainingmyeyesoverthesurfaceoneway,Iwouldsuddenlybestartledbyhisunearthlylaughbehindme.
Butwhy,afterdisplayingsomuchcunning,didheinvariablybetrayhimselfthemomenthecameupbythatloudlaugh?
Didnothiswhitebreastenoughbetrayhim?Hewasindeedasillyloon,Ithought.
Icouldcommonlyhearthesplashofthewaterwhenhecameup,andsoalsodetectedhim.
Butafteranhourheseemedasfreshasever,divedaswillingly,andswamyetfartherthanatfirst.
Itwassurprisingtoseehowserenelyhesailedoffwithunruffledbreastwhenhecametothesurface,doingalltheworkwithhiswebbedfeetbeneath.
Hisusualnotewasthisdemoniaclaughter,yetsomewhatlikethatofawater–fowl;butoccasionally,whenhehadbalkedmemostsuccessfullyandcomeupalongwayoff,heutteredalong–drawnunearthlyhowl,probablymorelikethatofawolfthananybird;aswhenabeastputshismuzzletothegroundanddeliberatelyhowls.
Thiswashislooning—perhapsthewildestsoundthatiseverheardhere,makingthewoodsringfarandwide.
Iconcludedthathelaughedinderisionofmyefforts,confidentofhisownresources.
Thoughtheskywasbythistimeovercast,thepondwassosmooththatIcouldseewherehebrokethesurfacewhenIdidnothearhim.
Hiswhitebreast,thestillnessoftheair,andthesmoothnessofthewaterwereallagainsthim.
Atlengthhavingcomeupfiftyrodsoff,heutteredoneofthoseprolongedhowls,asifcallingonthegodofloonstoaidhim,andimmediatelytherecameawindfromtheeastandrippledthesurface,andfilledthewholeairwithmistyrain,andIwasimpressedasifitweretheprayeroftheloonanswered,andhisgodwasangrywithme;andsoIlefthimdisappearingfarawayonthetumultuoussurface.
Forhours,infalldays,Iwatchedtheduckscunninglytackandveerandholdthemiddleofthepond,farfromthesportsman;trickswhichtheywillhavelessneedtopractiseinLouisianabayous.
Whencompelledtorisetheywouldsometimescircleroundandroundandoverthepondataconsiderableheight,fromwhichtheycouldeasilyseetootherpondsandtheriver,likeblackmotesinthesky;and,whenIthoughttheyhadgoneoffthitherlongsince,theywouldsettledownbyaslantingflightofaquarterofamileontoadistantpartwhichwasleftfree;butwhatbesidesafetytheygotbysailinginthemiddleofWaldenIdonotknow,unlesstheyloveitswaterforthesamereasonthatIdo.
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