WhenIcrossedFlint'sPond,afteritwascoveredwithsnow,thoughIhadoftenpaddledaboutandskatedoverit,itwassounexpectedlywideandsostrangethatIcouldthinkofnothingbutBaffin'sBay.
TheLincolnhillsroseuparoundmeattheextremityofasnowyplain,inwhichIdidnotremembertohavestoodbefore;andthefishermen,atanindeterminabledistanceovertheice,movingslowlyaboutwiththeirwolfishdogs,passedforsealers,orEsquimaux,orinmistyweatherloomedlikefabulouscreatures,andIdidnotknowwhethertheyweregiantsorpygmies.
ItookthiscoursewhenIwenttolectureinLincolnintheevening,travellinginnoroadandpassingnohousebetweenmyownhutandthelectureroom.
InGoosePond,whichlayinmyway,acolonyofmuskratsdwelt,andraisedtheircabinshighabovetheice,thoughnonecouldbeseenabroadwhenIcrossedit.
Walden,beingliketherestusuallybareofsnow,orwithonlyshallowandinterrupteddriftsonit,wasmyyardwhereIcouldwalkfreelywhenthesnowwasnearlytwofeetdeeponalevelelsewhereandthevillagerswereconfinedtotheirstreets.
There,farfromthevillagestreet,andexceptatverylongintervals,fromthejingleofsleigh–bells,Islidandskated,asinavastmoose–yardwelltrodden,overhungbyoakwoodsandsolemnpinesbentdownwithsnoworbristlingwithicicles.
Forsoundsinwinternights,andofteninwinterdays,Iheardtheforlornbutmelodiousnoteofahootingowlindefinitelyfar;suchasoundasthefrozenearthwouldyieldifstruckwithasuitableplectrum,theverylinguavernaculaofWaldenWood,andquitefamiliartomeatlast,thoughIneversawthebirdwhileitwasmakingit.
Iseldomopenedmydoorinawintereveningwithouthearingit;Hoohoohoo,hoorer,hoo,soundedsonorously,andthefirstthreesyllablesaccentedsomewhatlikehowderdo;orsometimeshoo,hooonly.
Onenightinthebeginningofwinter,beforethepondfrozeover,aboutnineo'clock,Iwasstartledbytheloudhonkingofagoose,and,steppingtothedoor,heardthesoundoftheirwingslikeatempestinthewoodsastheyflewlowovermyhouse.
TheypassedoverthepondtowardFairHaven,seeminglydeterredfromsettlingbymylight,theircommodorehonkingallthewhilewitharegularbeat.
Suddenlyanunmistakablecat–owlfromverynearme,withthemostharshandtremendousvoiceIeverheardfromanyinhabitantofthewoods,respondedatregularintervalstothegoose,asifdeterminedtoexposeanddisgracethisintruderfromHudson'sBaybyexhibitingagreatercompassandvolumeofvoiceinanative,andboo–hoohimoutofConcordhorizon.
DoyouthinkIamevercaughtnappingatsuchanhour,andthatIhavenotgotlungsandalarynxaswellasyourself?Boo–hoo,boo–hoo,boo–hoo!
Andyet,ifyouhadadiscriminatingear,therewereinittheelementsofaconcordsuchastheseplainsneversawnorheard.
Ialsoheardthewhoopingoftheiceinthepond,mygreatbed–fellowinthatpartofConcord,asifitwererestlessinitsbedandwouldfainturnover,weretroubledwithflatulencyandhaddreams;orIwaswakedbythecrackingofthegroundbythefrost,asifsomeonehaddrivenateamagainstmydoor,andinthemorningwouldfindacrackintheearthaquarterofamilelongandathirdofaninchwide.
SometimesIheardthefoxesastheyrangedoverthesnow–crust,inmoonlightnights,insearchofapartridgeorothergame,barkingraggedlyanddemoniacallylikeforestdogs,asiflaboringwithsomeanxiety,orseekingexpression,strugglingforlightandtobedogsoutrightandrunfreelyinthestreets;forifwetaketheagesintoouraccount,maytherenotbeacivilizationgoingonamongbrutesaswellasmen?
Usuallytheredsquirrel(SciurusHudsonius)wakedmeinthedawn,coursingovertheroofandupanddownthesidesofthehouse,asifsentoutofthewoodsforthispurpose.
InthecourseofthewinterIthrewouthalfabushelofearsofsweetcorn,whichhadnotgotripe,ontothesnow–crustbymydoor,andwasamusedbywatchingthemotionsofthevariousanimalswhichwerebaitedbyit.
Onewouldapproachatfirstwarilythroughtheshruboaks,runningoverthesnow–crustbyfitsandstartslikealeafblownbythewind,nowafewpacesthisway,withwonderfulspeedandwasteofenergy,makinginconceivablehastewithhis"trotters,"asifitwereforawager,andnowasmanypacesthatway,butnevergettingonmorethanhalfarodatatime;andthensuddenlypausingwithaludicrousexpressionandagratuitoussomerset,asifalltheeyesintheuniversewereeyedonhim—forallthemotionsofasquirrel,eveninthemostsolitaryrecessesoftheforest,implyspectatorsasmuchasthoseofadancinggirl—wastingmoretimeindelayandcircumspectionthanwouldhavesufficedtowalkthewholedistance—Ineversawonewalk—andthensuddenly,beforeyoucouldsayJackRobinson,hewouldbeinthetopofayoungpitchpine,windinguphisclockandchidingallimaginaryspectators,soliloquizingandtalkingtoalltheuniverseatthesametime—fornoreasonthatIcouldeverdetect,orhehimselfwasawareof,Isuspect.
Atlengthhewouldreachthecorn,andselectingasuitableear,friskaboutinthesameuncertaintrigonometricalwaytothetopmoststickofmywood–pile,beforemywindow,wherehelookedmeintheface,andtheresitforhours,supplyinghimselfwithanewearfromtimetotime,nibblingatfirstvoraciouslyandthrowingthehalf–nakedcobsabout;tillatlengthhegrewmoredaintystillandplayedwithhisfood,tastingonlytheinsideofthekernel,andtheear,whichwasheldbalancedoverthestickbyonepaw,slippedfromhiscarelessgraspandfelltotheground,whenhewouldlookoveratitwithaludicrousexpressionofuncertainty,asifsuspectingthatithadlife,withamindnotmadeupwhethertogetitagain,oranewone,orbeoff;nowthinkingofcorn,thenlisteningtohearwhatwasinthewind.
Sothelittleimpudentfellowwouldwastemanyanearinaforenoon;tillatlast,seizingsomelongerandplumperone,considerablybiggerthanhimself,andskilfullybalancingit,hewouldsetoutwithittothewoods,likeatigerwithabuffalo,bythesamezig–zagcourseandfrequentpauses,scratchingalongwithitasifitweretooheavyforhimandfallingallthewhile,makingitsfalladiagonalbetweenaperpendicularandhorizontal,beingdeterminedtoputitthroughatanyrate;—asingularlyfrivolousandwhimsicalfellow;—andsohewouldgetoffwithittowherehelived,perhapscarryittothetopofapinetreefortyorfiftyrodsdistant,andIwouldafterwardsfindthecobsstrewnaboutthewoodsinvariousdirections.
Atlengththejaysarrive,whosediscordantscreamswereheardlongbefore,astheywerewarilymakingtheirapproachaneighthofamileoff,andinastealthyandsneakingmannertheyflitfromtreetotree,nearerandnearer,andpickupthekernelswhichthesquirrelshavedropped.
Then,sittingonapitchpinebough,theyattempttoswallowintheirhasteakernelwhichistoobigfortheirthroatsandchokesthem;andaftergreatlabortheydisgorgeit,andspendanhourintheendeavortocrackitbyrepeatedblowswiththeirbills.
Theyweremanifestlythieves,andIhadnotmuchrespectforthem;butthesquirrels,thoughatfirstshy,wenttoworkasiftheyweretakingwhatwastheirown.
Meanwhilealsocamethechickadeesinflocks,which,pickingupthecrumbsthesquirrelshaddropped,flewtothenearesttwigand,placingthemundertheirclaws,hammeredawayatthemwiththeirlittlebills,asifitwereaninsectinthebark,tilltheyweresufficientlyreducedfortheirslenderthroats.
Alittleflockofthesetitmicecamedailytopickadinneroutofmywoodpile,orthecrumbsatmydoor,withfaintflittinglispingnotes,likethetinklingoficiclesinthegrass,orelsewithsprightlydaydayday,ormorerarely,inspring–likedays,awirysummeryphe–befromthewoodside.
TheyweresofamiliarthatatlengthonealightedonanarmfulofwoodwhichIwascarryingin,andpeckedatthestickswithoutfear.
IoncehadasparrowalightuponmyshoulderforamomentwhileIwashoeinginavillagegarden,andIfeltthatIwasmoredistinguishedbythatcircumstancethanIshouldhavebeenbyanyepauletIcouldhaveworn.
Thesquirrelsalsogrewatlasttobequitefamiliar,andoccasionallysteppeduponmyshoe,whenthatwasthenearestway.
Whenthegroundwasnotyetquitecovered,andagainneartheendofwinter,whenthesnowwasmeltedonmysouthhillsideandaboutmywood–pile,thepartridgescameoutofthewoodsmorningandeveningtofeedthere.
Whicheversideyouwalkinthewoodsthepartridgeburstsawayonwhirringwings,jarringthesnowfromthedryleavesandtwigsonhigh,whichcomessiftingdowninthesunbeamslikegoldendust,forthisbravebirdisnottobescaredbywinter.
Itisfrequentlycoveredupbydrifts,and,itissaid,"sometimesplungesfromonwingintothesoftsnow,whereitremainsconcealedforadayortwo."
Theywillcomeregularlyeveryeveningtoparticulartrees,wherethecunningsportsmanliesinwaitforthem,andthedistantorchardsnextthewoodssufferthusnotalittle.
Indarkwintermornings,orinshortwinterafternoons,Isometimesheardapackofhoundsthreadingallthewoodswithhoundingcryandyelp,unabletoresisttheinstinctofthechase,andthenoteofthehunting–hornatintervals,provingthatmanwasintherear.
Thewoodsringagain,andyetnofoxburstsforthontotheopenlevelofthepond,norfollowingpackpursuingtheirActaeon.
AndperhapsateveningIseethehuntersreturningwithasinglebrushtrailingfromtheirsleighforatrophy,seekingtheirinn.
Theytellmethatifthefoxwouldremaininthebosomofthefrozenearthhewouldbesafe,orifhewouldruninastraightlineawaynofoxhoundcouldovertakehim;but,havinglefthispursuersfarbehind,hestopstorestandlistentilltheycomeup,andwhenherunshecirclesroundtohisoldhaunts,wherethehuntersawaithim.
Sometimes,however,hewillrunuponawallmanyrods,andthenleapofffartooneside,andheappearstoknowthatwaterwillnotretainhisscent.
AhuntertoldmethatheoncesawafoxpursuedbyhoundsburstoutontoWaldenwhentheicewascoveredwithshallowpuddles,runpartwayacross,andthenreturntothesameshore.
Sometimesapackhuntingbythemselveswouldpassmydoor,andcircleroundmyhouse,andyelpandhoundwithoutregardingme,asifafflictedbyaspeciesofmadness,sothatnothingcoulddivertthemfromthepursuit.
OnedayamancametomyhutfromLexingtontoinquireafterhishoundthatmadealargetrack,andhadbeenhuntingforaweekbyhimself.
ButIfearthathewasnotthewiserforallItoldhim,foreverytimeIattemptedtoanswerhisquestionsheinterruptedmebyasking,"Whatdoyoudohere?"Hehadlostadog,butfoundaman.
Oneoldhunterwhohasadrytongue,whousedtocometobatheinWaldenonceeveryyearwhenthewaterwaswarmest,andatsuchtimeslookedinuponme,toldmethatmanyyearsagohetookhisgunoneafternoonandwentoutforacruiseinWaldenWood;andashewalkedtheWaylandroadheheardthecryofhoundsapproaching,anderelongafoxleapedthewallintotheroad,andasquickasthoughtleapedtheotherwalloutoftheroad,andhisswiftbullethadnottouchedhim.
Somewaybehindcameanoldhoundandherthreepupsinfullpursuit,huntingontheirownaccount,anddisappearedagaininthewoods.
Lateintheafternoon,ashewasrestinginthethickwoodssouthofWalden,heheardthevoiceofthehoundsfarovertowardFairHavenstillpursuingthefox;andontheycame,theirhoundingcrywhichmadeallthewoodsringsoundingnearerandnearer,nowfromWellMeadow,nowfromtheBakerFarm.
Foralongtimehestoodstillandlistenedtotheirmusic,sosweettoahunter'sear,whensuddenlythefoxappeared,threadingthesolemnaisleswithaneasycoursingpace,whosesoundwasconcealedbyasympatheticrustleoftheleaves,swiftandstill,keepingtheround,leavinghispursuersfarbehind;and,leapinguponarockamidthewoods,hesaterectandlistening,withhisbacktothehunter.
Foramomentcompassionrestrainedthelatter'sarm;butthatwasashort–livedmood,andasquickasthoughtcanfollowthoughthispiecewaslevelled,andwhang!
Atlengththeoldhoundburstintoviewwithmuzzletotheground,andsnappingtheairasifpossessed,andrandirectlytotherock;but,spyingthedeadfox,shesuddenlyceasedherhoundingasifstruckdumbwithamazement,andwalkedroundandroundhiminsilence;andonebyoneherpupsarrived,and,liketheirmother,weresoberedintosilencebythemystery.
Theywaitedinsilencewhileheskinnedthefox,thenfollowedthebrushawhile,andatlengthturnedoffintothewoodsagain.
ThateveningaWestonsquirecametotheConcordhunter'scottagetoinquireforhishounds,andtoldhowforaweektheyhadbeenhuntingontheirownaccountfromWestonwoods.
Hedidnotfindhishoundsthatnight,butthenextdaylearnedthattheyhadcrossedtheriverandputupatafarmhouseforthenight,whence,havingbeenwellfed,theytooktheirdepartureearlyinthemorning.
ThehunterwhotoldmethiscouldrememberoneSamNutting,whousedtohuntbearsonFairHavenLedges,andexchangetheirskinsforruminConcordvillage;whotoldhim,even,thathehadseenamoosethere.
Inthe"WastBook"ofanoldtraderofthistown,whowasalsoacaptain,town–clerk,andrepresentative,Ifindthefollowingentry.Jan.18th,1742–3,"JohnMelvenCr.
by1GreyFox0—2—3";theyarenotnowfoundhere;andinhisledger,Feb,7th,1743,HezekiahStrattonhascredit"by1/2aCattskin0—1—4+";ofcourse,awild–cat,forStrattonwasasergeantintheoldFrenchwar,andwouldnothavegotcreditforhuntinglessnoblegame.
Onemanstillpreservesthehornsofthelastdeerthatwaskilledinthisvicinity,andanotherhastoldmetheparticularsofthehuntinwhichhisunclewasengaged.
IrememberwellonegauntNimrodwhowouldcatchupaleafbytheroadsideandplayastrainonitwilderandmoremelodious,ifmymemoryservesme,thananyhunting–horn.
Atmidnight,whentherewasamoon,Isometimesmetwithhoundsinmypathprowlingaboutthewoods,whichwouldskulkoutofmyway,asifafraid,andstandsilentamidthebushestillIhadpassed.
Therewerescoresofpitchpinesaroundmyhouse,fromonetofourinchesindiameter,whichhadbeengnawedbymicethepreviouswinter—aNorwegianwinterforthem,forthesnowlaylonganddeep,andtheywereobligedtomixalargeproportionofpinebarkwiththeirotherdiet.
Thesetreeswerealiveandapparentlyflourishingatmidsummer,andmanyofthemhadgrownafoot,thoughcompletelygirdled;butafteranotherwintersuchwerewithoutexceptiondead.
Itisremarkablethatasinglemouseshouldthusbeallowedawholepinetreeforitsdinner,gnawingroundinsteadofupanddownit;butperhapsitisnecessaryinordertothinthesetrees,whicharewonttogrowupdensely.
Onehadherformundermyhouseallwinter,separatedfrommeonlybytheflooring,andshestartledmeeachmorningbyherhastydeparturewhenIbegantostir—thump,thump,thump,strikingherheadagainstthefloortimbersinherhurry.
TheyusedtocomeroundmydooratdusktonibblethepotatoparingswhichIhadthrownout,andweresonearlythecolorofthegroundthattheycouldhardlybedistinguishedwhenstill.
Oneeveningonesatbymydoortwopacesfromme,atfirsttremblingwithfear,yetunwillingtomove;apoorweething,leanandbony,withraggedearsandsharpnose,scanttailandslenderpaws.
Itookastep,andlo,awayitscudwithanelasticspringoverthesnow–crust,straighteningitsbodyanditslimbsintogracefullength,andsoonputtheforestbetweenmeanditself—thewildfreevenison,assertingitsvigorandthedignityofNature.Notwithoutreasonwasitsslenderness.Suchthenwasitsnature.
Theyareamongthemostsimpleandindigenousanimalproducts;ancientandvenerablefamiliesknowntoantiquityastomoderntimes;oftheveryhueandsubstanceofNature,nearestalliedtoleavesandtotheground—andtooneanother;itiseitherwingedoritislegged.
Itishardlyasifyouhadseenawildcreaturewhenarabbitorapartridgeburstsaway,onlyanaturalone,asmuchtobeexpectedasrustlingleaves.
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