“Well, then, come with me; I know several holes where I think they live.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I’ve seen the footmarks leading down to them all plain in the mud.”
“Then you’ve been going too far, and don’t you run no risks again.”
I walked away discontentedly, as I’d often walked away before, wishing that I had a companion of my own age.
Some of the gentlemen settled out there had sons; but they were away, and at times the place seemed very lonely; but I fancy now that was only just before a storm, or when everything felt strange and depressing. At other times I was happy enough. Every morning I had three hours’ good study with my father, who very rarely let me neglect that. Then in the afternoon there was always something to do or something to see and help over. For, as far as my father’s means would allow, he planned and contrived endless things to make our home more attractive and convenient.
One week it would be the contriving of rough tree-trunk steps down from the bank to the water’s edge, so that the boat was easily reached, and ringbolts were driven into cut-down trees, which became natural posts for mooring the boat.
Another time during one of our walks, he stopped by a lovely pool out toward the swamp—a spot of about an acre and a half in extent, where the trees kept off the wind, and where the morning sun seemed to light up the bottom, showing every pebble and every fish as if seen through crystal glass.
“There,” he said, “that will be ten times better than bathing in the river. I always feel a little nervous about you there. This shall be your own private bathing-pool, where you can learn to swim to your heart’s content. That old fallen hickory will do for your dressing-room, and there are places to hang up your clothes. I don’t think you can come to harm here.”
Of course I was delighted, and at the same time a little disappointed; for the fact that the pool was perfectly safe took away somewhat from its attractiveness, and I began to think that there was no stream to carry one along; no very deep places to swim over and feel a thrill at the danger; no holes in the banks where an alligator might be smiling pleasantly as he thought how good a boy would be to eat.