When the meal was finished, dog and man each took comfort in his own way. The dog stretched himself in the sunshine. The old man sat with bent head “a-studyin’,” then nodded, then fell into a deep sleep, soothed by the silence, which reigned unbroken save for the distant cawing of a crow.
The long gray moss swayed dreamily upon the motionless boughs of the giant trees. Where the sycamore lifted its gaunt, white arms, the great bald eagle sat immovable, watching with fierce, intent gaze for its prey in the waters below.
II
The shadows were growing long upon wood and river when the light dip of a paddle broke upon the stillness, and old Jerry, rousing from his nap, spied a canoe gliding down stream, guided by two youths who, with their guns lying crosswise upon their knees, were making for the bank.
“Mars Harry an’ Mars Phil,” he murmured, eying them with lazy curiosity, as they brought their little craft to land, and after making it fast, picked up their guns, crossed the levee, and struck off into the swamp.
“Dey’s after turkey, I ’speck; Mars Harry an’ me, we’s killed many a varmint in dese here woods. Dey want no Mars Phil ’bout here in dem days befo’ ole Mars were tuck down.”
Thus soliloquizing, the old man continued to gaze wistfully after the retreating figures; for their appearance had seemed to bring a disturbing element into his peaceful dreams, and a look of helpless trouble overspread his face as, taking off his hat and slowly scratching his head, he murmured:—
“Seem like it mos’ a pity Mars Phil trouble hisself for to come here, anyhow. Well, well, well! we folks all gwine be ’vided up ’twix Mars Harry an’ Mars Phil, ’cause ole Mars, he not long for dis world! Bless de Lord, whinsoever it please Him for to teck ole Mars to hisself, I trus’ he gwine ’vide off Jerry to Mars Harry’s shere, ’cause I nachally ain’t got no use for t’other one—he too outlondesh.”
So saying, he rose and reached his bucket from the bough where it hung. Drive, who had for some moments been watching him out of the corner of one red eye, rose also, and the two set out upon their tramp back to the cart.
The old man had climbed the fence, the dog had scrambled through, and both were threading their way across the swamp, when the report of a gun close by caused the dog to beat a retreat from the thicket into which he had thrust his nose, and, with tail tucked in, to creep to his master’s side; while the old man, exclaiming, “Good Gor-a-mighty! whot dat?” pushed aside the bushes in order to see what game the boys had brought down.