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To Boswell and Johnson as well as to their betters, this big and well-protected encampment had an inviting look, provided the campers were not to be shunned. A man came up the 'pike side through the rain and kicked some of the dogs aside. "Hullo," said he most cheerfully. "Want to put up?" "What is it?" inquired Zene cautiously.
I expect if he wanted to hide he could creep into that cart and stretch out, with his face where he could smell the honey and ginger cakes. I'd like to have a cart and travel like that. Are we going on to the 'pike again, Grandma?" "Not till we find Zene," she replied, driving resolutely forward on the strange road.
"The toll-gates would be a small expense compared to this." "Yes, indeed, marm," responded Zene, grimacing piteously. "Still," said Grandma Padgett, "we have much to be thankful for, in that our lives and health have been spared." "Oh, yes, marm! yes, marm!" responded Zene.
Robert uttered a derisive "Ho!" but he sat and meditated with pleasure on the pile of bones. It cast a lime-white glitter on the man and woman who but for that might have been harmless. "I didn't git much rest," concluded Zene. "I could drop off sound now if I'd let myself." "I'll drive," proposed Bobaday. Zene reluctantly considered this offer. The road ahead looked smooth enough.
Jonathan and Thrusty Ellen were somewhere on the road ahead, but at a point unknown to Robert and Corinne. They might turn off towards the southwest if all the emigrants agreed to forsake the St. Louis route. No one could tell where J. D. might be rattling his cart. The afternoon which finally placed Richmond in diminishing perspective, Robert rode with Zene and lived his campaign over again.
Robert drew a sigh of relief as he reflected that an enemy watching at the window would be sure Zene was looking just in the opposite direction. "And the man and woman they whispered." "What did they whisper about?" "How do I know?" said Zene mysteriously. "Whisper whisper whisper z-z! That's the way they kept on.
"You'd' be more apt to hear her crying," she exclaimed. "When did you hear it?" "Just now. I jumped right off the load." Hickory and Henry, anxious to taste the creek, would have moved forward, but were checked by both pairs of hands. "What direction?" "I don't feel certain, marm," said Zene, "but it come like it was from that way through the woods."
Such stores as might be piled to the very canvas roof, were concealed from sight by a black oilcloth apron hanging behind Zene. This sheet of oilcloth was designed for an additional roof to keep the goods dry when it rained. Under the wagon, keeping well away from the tar-bucket, trotted Boswell and Johnson.
That was a town with people moving briskly about it, and long streets could be seen, where pleasant houses were shaded with trees. Zene inquired the names of all small places as soon as they entered the main street, and then, obligingly halting the wagon at one side, he waited until Grandma Padgett came up, and told her. He learned and announced the cities long before any of them came into view.
He had delicacies which created a very cheerful feeling in the party, such as always rises around the thanksgiving board. Zene sat at one side of the log by J. D. Matthews.
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