Whenthepondswerefirmlyfrozen,theyaffordednotonlynewandshorterroutestomanypoints,butnewviewsfromtheirsurfacesofthefamiliarlandscapearoundtheWhenIcrossedFlints'Pond,afteritwascoveredwithsnow,thoughIhadoftenpaddledaboutandskatedoverit,itwassounexpectedlywideandsostrangethatIcouldthinkofnothingbutBaffin'sBay.TheLincolnhillsroseuparoundmeattheextremityofasnowyplain,inwhichIdidnotremembertohavestoodbefore;andthefishermen,atanindeterminabledistanceovertheice,movingslowlyaboutwiththeirwolfishdogs,passedforsealersorEsquimaux,orinmistyweatherloomedlikefabulouscreatures,andIdidnotknowwhethertheyweregiantsorpygmies.ItookthiscoursewhenIwenttolectureinLincolnintheevening,travellinginnoroadandpassingnohousebetweenmyownhutandthelecturerooInGoosePond,whichlayinmyway,acolonyofmuskratsdwelt,andraisedtheircabinshighabovetheice,thoughnonecouldbeseenabroadwhenIcrossedit.Walden,beingliketherestusuallybareofsnow,orwithonlyshallowandinterrupteddriftsonit,wasmyyard,whereIcouldwalkfreelywhenthesnowwasnearlytwofeetdeeponalevelelsewhereandthevillagerswereconfinedtotheirstreets.There,farfromthevillagestreet,andexceptatverylongintervals,fromthejingleofsleigh-bells,Islidandskated,asinavastmooseyardwelltrodden,overhungbyoakwoodsandsolemnpinesbentdownwithsnoworbristlingwithicicles.
Forsoundsinwinternights,andofteninwinterdays,Iheardtheforlornbutmelodiousnoteofahootingowlindefinitelyfar;suchasoundasthefrozenearthwouldyieldifstruckwithasuitableplectrum,theverylinguavernaculaofWaldenWood,andquitefamiliartomeatlast,thoughIneversawthebirdwhileitwasmakingit.Iseldomopenedmydoorinawintereveningwithouthearingit;Hoohoohoo,hoorerhoo,soundedsonorously,andthefirstthreesyllablesaccentedsomewhatlikehowderdo;orsometimeshoohooonly.Onenightinthebeginningofwinter,beforethepondfrozeover,aboutnineo'clock,Iwasstartledbytheloudhonkingofagoose,and,steppingtothedoor,heardthesoundoftheirwingslikeatempestinthewoodsastheyflewlowovermyhouse.TheypassedoverthepondtowardFairHaven,seeminglydeterredfromsettlingbymylight,theircommodorehonkingallthewhilewitharegularbeat.Suddenlyanunmistakablecat-owlfromverynearme,withthemostharshandtremendousvoiceIeverheardfromanyinhabitantofthewoods,respondedatregularintervalstothegoose,asifdeterminedtoexposeanddisgracethisintruderfromHudson'sBaybyexhibitingagreatercompassandvolumeofvoiceinanative,andboo-hoohimoutofConcordhorizon.Whatdoyoumeanbyalarmingthecitadelatthistimeofnightconsecratedtome?DoyouthinkIamevercaughtnappingatsuchanhour,andthatIhavenotgotlungsandalarynxaswellasyourself?Boo-hoo,boo-hoo,boo-hoo!ItwasoneofthemostthrillingdiscordsIeverheard.Andyet,ifyouhadadiscriminatingear,therewereinittheelementsofaconcordsuchastheseplainsneversawnorheard.
Ialsoheardthewhoopingoftheiceinthepond,mygreatbed-fellowinthatpartofConcord,asifitwererestlessinitsbedandwouldfainturnover,weretroubledwithflatulencyandbaddreams;orIwaswakedbythecrackingofthegroundbythefrost,asifsomeonehaddrivenateamagainstmydoor,andinthemorningwouldfindacrackintheearthaquarterofamilelongandathirdofaninchwide.
SometimesIheardthefoxesastheyrangedoverthesnowcrust,inmoonlightnights,insearchofapartridgeorothergame,barkingraggedlyanddemoniacallylikeforestdogs,asiflaboringwithsomeanxiety,orseekingexpression,strugglingforlightandtobedogsoutrightandrunfreelyinthestreets;forifwetaketheagesintoouraccount,maytherenotbeacivilizationgoingonamongbrutesaswellasmen?Theyseemedtometoberudimental,burrowingmen,stillstandingontheirdefence,awaitingtheirtransformation.Sometimesonecameneartomywindow,attractedbymylight,barkedavulpinecurseatme,andthenretreated.
Usuallytheredsquirrel(SciurusHudsonius)wakedmeinthedawn,coursingovertheroofandupanddownthesidesofthehouse,asifsentoutofthewoodsforthispurpose.InthecourseofthewinterIthrewouthalfabushelofearsofsweetcorn,whichhadnotgotripe,ontothesnowcrustbymydoor,andwasamusedbywatchingthemotionsofthevariousanimalswhichwerebaitedbyit.Inthetwilightandthenighttherabbitscameregularlyandmadeaheartymeal.Alldaylongtheredsquirrelscameandwent,andaffordedmemuchentertainmentbytheirmanœuvres.Onewouldapproachatfirstwarilythroughtheshrub-oaks,runningoverthesnowcrustbyfitsandstartslikealeafblownbythewind,nowafewpacesthisway,withwonderfulspeedandwasteofenergy,makinginconceivablehastewithhis'trotters',asifitwereforawager,andnowasmanypacesthatway,butnevergettingonmorethanhalfarodatatime;andthensuddenlypausingwithaludicrousexpressionandagratuitoussomerset,asifalltheeyesintheuniversewerefixedonhim—forallthemotionsofasquirrel,eveninthemostsolitaryrecessesoftheforest,implyspectatorsasmuchasthoseofadancinggirl—wastingmoretimeindelayandcircumspectionthanwouldhavesufficedtowalkthewholedistance—Ineversawonewalk—andthensuddenly,beforeyoucouldsayJackRobinson,hewouldbeinthetopofayoungpitch-pine,windinguphisclockandchidingallimaginaryspectators,soliloquizingandtalkingtoalltheuniverseatthesametime—fornoreasonthatIcouldeverdetect,orhehimselfwasawareof,Isuspect.Atlengthhewouldreachthecorn,andselectingasuitableear,briskaboutinthesameuncertaintrigonometricalwaytothetop-moststickofmywood-pile,beforemywindow,wherehelookedmeintheface,andtheresitforhours,supplyinghimselfwithanewearfromtimetotime,nibblingatfirstvoraciouslyandthrowingthehalf-nakedcobsabout;tillatlengthhegrewmoredaintystillandplayedwithhisfood,tastingonlytheinsideofthekernel,andtheear,whichwasheldbalancedoverthestickbyonepaw,slippedfromhiscarelessgraspandfelltotheground,whenhewouldlookoveratitwithaludicrousexpressionofuncertainty,asifsuspectingthatithadlife,withamindnotmadeupwhethertogetitagain,oranewone,orbeoff;nowthinkingofcorn,thenlisteningtohearwhatwasinthewind.Sothelittleimpudentfellowwouldwastemanyanearinafore-noon;tillatlast,seizingsomelongerandplumperone,considerablybiggerthanhimself,andskilfullybalancingit,hewouldsetoutwithittothewoods,likeatigerwithabuffalo,bythesamezig-zagcourseandfrequentpauses,scratchingalongwithitasifitweretooheavyforhimandfallingallthewhile,makingitsfalladiagonalbetweenaperpendicularandhorizontal,beingdeterminedtoputitthroughatanyrate;—asingularlyfrivolousandwhimsicalfellow;—andsohewouldgetoffwithittowherehelived,perhapscarryittothetopofapinetreefortyorfiftyrodsdistant,andIwouldafterwardsfindthecobsstrewnaboutthewoodsinvariousdirections.
Atlengththejaysarrive,whosediscordantscreamswereheardlongbefore,astheywerewarilymakingtheirapproachaneighthofamileoff,andinastealthyandsneakingmannertheyflitfromtreetotree,nearerandnearer,andpickupthekernelswhichthesquirrelshavedropped.Then,sittingonapitch-pinebough,theyattempttoswallowintheirhasteakernelwhichistoobigfortheirthroatsandchokesthem;andaftergreatlabortheydisgorgeit,andspendanhourintheendeavortocrackitbyrepeatedblowswiththeirbills.Theyweremanifestlythieves,andIhadnotmuchrespectforthem;butthesquirrels,thoughatfirstshy,wenttoworkasiftheyweretakingwhatwastheirown.
Meanwhilealsocamethechicadeesinflocks,which,pickingupthecrumsthesquirrelshaddropped,flewtothenearesttwig,and,placingthemundertheirclaws,hammeredawayatthemwiththeirlittlebills,asifitwereaninsectinthebark,tilltheyweresufficientlyreducedfortheirslenderthroats.Alittleflockofthesetit-micecamedailytopickadinneroutofmywood-pile,orthecrumsatmydoor,withfaintflittinglispingnotes,likethetinklingoficiclesinthegrass,orelsewithsprightlydaydayday,ormorerarely,inspring-likedays,awirysummeryphe-befromthewood-side.TheyweresofamiliarthatatlengthonealightedonanarmfulofwoodwhichIwascarryingin,andpeckedatthestickswithoutfear.IoncehadasparrowalightuponmyshoulderforamomentwhileIwashoeinginavillagegarden,andIfeltthatIwasmoredistinguishedbythatcircumstancethanIshouldhavebeenbyanyepauletIcouldhaveworn.Thesquirrelsalsogrewatlasttobequitefamiliar,andoccasionallysteppeduponmyshoe,whenthatwasthenearestway.
Whenthegroundwasnotyetquitecovered,andagainneartheendofthewinter,whenthesnowwasmeltedonmysouthhill-sideandaboutmywood-pile,thepartridgescameoutofthewoodsmorningandeveningtofeedthere.Whicheversideyouwalkinthewoodsthepartridgeburstsawayonwhirringwings,jarringthesnowfromthedryleavesandtwigsonhigh,whichcomessiftingdowninthesun-beamslikegoldendust;forthisbravebirdisnottobescaredbywinter.Itisfrequentlycoveredupbydrifts,and,itissaid,'sometimesplungesfromonwingintothesoftsnow,whereitremainsconcealedforadayortwo'.Iusedtostartthemintheopenlandalso,wheretheyhadcomeoutofthewoodsatsunsetto'bud'thewildapple-trees.Theywillcomeregularlyeveryeveningtoparticulartrees,wherethecunningsportsmanliesinwaitforthem,andthedistantorchardsnextthewoodssufferthusnotalittle.Iamgladthatthepartridgegetsfed,atanyrate.ItisNature'sownbirdwhichlivesonbudsanddiet-drink.
Indarkwintermornings,orinshortwinterafternoons,Isometimesheardapackofhoundsthreadingallthewoodswithhoundingcryandyelp,unabletoresisttheinstinctofthechase,andthenoteofthehuntinghornatintervals,provingthatmanwasintherear.Thewoodsringagain,andyetnofoxburstsforthontotheopenlevelofthepond,norfollowingpackpursuingtheirActæon.AndperhapsateveningIseethehuntersreturningwithasinglebrushtrailingfromtheirsleighforatrophy,seekingtheirinn.Theytellmethatifthefoxwouldremaininthebosomofthefrozenearthhewouldbesafe,orifhewouldruninastraightlineawaynofox-houndcouldovertakehim;but,havinglefthispursuersfarbehind,hestopstorestandlistentilltheycomeup,andwhenherunshecirclesroundtohisoldhaunts,wherethehuntersawaithiSometimes,however,hewillrunuponawallmanyrods,andthenleapofffartooneside,andheappearstoknowthatwaterwillnotretainhisscent.AhuntertoldmethatheoncesawafoxpursuedbyhoundsburstoutontoWaldenwhentheicewascoveredwithshallowpuddles,runpartwayacross,andthenreturntothesameshore.Erelongthehoundsarrived,butheretheylostthescent.Sometimesapackhuntingbythemselveswouldpassmydoor,andcircleroundmyhouse,andyelpandhoundwithoutregardingme,asifafflictedbyaspeciesofmadness,sothatnothingcoulddivertthemfromthepursuit.Thustheycircleuntiltheyfallupontherecenttrailofafox,forawisehoundwillforsakeeverythingelseforthis.OnedayamancametomyhutfromLexingtontoinquireafterhishoundthatmadealargetrack,andhadbeenhuntingforaweekbyhimself.ButIfearthathewasnotthewiserforallItoldhim,foreverytimeIattemptedtoanswerhisquestionsheinterruptedmebyasking,'Whatdoyoudohere?'Hehadlostadog,butfoundaman.
Oneoldhunterwhohasadrytongue,whousedto!!cometobatheinWaldenonceeveryyearwhenthewaterwaswarmest,andatsuchtimeslookedinuponme,toldme,thatmanyyearsagohetookhisgunoneafternoonandwentoutforacruiseinWaldenWood;andashewalkedtheWaylandroadheheardthecryofhoundsapproaching,anderelongafoxleapedthewallintotheroad,andasquickasthoughtleapedtheotherwalloutoftheroad,andhisswiftbullethadnottouchedhiSomewaybehindcameanoldhoundandherthreepupsinfullpursuit,huntingontheirownaccount,anddisappearedagaininthewoods.Lateintheafternoon,ashewasrestinginthethickwoodssouthofWalden,heheardthevoiceofthehoundsfarovertowardFairHavenstillpursuingthefox;andontheycame,theirhoundingcrywhichmadeallthewoodsringsoundingnearerandnearer,nowfromWell-Meadow,nowfromtheBakerFarForalongtimehestoodstillandlistenedtotheirmusic,sosweettoahunter'sear,whensuddenlythefoxappeared,threadingthesolemnaisleswithaneasycoursingpace,whosesoundwasconcealedbyasympatheticrustleoftheleaves,swiftandstill,keepingtheground,leavinghispursuersfarbehind;and,leapinguponarockamidthewoods,hesaterectandlistening,withhisbacktothehunter.Foramomentcompassionrestrainedthelatter'sarm;butthatwasashort-livedmood,andasquickasthoughtcanfollowthoughthispiecewaslevelled,andwhang!—thefoxrollingovertherocklaydeadontheground.Thehunterstillkepthisplaceandlistenedtothehounds.Stillontheycame,andnowthenearwoodsresoundedthroughalltheiraisleswiththeirdemoniaccry.Atlengththeoldhoundburstintoviewwithmuzzletotheground,andsnappingtheairasifpossessed,andrandirectlytotherock;butspyingthedeadfoxshesuddenlyceasedherhounding,asifstruckdumbwithamazement,andwalkedroundandroundhiminsilence;andonebyoneherpupsarrived,and,liketheirmother,weresoberedintosilencebythemystery.Thenthehuntercameforwardandstoodintheirmidst,andthemysterywassolved.Theywaitedinsilencewhileheskinnedthefox,thenfollowedthebrushawhile,andatlengthturnedoffintothewoodsagain.ThateveningaWestonSquirecametotheConcordhunter'scottagetoinquireforhishounds,andtoldhowforaweektheyhadbeenhuntingontheirownaccountfromWestonwoods.TheConcordhuntertoldhimwhatheknewandofferedhimtheskin;buttheotherdeclineditanddeparted.Hedidnotfindhishoundsthatnight,butthenextdaylearnedthattheyhadcrossedtheriverandputupatafarmhouseforthenight,whence,havingbeenwellfed,theytooktheirdepartureearlyinthemorning.
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