the friendly road-第11章

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e　a　shovel　from　the　wagon　and　begin　digging。　He　was　the　road…worker。

I　asked　the　road…worker　if　he　had　seen　the　curious　signs。　He　looked　up　at　me　with　a　broad　smile　（he　had　good…humoured；　very　bright　blue　eyes）。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃but　they　ain't　for　me。〃

〃Then　you　don't　follow　the　advice　they　give？〃

〃Not　with　a　section　like　mine；〃　said　he；　and　he　straightened　up　and　looked　first　one　way　of　the　road　and　then　the　other。　〃I　have　from　Grabow　Brook；　but　not　the　bridge；　to　the　top　o'　Sullivan　Hill；　and　all　the　culverts　between；　though　two　of　'em　are　by　rights　bridges。　And　I　claim　that's　a　job　for　any　full…grown　man。〃

He　began　shovelling　again　in　the　road　as　if　to　prove　how　busy　he　was。　There　had　been　a　small　landslide　from　an　open　cut　on　one　side　and　a　mass　of　gravel　and　small　boulders　lay　scattered　on　the　smooth　macadam。　I　watched　him　for　a　moment。　I　love　to　watch　the　motions　of　vigorous　men　at　work；　the　easy　play　of　the　muscles；　the　swing　of　the　shoulders；　the　vigour　of　stoutly　planted　legs。　He　evidently　considered　the　conversation　closed；　and　I；　aswell；　as　a　dusty　man　of　the　roadeasily　dismissed。　（You　have　no　idea；　until　you　try　it；　what　a　weight　of　prejudice　the　man　of　the　road　has　to　surmount　before　he　is　accepted　on　easy　terms　by　the　ordinary　members　of　the　human　race。）

A　few　other　well…intentioned　observations　on　my　part　having　elicited　nothing　but　monosyllabic　replies；　I　put　my　bag　down　by　the　roadside　and；　going　up　to　the　wagon；　got　out　a　shovel；　and　without　a　word　took　my　place　at　the　other　end　of　the　landslide　and　began　to　shovel　for　all　I　was　worth。

I　said　not　a　word　to　the　husky　road…worker　and　pretended　not　to　look　at　him；　but　I　saw　him　well　enough　out　of　the　corner　of　my　eye。　He　was　evidently　astonished　and　interested；　as　I　knew　he　would　be：　it　was　something　entirely　new　on　the　road。　He　didn't　quite　know　whether　to　be　angry；　or　amused；　or　sociable。　I　caught　him　looking　over　at　me　several　times；　but　I　offered　no　response；　then　he　cleared　his　throat　and　said：

〃Where　you　from？〃

I　answered　with　a　monosyllable　which　I　knew　he　could　not　quite　catch。　Silence　again　for　some　time；　during　which　I　shovelled　valiantly　and　with　great　inward　amusement。　Oh；　there　is　nothing　like　cracking　a　hard　human　nut！　I　decided　at　that　moment；　to　have　him　invite　me　to　supper。

Finally；　when　I　showed　no　signs　of　stopping　my　work；　he　himself　paused　and　leaned　on　his　shovel。　I　kept　right　on。

〃Say；　partner；〃　said　he；　finally；　〃did　YOU　read　those　signs　as　you　come　up　the　road？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said；　〃but　they　weren't　for　me；　either。　My　section's　a　long　one；　too。〃

〃Say；　you　ain't　a　road…worker；　are　you？〃　he　asked　eagerly。

〃Yes；〃　said　I；　with　a　sudden　inspiration；　〃that's　exactly　what　I　ama　road…worker。〃

〃Put　her　there；　then；　partner；〃　he　said；　with　a　broad　smile　on　his　bronzed　face。

He　and　I　struck　hands；　rested　on　our　shovels　（like　old　hands　at　it）；　and　looked　with　understanding　into　each　other's　eyes。　We　both　knew　the　trade　and　the　tricks　of　the　trade；　all　bars　were　down　between　us。　The　fact　is；　we　had　both　seen　and　profited　by　the　peculiar　signs　at　the　roadside。

〃Where's　your　section？〃　he　asked　easily。

〃Well；〃　I　responded　after　considering　the　question；　〃I　have　a　very　long　and　hard　section。　It　begins　at　a　place　called　Prosy　Commondo　you　know　it？and　reaches　to　the　top　of　Clear　Hill。　There　are　several　bad　spots　on　the　way；　I　can　tell　you。〃

〃Don't　know　it；〃　said　the　husky　road…worker；　〃'tain't　round　here；　is　it？　In　the　town　of　Sheldon；　maybe？〃

Just　at　this　moment；　perhaps　fortunately；　for　there　is　nothing　so　difficult　to　satisfy　as　the　appetite　of　people　for　specific　information；　a　motor…car　whizzed　past；　the　driver　holding　up　his　hand　in　greeting；　and　the　road…worker　and　I　responding　in　accordance　with　the　etiquette　of　the　Great　Road。

〃There　he　goes　in　the　ruts　again；〃　said　the　husky　road…worker。　〃Why　is　it；　I'd　like　to　know；　that　every　one　wants　to　run　in　the　same　identical　track　when　they've　got　the　whole　wide　road　before　'em？〃

〃That's　what　has　long　puzzled　me；　too；〃　I　said。　〃Why　WILL　people　continue　to　run　in　ruts？〃

〃It　don't　seem　to　do　no　good　to　put　up　signs；〃　said　the　road…worker。

〃Very　little　indeed；〃　said　I。　〃The　fact　is；　people　have　got　to　be　bumped　out　of　the　ruts　they　get　into。〃

〃You're　right；〃　said　he　enthusiastically；　and　his　voice　dropped　into　the　tone　of　one　speaking　to　a　member　of　the　inner　guild。　〃I　know　how　to　get　'em。〃

〃How？〃　I　asked　in　an　equally　mysterious　voice。

〃I　put　a　stone　or　two　in　the　ruts！〃

〃Do　you？〃　I　exclaimed。　〃I've　done　that　very　thing　myselfmany　a　time！　Just　place　a　good　hard　truI　mean　stone；　with　a　bit　of　common　dust　sprinkled　over　it；　in　the　middle　of　the　rut；　and　they'll　look　out　for　THAT　rut　for　some　time　to　come。〃

〃Ain't　it　gorgeous；〃　said　the　husky　road…worker；　chuckling　joyfully；　〃to　see　'em　bump？〃

〃It　is；〃　said　I〃gorgeous。〃

After　that；　shovelling　part　of　the　time　in　a　leisurely　way；　and　part　of　the　time　responding　to　the　urgent　request　of　the　signs　by　the　roadside　（it　pays　to　advertise！）；　the　husky　road…worker　and　I　discussed　many　great　and　important　subjects；　all；　however；　curiously　related　to　roads。　Working　all　day　long　with　his　old　horse；　removing　obstructions；　draining　out　the　culverts；　filling　ruts　and　holes　with　new　stone；　and　repairing　the　damage　of　rain　and　storm；　the　road…worker　was　filled　with　a　world　of　practical　information　covering　roads　and　road…making。　And　having　learned　that　I　was　of　the　same　calling；　we　exchanged　views　with　the　greatest　enthusiasm。　It　was　astonishing　to　see　how　nearly　in　agreement　we　were　as　to　what　constituted　an　ideal　road。

〃Almost　everything；〃　said　he；　〃depends　on　depth。　If　you　get　a　good　solid　foundation；　the'　ain't　anything　that　can　break　up　your　road。〃

〃Exactly　what　I　have　discovered；〃　I　responded。　〃Get　down　to　bedrock　and　do　an　honest　job　of　building。〃

〃And　don't　have　too　many　sharp　turns。〃

〃No；〃　said　I；　〃long；　leisurely　curves　are　bestall　through　life。　You　have　observed　that　nearly　all　the　accidents　on　the　road　are　due　to　sharp　turnings。〃

〃Right　you　are！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃A　man　who　tries　to　turn　too　sharply　on　his　way　nearly　always　skids。〃

〃Or　else　turns　turtle　in　the　ditch。〃

But　it　was　not　until　we　reached　the　subject　of　oiling　that　we　mounted　to　the　real　summit　of　enthusiastic　agreement。　Of　all　things　on　the　road；　or　above　the　road；　or　in　the　waters　under　the　road；　there　is　nothing　that　the　road…worker　dislikes　more　than　oil。

〃It's　all　right；〃　said　he；　〃to　use　oil　for　surfacin'　and　to　keep　down　the　dust。　You　don't　need　much　and　it　ain't　messy。　But　sometimes　when　you　see　oil　pumped　on　a　road；　you　know　that　either　the　contractor　has　been　jobbin'；　or　else　the　road's　worn　out　and　ought　to　be　rebuilt。〃

〃That's　exactly　what　I've　found；〃　said　I。　〃Let　a　road　become　almost　impassable　with　ruts　and　rocks　and　dust；　and　immediately　some　man　says；　'Oh；　it's　all　rightput　on　a　little　oil'〃

〃That's　what　our　supervisor　is　always　sayin'；〃　said　the　road…worker。

〃Yes；〃　I　responded；　〃it　usually　is　the　supervisor。　He　lives　by　it。　He　wants　to　smooth　over　the　defects；　he　wants　to　lay　the　dust　that　every　passerby　kicks　up；　he　tries　to　smear　over　the　truth　regarding　conditions　with　messy　and　ill…smelling　oil。　Above　everything；　he　doesn't　want　the　road　dug　up　and　rebuiltsays　it　will　interfere　with　traffic；　injure　business；　and　even　set　people　to　talking　about　changing　the　route　entirely！　Oh；　haven't　I　seen　it　in　religion；　where　they　are　doing　their　best　to　oil　up　roads　that　are　entirely　worn　outand　as　for　politics；　is　not　the　cry　of　the　party…roadster　and　the　harmony…oilers　abroad　in　the　land？〃

In　the　excited　interest　with　which　this　idea　now　bore　me　along　I　had　entirely　forgotten　the　existence　of　my　companion；　and　as　I　now　glanced　at　him　I　saw　him　standing　with　a　curious　look　of　astonishment　and　suspicion　on　his　face。　I　saw　that　I　had　unintentionally　gone　a　little　too　far。　So　I　said　abruptly：

〃Partner；　let's　get　a　drink。　I'm　thirsty。〃

He　followed　me；　I　thought　a　bit　reluctantly；　to　a　little　brook　not　far　up　the　road　where　we　had　been　once　before。　As　we　were　drinking；　silently；　I　looked　at　the　stout　young　fellow　standing　there；　and　I　thought　to　myself：

What　a　good；　straightforward　young　fellow　he　is　anyway；　and　how　thoroughly　he　knows　his　job。　I　thought　how　well　he　was　equipped　with　unilluminated　knowledge；　and　it　came　to　me　whimsically；　that　here　was　a　fine　bit　of　road…mending　for　me　to　do。

Most　people　have　sight；　but　few　have　insight；　and　as　I　looked　into　the　clear　blue　eyes　of　my　friend　I　had　a　sudden　swift　inspiration；　and　before　I　could　repent　of　it　I　had　said　to　him　in　the　most　serious　voice　that　I　could　command：

〃Friend；　I　am　in　reality　a　spectacle…peddler〃

His　glance　shifted　uncomfortably　to　my　gray　bag。

〃And　I　want　to　sell　you　a　pair　of　spectacles；〃　I　said。　〃I　see　that　you　are　nearly　blind。〃

〃Me　blind！〃

It　would　be　utterly　impossible　to　describe　the　expression　on　his　face。　His　hand　went　involuntarily　to　his　eyes；　and　he　glanced　quickly；　somewhat　fearfully；　about。

〃Yes；　nearly　blind；〃　said　I。　〃I　saw　it　when　I　first　met　you。　You　don't　know　it　yourself　yet；　but　I　can　assure　you　it　is　a　bad　case。〃

I　paused；　and　shook　my　head　slowly。　If　I　had　not　been　so　much　in　earnest；　I　think　I　should　have　been　tempted　to　laugh　outright。　I　had　begun　my　talk　with　him　half　jestingly；　with　the　amusing　idea　of　breaking　through　his　shell；　but　I　now　found　myself　tremendously　engrossed；　and　desired　nothing　in　the　world　（at　that　moment）　so　much　as　to　make　him　see　what　I　saw。　I　felt　as　though　I　held　a　live　human　soul　in　my　hand。

〃Say；　partner；〃　said　the　road…worker；　〃are　you　sure　you　aren't〃　He　tapped　his　forehead　and　began　to　edge　away。

I　did　not　answer　his　question　at　all；　but　continued；　with　my　eyes　fixed　on　him：

〃It　is　a　peculiar　sort　of　blindness。　Apparently；　as　you　look　about；　you　see　everything　there　is　to　see；　but　as　a　matter　of　fact　you　see　nothing　in　the　world　but　this　road〃

〃It's　time　that　I　was　seein'　it　again　then；〃　said　he；　making　as　if　to　turn　back　to　work；　but　remaining　with　a　disturbed　expression　on　his　countenance。

〃The　Spectacles　I　have　to　sell；〃　said　I；　〃are　powerful　magnifiers〃he　glanced　again　at　the　gray　bag。　〃When　you　put　them　on　you　will　see　a　thousand　wonderful　things　besides　the　road〃

〃Then　you　ain't　road…worker　after　all！〃　he　said；　evidently　trying　to　be　bluff　and　outright　with　me。


Now　your　substantial；　sober；　practical　American　will　stand　only　about　so　much　verbal　foolery；　and　there　is　nothing　in　the　world　that　makes　him　more　uncomfortableyes；　downright　mad！　than　to　feel　that　he　is　being　played　with。　I　could　see　that　I　had　nearly　reached　the　limit　with　him；　and　that　if　I　held　him　now　it　must　be　by　driving　the　truth　straight　home。　So　I　stepped　over　toward　him　and　said　very　earnestly：

〃My　friend；　don't　think　I　am　merely　joking　you。　I　was　never　more　in　earnest　in　all　my　life。　When　I　told　you　I　was　a　road…worker　I　meant　it；　but　I　had　in　mind　the　mending　of　other　kinds　of　roads　than　this。〃

I　laid　my　hand　on　his　arm；　and　explained　to　him　as　directly　and　simply　as　English　words　could　do　it；　how；　when　he　had　spoken　of　oil　for　his　roads；　I　thought　of　another　sort　of　oil　for　another　sort　of　roads；　and　when　he　spoke　of　curves　in　his　ro