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cheerfully。
〃This will do capital for my summer home！ I'm going to live like a
lordwhile I'm living。〃
He examined the ground and found that it was rich and could be
penetrated easily； even to the very foot of the mountain。 〃I'll just get my
spade；〃 he remarked； 〃as I ain't got nothing else to do。〃 In deliberate
slowness he returned up the divide； and got the spade from his retreat； then
brought it to the cove。 Selecting a spot near the channel of the dried…up
torrent； he began to dig； relieved to find that he did not strike rock。
〃I guess；〃 he said； stopping to lean on his spade as he stared at the
mountain； 〃the earth just got too full of granite and biled over； but was
keerful to spew it upwards； so's to save as much ground as it could； while
relieving its feelings。〃
Presently the earth on his blade began to cling from dampness。 〃When
I digs a well；〃 he remarked boastingly； 〃what I want is water； and that's
what I gets。 As soon as it's deep enough I'll wall her up with rocks and take
the longest drink that man ever pulled off； that is to say； when it was
nothing but common water。 They ain't nothing about water to incite you to
keep swallowing when you have enough。 Of a sudden you just naturally
leggo and could drown in it without wanting another drop。 That's because
it's nature。 Art is different。 I reckon a nice clean drinking…joint and a full…
stocked bar is about the highest art that can stimulate a man。 But in nature；
you know when you've got enough。〃
After further digging he added； 〃And I got about enough of THIS！ I
mean the mountains and the plains and the sand and the wind and the cave
and the cove〃 he wiped away the dripping sweat and looked at the sun。
〃Yes； and of you； too！〃 He dropped the spade； and sat down on the heap of
dirt。 〃Oh； Lord； but I'm lonesome！ I got plenty to say； but nobody to listen
at me。〃
He clasped his great hands about his knee； and stared sullenly at the
surrounding ramparts of red and brown granite； dully noting the fantastic
layers； the huge round stones that for ages had been about to roll down
into the valley but had never started； and others cut in odd shapes placed
one upon another in columns along the perpendicular wall。 The sun beat
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on the long matted hair of his bared head； but the ceaseless wind brought
relief from its pelting rays。 He； however； was conscious neither of the heat
nor of the refreshing touch。
At last he rose slowly to his towering legs and picked up the spade。
〃You're a fool； Brick Willock；〃 he said harshly。 〃Ain't you got that well to
dig？ And then can't you go for your kaig and bring it here； and carry it
back full of fresh water？ Dinged if there ain't enough doings in your world
to furnish out a daily newspaper！〃 He began to dig； adding in an altered
tone： 〃And Brick； HE says 'Nothing ain't come to the worst； as long as
you're living；' says Brick！〃
He was proud of the well when it was completed； the water was cold
and soft as it oozed up through clean sand； and the walls of mud…mortised
rocks promised permanency。 One did not have to penetrate far into the
bottom…lands of that cove to find water which for unnumbered years had
rushed down the mountainside in time of rain…storms to lie； a vast
underground reservoir； for the coming of man。 Willock could reach the
surface of the well by lying on his stomach and scooping with his long
arm。 He duly carried out his program； and when the keg was filled with
fresh water； it was time for dinner。
After a cold luncheon of sliced boiled ham and baker's bread； he
returned to the cove； where he idled away the afternoon under the shade of
tall cedar trees whose branches came down to the ground； forming
impenetrable pyramids of green。
Stretched out on the short buffalo…grass he watched the white flecks
follow one another across the sky； he observed the shadows lengthening
from the base of the western arm of the horseshoe till they threatened to
swallow up him and his bright speck of world； he looked languidly after
the flights of birds； and grinned as he saw the hawks dart into round holes
in the granite wall not much larger than their bodiesthose mysterious
holes perforating the precipice； seemingly bored there by a giant auger。
〃Go to bed； pards；〃 he called to the hawks。 〃I reckon it's time for me；
too！〃 He got upthe sun had disappeared behind the mountain。 He
stretched himself； lifting his arms high above his head and slowly drawing
his fists to his shoulder； his elbows luxuriously crooked。 〃One thing I got；〃
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he observed； 〃is room； plenty！ Well〃 he started toward the divide for his
upward climb； 〃I've lived a reasonable long life； I am forty…five； but I do
think that since I laid down under that tree； I have thought of everything I
ever done or said since I was a kid。 Guess I'll save the future for another
afternoonand after that； the Lord knows what I'm going to do with my
brain； it's that busy。〃
The next day he began assorting the contents of his granite home；
moving to the task with conscientious slowness； stopping a dozen times to
make excursions into the outside world。 By diligent economy of his
working moments； he succeeded in covering almost two weeks in the
labor of putting his house into order。 His bedroom was next to the
barricade that separated the long stone excavation from the bottomless
abyss。 Divided from the bedroom by an imaginary line； was the store…
room of provisions。 The cans and boxes were arranged along the floor
with methodical exactitude。 Different varieties of fruit and preserves were
interspersed in such fashion that none was repeated until every variety had
been passed。
〃I begins with this can of peaches；〃 said Willock； laying his finger
upon the beginning of the row〃then comes apples； pears； plums； then
peaches； apples； pears； plums； then peaches； apples； pears； plums； then
peachesblest if I don't feel myself getting sick of 'em already。。。。 And