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peachesblest if I don't feel myself getting sick of 'em already。。。。 And now
my meats： bacon； ham。 My breadstuffs： loaves； crackers。 My fillers：
sardines； more sardines； more sardines； likewise canned tomatoes。 Let me
seeis it too much to say that I eats a can of preserves in two days？ Maybe
three。 That is； till I sickens。 I begins with peach…day。 This is Monday。 Say
Thursday begins my apple…days。 I judge I can worm myself down through
the list by this time next month。 One thing I am sot on： not to save nothing
if I can bring my stomach to carry the burden with a willing hand。 I'll eat
mild and calm； but steadfast。 Brick Willock he says； 'Better starve all at
once； when there's nothing left； than starve a little every day；' says Brick。
'When it's a matter of agony；' says he； 'take the short cut。'〃
In arranging his retreat； he had left undisturbed the wagon…tongue；
since removing it from the end of the floor for a more secure barricade； it
had stood with several of the sideboards against the wall； as if Brick
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meditated using them for a special purpose。 Such was indeed his plan； and
it added some zest to his present employment to think of what he meant to
do next； this was nothing less than to make a dugout in the cove。
To this enterprise he was prompted not only by a desire to vary his
monotonous days； but to insure safety from possible foes。 Should a
skulking savage； or； what would be worse； a stray member of the robber
band catch sight of him among the hills； the spy would spread the news
among his fellows。 A relentless search would be instituted； and even if
Willock succeeded in escaping； the band would not rest till it had
discovered his hiding…place。 If they came on the dugout； their search
would terminate； and his home in the crevice would escape investigation；
but if there was no dugout to satisfy curiosity； the crevice would most
probably be explored。
〃Two homes ain't too many for a character like me； nohow；〃 remarked
Brick； as he set the wagon…tongue and long boards on end to be drawn up
through the crevice。 〃Cold weather will be coming on in due timesay
three or four monthsand what's that to me？ a mere handful of time！ Well；
I don't never expect to make a fire in my cave； I'll set my smoke out in the
open where it can be traced without danger to my pantry shelves。〃
He was even slower about building the dugout than he had been in
arranging the miscellaneous objects in the cavern on top of the mountain。
Transporting the timbers across a mile of ridges and granite troughs was
no light work； and when his tools and material were in the cove； the
digging of the dugout was protracted because of the closeness of water to
the surface。 At last he succeeded in excavating the cellar at a spot within a
few yards of the mountain； without penetrating moistened sand。 He
leveled down the walls till he had a chamber about twelve feet square。
Over this he placed the wagon…tongue； converting it into the ridge…pole；
which he set upon forks cut from the near…by cedars。 Having trimmed
branches of the trees in the grove； he laid them as close together as
possible； slanting from the ridge…pole to the ground； and over these laid
the bushy cedar branches。 This substantial roof he next covered with dirt；
heaping it up till no glimpse of wood was visible tinder the hard…packed
dome。 The end of the dugout was closed up in the same way except for a
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hole near the top fitted closely to the stovepipe and packed with mud。
Of the sideboards he fashioned a rude frame； then a door to stand in it；
fitted into grooves that it might be pushed and held into place without
hinges。 〃Of course I got to take down my door every time I comes in or
out；〃 remarked Willock； regarding his structure with much complacency；
〃but they's nothing else to do； and I got to be occupied。〃
When he had transported the stove to the cove； he set it up with a
tingle of expectant pleasure。 It was to be his day of housewarming； not
because the weather had grown cold； but that he might celebrate。
〃This here；〃 he said； 〃is to be a red…letter day； a day plumb up in X； Y
and Z。 I got to take my gun and forage for some game； then I'll dress my
fresh meat and have a cooking。 I'll bring over some grub to keep it
company。 Let's seethis is plum…day； ain't it？〃 He stood meditating；
stroking his wild whiskers with a grimy hand。 〃Oh； Lord； yes； I believe it
IS plum…day！ 'Well； they ain't nothing the way you would have made it
yourself；' says Brick； 'not even though it's you as made it。' This here is
plum…day； and that there can of plums will shore be opened。 And having
my first fire gives me a chance to open up my sack of flour； won't I hold
carnival！ What I feels sorry about myself is knowing how I'm going to feel
after I've et all them victuals。 I believe I'll take a bath； too； in that pool
over yonder in the grove。 Ain't I ever going to use that there soap？。。。 But I
don't say as I will。 Don't seem wuth while。 They ain't nobody to see me；
and I feels clean insides。 As I takes it； you do your washing for them as
neighbors with you。 If I had a neighbor！just a dog； a little yaller dogor
some chickens to crow and cackle〃
He broke off； to lean despondently on his gun。 He remained thus
motionless for a long time； his earth…stained garments； unkempt hair； hard
dark hands and gloomy eye marking him as the only object in the bright
sunshine standing forth unresponsive to nature's smile。
He started into life with a shrug of his powerful shoulders。 〃It's just
like you； Brick； to spoil a festibul…day with your low idees！ Why don't you
keep them idees for a rainy day？ Just lay up them regrets and hankerings
for the first rainy day； and then be of a piece with the heavens and earth。 'If
you can't stay cheerful while the sun's shining；' says Brick； 'God's wasting
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a mighty nice big sun on YOU！'〃
Thus admonis