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And all at once I seemed again to be in command of myself and of the
world。 I felt a sudden lift and thrill of the spirits； a warm sense that this too
was part of the great adventurethe Thing Itself。
〃This is the light；〃 I said looking up again at the sky and the single
bright star； 〃which is set for me to…night。 I will make my bed by it。〃
I can hope to make no one understand （unless he understands already）
with what joy of adventure I now crept through the meadow toward the
wood。 It was an unknown； unexplored world I was in； and I； the fortunate
discoverer； had here to shift for himself； make his home under the stars！
Marquette on the wild shores of the Mississippi； or Stanley in Africa； had
no joy that I did not know at that moment。
I crept along the meadow and came at last to the wood。 Here I chose a
somewhat sheltered spot at the foot of a large treeand yet a spot not so
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obscured that I could not look out over the open spaces of the meadow and
see the sky。 Here； groping in the darkness； like some primitive creature； I
raked together a pile of leaves with my fingers； and found dead twigs and
branches of trees； but in that moist forest （where the rain had fallen only
the day before） my efforts to kindle a fire were unavailing。 Upon this； I
considered using some pages from my notebook； but another alternative
suggested itself：
〃Why not Montaigne？〃
With that I groped for the familiar volume； and with a curious
sensation of satisfaction I tore out a handful of pages from the back。
〃Better Montaigne than Grayson；〃 I said； with a chuckle。 It was
amazing how Montaigne sparkled and crackled when he was well lighted。
〃There goes a bundle of quotations from Vergil；〃 I said； 〃and there's
his observations on the eating of fish。 There are more uses than one for the
classics。〃
So I ripped out a good part of another chapter； and thus； by coaxing；
got my fire to going。 It was not difficult after that to find enough fuel to
make it blaze up warmly。
I opened my bag and took out the remnants of the luncheon which Mrs。
Clark had given me that morning； and I was surprised and delighted to
find； among the other things； a small bottle of coffee。 This suggested all
sorts of pleasing possibilities and； the spirit of invention being now
awakened； I got out my tin cup； split a sapling stick so I could fit it into
the handle； and set the cup； full of coffee； on the coals at the edge of the
fire。 It was soon heated； and although I spilled some of it in getting it off；
and although it was well spiced with ashes； I enjoyed it； with Mrs。 Clark's
doughnuts and sandwiches （some of which I toasted with a sapling fork）
as thoroughly； I think； as ever I enjoyed any meal。
How little we knowwe who dread lifehow much there is in life！
My activities around the fire had warmed me to the bone； and after I
was well through with my meal I gathered a plentiful supply of wood and
placed it near at hand； I got out my waterproof cape and put it on； and；
finally piling more sticks on the fire； I sat down comfortably at the foot of
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the tree。
I wish I could convey the mystery and the beauty of that night。 Did
you ever sit by a campfire and watch the flames dance； and the sparks fly
upward into the cool dark air？ Did you ever see the fitful light among the
tree…depths； at one moment opening vast shadowy vistas into the forest； at
the next dying downward and leaving it all in sombre mystery？ It came to
me that night with the wonderful vividness of a fresh experience。
And what a friendly and companionable thing a campfire is！ How
generous and outright it is！ It plays for you when you wish so be lively；
and it glows for you when you wish to be reflective。
After a while； for I did not feel in the least sleepy； I stepped out of the
woods to the edge of the pasture。 All around me lay the dark and silent
earth； and above the blue bowl of the sky； all glorious with the blaze of a
million worlds。 Sometimes I have been oppressed by this spectacle of utter
space； of infinite distance； of forces too great for me to grasp or
understand； but that night it came upon me with fresh wonder and power；
and with a sense of great humility that I belonged here too； that I was a
part of it alland would not be neglected or forgotten。 It seemed to me I
never had a moment of greater faith than that。
And so； with a sense of satisfaction and peace； I returned to my fire。
As I sat there I could hear the curious noises of the woods； the little
droppings； cracklings； rustlings which seemed to make all the world alive。
I even fancied I could see small bright eyes looking out at my fire； and
once or twice I was almost sure I heard voiceswhisperingperhaps the
voices of the woods。
Occasionally I added； with some amusement； a few dry pages of
Montaigne to the fire； and watched the cheerful blaze that followed。
〃No；〃 said I； 〃Montaigne is not for the open spaces and the stars。
Without a roof over his head Montaigne wouldwell； die of sneezing。〃
So I sat all night long there by the tree。 Occasionally I dropped into a
light sleep； and then； as my fire died down； I grew chilly and awakened； to
build up the fire and doze again。 I saw the first faint gray streaks of dawn
above the trees； I saw the pink glow in the east before the sunrise； and I
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watched the sun himself rise upon a new day
When I walked out into the meadow by daylight and looked about me
curiously； I saw； not forty rods away； the back of a barn。
〃Be you the fellow that was daown in my cowpasture all night？〃
asked the sturdy farmer。
〃I'm that fellow；〃 I said。
〃Why didn't you come right up to the house？〃
〃Well〃 I said； and then paused。
〃Well 。 。 。〃 said I。
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CHAPTER VIII。 THE HEDGE
Strange； strange； how small the big world is！
〃Why didn't you come right into the house？〃 the sturdy farmer had
asked me when I came out of the meadow where I had spent the night
under the stars。
〃Well；〃 I said； turning the question as adroitly as I could； 〃I'll make it
up by going into the house now。〃
So I went with him into his fine； comfortable house。
〃This is my wife；〃 said he。
A woman stood there facing me。 〃Oh！〃 she exclaimed； 〃Mr。 Grayson！〃
I recalled swiftly a childa child she seemed thenwith braids down
her back； whom I had known when I first came to my farm。 She had
grown up； married； and had borne three children； while I had been looking
the other way for a minute or two。 She had not been in our neighborhood
for several years。
〃And how is your sister and Doctor McAlway？〃
Well； we had quite a wonderful visit； she made breakfast for me；
asking and talking eagerly as I ate。
〃We've just had news that old Mr。 Toombs is dead。〃
〃Dead！〃 I exclaimed； dropping my fork； 〃old Nathan Toombs！〃
〃Yes； he was my uncle。 Did you know him？〃
〃I knew Nathan Toombs；〃 I said。
I spent two days there with the Ransomes； for they would not hear of
my leaving； and half of our spare time； I think； was spent in discussing
Nathan Toombs。 I was not able to get him out of my mind for days； for his
death was one of those events which prove so much and leave so much
unproven。
I can recall vividly my astonishment at the first evidence I ever had of
the strange old man or of his work。 It was not very long after I came to my
farm to live。 I had taken to spending my spare eveningsthe long evenings
of summerin exploring the country roads for miles around； getting
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acquainted with each farmstead； each bit of grove and meadow and marsh；
making my best bow to each unfamiliar hill； and taking everywhere that
toll of pleasure whic