He put himself astride on
one bough, his feet upon another below, and his back leaning against
the main stem. No one could see him up so high among the thick
leaves; but he could see all around the village, and over the house;
he could look down into the farm-court at the pigs burying themselves
in the straw; and out beyond at the geese and ducks in the meadow,
and the broods of chickens pecking and scratching about, or the older
poultry rolling in the dust-holes they had scraped for themselves.
He could see Purday among his cabbages in the garden; and further
off, could watch the walking-party through the fields, his father
with little George in his arms, and Uncle John as often as possible
by his side; while the others frisked about, sometimes spreading out
like a flock of sheep in the pasture land, or when they came to the
narrow paths in the cornfields, all getting into single file, and
being lost sight of all but their heads.
Sam recollected how, the day when he had heard that he was not likely
to be a sailor, he had felt as if he hated Stokesley, and as if it
would be a prison to him, and how everything reminding him of the sea
had been a misery to him.
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