The Kentuckian Page #4

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I'm...

Pa says you gotta excuse me

because I ain't a man yet.

I will be a man

when I blow the Gabriel Horn.

I'm sure you will.

Now run along to class, Little Eli.

He won't tell me how he got that black

eye. He's always told me everything.

Then I'm afraid I can't.

It was over me.

- You know, of course, about the pearl?

- Only what the children were yelling.

Town ain't easy for a hunter,

and he's got hunter's blood in him.

I can tell you this much. He didn't run.

He met his trouble

in the only way he knew.

You can be proud of him.

I'd like to know you both better.

Can't you come to supper next week?

I suppose.

Why, yes. Thanks, miss.

- Thursday, then?

- Sure.

Sweet music, ain't it, boy?

Too pretty for a body to stand, almost.

Man, oh, man!

I guess I'll never be growed up.

You will. You'll blow it one day.

Now listen. It ain't always we can listen.

Hello, the fire!

It's Hannah, Pa!

- I knowed your voice!

- Can't fool me on Faro either.

Come rest and listen.

- Where did you come from?

- Thursdays I do chores at the still house.

- Faro's singing sweet as pie tonight.

- Yep. He sure is.

- Thursday?

- Today.

What's wrong, Pa?

- Give me the horn. We got to go.

- You ain't even talked to Hannah yet.

We've got to blow the dog in.

Hannah says we gotta go to Texas,

no matter what!

- I got your Texas money for you.

- Hannah!

- Hannah!

- How?

I got it hid away for you.

How?

It's honest. That's enough.

Bodine.

By selling yourself back as a bound girl.

- Just say I drawed ahead.

- Bodine.

They're making sport of you in the town.

- Being laughed at don't kill a man.

- But the lingering will.

Maybe so and maybe not.

Give that money back.

- It's on paper. Legal-like.

- Get the paper, then.

Eli, some are born to stand still

and some are born to run

like a hound is born to run.

Can't you see Texas is the fox for you?

I'm through with running. Come on, boy.

Why are you mad at Hannah for, Pa?

Look, we're much obliged.

More than I can say.

- Eli, you're playing the fool.

- Let me be my own kind of fool, then.

Let's go, boy.

Susan?

- Yes, Mother.

- Did the company come, Susan?

No, Mother.

My back has started hurting.

- Couldn't you come and talk to me?

- After a while.

Me and Little Eli, we...

we forgot.

- That's all. We plumb forgot.

- You just forgot?

It was a prime night for hunting.

I promised Little Eli I'd take him.

Here comes up a prime night.

It's nice to know you weren't

fishing for pearls. Good night.

I can't blame you for making small of me.

But it was because Little Eli apologized

so good for breaking up school.

That's why I promised I'd take him out.

All we knew, Little Eli and me,

was living free in the woods,

shooting our meals and following foxes.

It's habit-like with us and hard to bust,

and maybe it shouldn't be busted.

Eli.

Come back.

That's the nicest apology I ever heard.

Come in. We'll eat our supper cold.

I'm obliged.

I messed things up, I reckon.

Like it was in my mind to ask you,

if I hadn't been so late,

would you play for me again?

Ask, then.

Oh, Eli.

Big Eli Wakefield.

Oh, Eli. Eli.

- Joe Emery.

- Here.

- Brown. Mr. Clay Brown.

- Here.

- Postlewaite. John Postlewaite.

- Right here, sir.

Zybee Fletcher.

Zybee Fletcher. Zybee Fletcher.

- Wakefield. Zack Wakefield.

- I'm taking it.

Well, if it ain't Mr. President Pearl himself!

- Morgan. Anse Morgan.

- Here.

Wakefield. Elias Wakefield.

The president.

The president of these United States.

About time he answered.

Better late than never.

Looks like money, too.

Come on, son.

I never would have believed it!

Now we'll see.

Elias?

- Hi, Eli.

- Zack.

I've got to send you to Pekin tomorrow.

I need cash from the bank.

All right, Zack.

We'll talk about it at supper, huh?

Tell you what.

Ride that new River Queen back.

It'll be your first trip up the Tennessee.

Can I go too, Pa?

Sure. I'll fix it up

with Miss Susie about school.

That all, Zack?

There's gonna be a big crowd

to welcome her as it's her first trip up.

Being you're in business now,

you need some new clothes.

- I'll advance the money.

- That's right nice, Zack. Thanks.

Just be careful of those river gamblers.

They'll pick you clean.

Now, son...

"Dear Mr. Wakefield,

the president regrets to advise you

that he is not a collector of pearls."

"Furthermore, freshwater pearls

have no known commercial value."

"The president has suggested that I..."

Ain't even from the president.

Just from his hired man.

Better not let on about this letter,

Little Eli.

I overdone my fun

and poked my paw in the bear trap.

Now I got to show some money.

I've got to think like your Uncle Zack.

Pardon me, sir. That is a splendid hound.

Thanks. He'll do.

Fox-hunting, raising horses, perhaps a nip

or two and now and then a friendly game.

That is the life for a gentleman.

You agree?

Sure do.

A fair game.

Where she stops, nobody knows.

No bet too big or too small.

Welcome each one and welcome all.

I think I shall try my luck.

Would you care to watch?

All right.

- Black and odd, gents. Black 17.

- Me again!

- I bet on 17 last time.

- Every roll a chance at fortune!

- Spin it while I'm riding high.

- Get your bets down. He's in a lather.

You do not mind, sir, if I bet modestly?

None too big, none too small, none

too short, none too tall. But shake a leg.

How is it you play this game?

Even on black or red.

Same as odd and even.

The corners pay you eight.

Half a number's 17.

A fair, square game.

If I can help you, sir...

Maybe I ought to find out first

if luck is touching me.

A wise decision.

Ride with the flood, lie low on the ebb.

Bets down, please.

My bones say black.

I shall place my small pile on it.

Black. My favorite color.

Black, then.

Black it is. Black and even.

You win, ma'am.

- You won, Pa.

- Everybody wins but the banker.

- Delighted you rode my winner.

- Place your money, man.

What would you advise?

My problem is that when I gamble,

I don't know where to stop.

But maybe I should go small again

before I ride the flood, huh?

- Do we play or palaver, gamblers?

- Name it, friend. I'll go along.

If I could catch a number,

I'd sure enough know my luck was in.

- A number?

- Yes, ma'am. Then I'd know.

I wouldn't let myself

be nibbled to death, friend.

- With your luck, strike hard.

- Please, gents.

No. I'm gonna test her once again.

We'll bet your age, son.

Four dollars on nine. We'll double it.

Pa!

As you please.

Against my judgment, I'll stay with you.

- Nine wins! The red wins!

- Pa, I won!

I won, Pa! Nine won!

- With luck like that...

- It will be you who will break the bank!

We won, Pa!

- 280 dollars gold!

- Pa!

Bets down, gentlemen.

Thanks, gents. Sorry to leave,

but I think we're coming to Humility.

That's where me and my boy get off.

- Hold on, my man.

- Monsieur, with luck and a bag of gold...

That ain't gambling money. I never meant

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