第36部分(第5/7 頁)

ne　per　tree？〃

〃With　a　tree　this　size；　there'll　be　enough　sap　for　two。　Here；　you　slide

this　one　in；　while　I　get　more　buckets。〃

By　the　time　he　returned；　she　had　done　as　he　asked。　He　fit　a　bucket　on

the　spout。

〃A　sliding　lid？〃　she　asked；　studying　it。　〃I've　never　seen　lids　on　sap

buckets；　period。〃

A　smile　touched　the　corners　of　his　mouth。　〃Then　you've　never　seen　a

stray　horse　or　a　field　mouse　drink　the　sap　as　it　collects。〃

She　laughed。　〃No；　I　haven't。〃

〃This　lid　doesn't　always　keep　them　out。　A　persistent　animal　can　get　what

he　wants。　But　it　helps。〃

They　picked　up　the　equipment　and　moved　on　to　the　next　tree。

〃How　much　sap　will　we　get？〃　she　asked；　but　she　was　distracted　watching

him　as　he　debated　where　to　drill。　He　was　a　sight　to　behold；　larger　and

more　rugged…looking　than　ever　in　a　high…collared　sheepskin　jacket　and

faded　jeans。

He　knelt　before　the　tree　and　applied　the　drill。　〃On　a　good　day　the

bucket　will　fill　and　overflow。　On　a　poor　day　we'll　get　only　a　few

inches。〃

He　grunted　as　he　pushed　the　bit　forward　into　the　tree。　〃If　we　were　to

continue　for　the　entire　length　of　the　sapping　season；　we　might　get　ten

or　twenty　gallons　from　each　tree。〃

She　was　startled。　〃That　much？　Whoa。　What　would　we　ever　do　with　all　that

sap？〃

The　hole　drilled；　he　straightened　and　motioned　with　his　finger　for　her

to　insert　the　spout；　which　she　deftly　did　this　time　with　the　aid　of　a

hammer。

〃〃All　that　sap；〃'　he　said；　〃boils　down　to　very　little。　To　get　one　gallon

of　syrup；　you　have　to　boil　down　anywhere　from　thirty…five　to　fifty

gallons　of　sap。〃

〃Ah。　That　explains　why　genuine　maple　syrup　co