Mr. Bunderly had not tied them properly. Since we could not move without, I had to find them. When I did and yoked them up, I offered to tie up the oxen from then on. Afterward we went along a road of black mud. As we went, I kept wondering if Mr. Mawr had spoken to Mr. Bunderly and what he might have told him. If he had, the barber said nothing to me about it. That eased me somewhat. But since Mawr might speak to Lizzy, too, and she being so unpredictable, I still worried. May 13 That day we went only three miles but reached the Nishnabotna River, where we camped. I took Lizzy fishing and got ourselves a catfish. I even cooked it for her. She watched intently. “I never saw a man cook before,” she said. “I’m a boy.” “Does that mean, Mr. Early, you’re going to stop when you get older?” “Why must you always ask outlandish questions?” I said. She tossed her hair. “I only ask what I wish to know.” Her green eyes seemed fierce. “Need you know so much?” “Are you comfortable with ignorance?”
