by shore and sedge(沙滩和苔草旁)-第10节
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four quarters in one fierce gust that as quickly dispersed the loungers
drooping in shade and cover。 For a few seconds the long avenue was lost
in flying clouds of dust； and then was left bare of life or motion。 Raindrops
in huge stars and rosettes appeared noiselessly and magically upon the
sidewalksgouts of moisture apparently dropped from mid…air。 And then
the ominous hush returned。
A mile away along the rocks； I turned for shelter into a cavernous
passage of the overhanging cliff； where I could still watch the coming
storm upon the sea。 A murmur of voices presently attracted my attention。 I
then observed that the passage ended in a kind of open grotto； where I
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could dimly discern the little figures of several children； who； separated
from their nurses in the sudden onset of the storm； had taken refuge there。
As the gloom deepened they became silent again； until the stillness was
broken by a familiar voice。 There was no mistaking it。It was Sarah
Walker's。 But it was not lifted in lamentation； it was raised only as if
resuming a suspended narrative。
〃Her name；〃 said Sarah Walker gloomily； 〃was Kribbles。 She was the
only childofof orphaned parentage； and fair to see； but she was bad；
and God did not love her。 And one day she was separated from her nurse
on a desert island like to this。 And then came a hidgeous thunderstorm。
And a great big thunderbolt came galumping after her。 And it ketehed her
and rolled all over herso！ and then it came back and ketched her and
rolled her overso！ And when they came to pick her up there was not so
much as THAT left of her。 All burnt up！〃
〃Wasn't there just a little bit of her shoe？〃 suggested a cautious auditor。
〃Not a bit；〃 said Sarah Walker firmly。 All the other children echoed
〃Not a bit；〃 indignantly； in evident gratification at the completeness of
Kribbles' catastrophe。 At this moment the surrounding darkness was
suddenly filled with a burst of blue celestial fire； the heavy inky sea
beyond； the black…edged mourning horizon； the gleaming sands； each nook
and corner of the dripping cave； with the frightened faces of the huddled
group of children； started into vivid life for an instant； and then fell back
with a deafening crash into the darkness。
There was a slight sound of whimpering。 Sarah Walker apparently
pounced upon the culprit； for it ceased。
〃Sniffling 'tracts 'lectricity；〃 she said sententiously。
〃But you thaid it wath Dod！〃 lisped a casuist of seven。
〃It's all the same；〃 said Sarah sharply； 〃and so's asking questions。〃
This obscure statement was however apparently understood； for the
casuist lapsed into silent security。 〃Lots of things 'tracts it；〃 continued
Sarah Walker。 〃Gold and silver； and metals and knives and rings。〃
〃And pennies？〃
〃And pennies most of all！ Kribbles was that vain； she used to wear
jewelry and fly in the face of Providence。〃
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〃But you thaid〃
〃Will you？There！ you hear that？〃 There was another blinding flash
and bounding roll of thunder along the shore。 〃I wonder you didn't ketch it。
You wouldonly I'm here。〃
All was quiet again； but from certain indications it was evident that a
collection of those dangerous articles that had proved fatal to the unhappy
Kribbles was being taken up。 I could hear the clink of coins and jingle of
ornaments。 That Sarah herself was the custodian was presently shown。
〃But won't the lightning come to you now？〃 asked a timid voice。
〃No；〃 said Sarah； promptly； 〃'cause I ain't afraid！ Look！〃
A frightened protest from the children here ensued； but the next instant
she appeared at the entrance of the grotto and ran down the rocks towards
the sea。 Skipping from bowlder to bowlder she reached the furthest
projection of the ledge； now partly submerged by the rising surf； and then
turned half triumphantly； half defiantly； towards the grotto。 The weird
phosphorescence of the storm lit up the resolute little figure standing there；
gorgeously bedecked with the chains； rings； and shiny trinkets of her
companions。 With a tiny hand raised in mock defiance of the elements； she
seemed to lean confidingly against the panting breast of the gale； with
fluttering skirt and flying tresses。 Then the vault behind her cracked with
three jagged burning fissures； a weird flame leaped upon the sand； there
was a cry of terror from the grotto； echoed by a scream of nurses on the
cliff； a deluge of rain； a terrific onset from the galeandSarah Walker
was gone？ Nothing of the kind！ When I reached the ledge； after a severe
struggle with the storm； I found Sarah on the leeward side； drenched but
delighted。 I held her tightly； while we waited for a lull to regain the cliff；
and took advantage of the sympathetic situation。
〃But you know you WERE frightened； Sarah；〃 I whispered； 〃you
thought of what happened to poor Kribbles。〃
〃Do you know who Kribbles was？〃 she asked confidentially。
〃No。〃
〃Well；〃 she whispered； 〃I made Kribbles up。 And the hidgeous storm
and thunderboltand the burning！ All out of my own head。〃
The only immediate effect of this escapade was apparently to
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precipitate and bring into notoriety the growing affection of an obscure
lover of Sarah Walker's； hitherto unsuspected。 He was a mild inoffensive
boy of twelve； known as 〃Warts；〃 solely from an inordinate exhibition of
these youthful excrescences。 On the day of Sarah Walker's adventure his
passion culminated in a sudden and illogical attack upon Sarah's nurse and
parents while they were bewailing her conduct； and in assaulting them
with his feet and hands。 Whether he associated them in some vague way
with the cause of her momentary peril； or whether he only wished to
impress her with the touching flattery of a general imitation of her style； I
cannot say。 For his lovemaking was peculiar。 A day or two afterwards he
came to my open door and remained for some moments bashfully looking
at me。 The next day I found him standing by my chair in the piazza with
an embarrassed air and in utter inability to explain his conduct。 At the end
of a rapid walk on the sand one morning； I was startled by the sound of
hurried breath； and looking around； discovered the staggering Warts quite
exhausted by endeavoring to keep up with me on his short legs。 At last the
daily recurrence of his haunting presence forced a dreadful suspicion upon
me。 Warts was courting ME for Sarah Walker！ Yet it was impossible to
actually connect her with these mute attentions。 〃You want me to give
them to Sarah Walker；〃 I said cheerfully one afternoon； as he laid upon my
desk some peculiarly uninviting crustacea which looked not unlike a few
detached excrescences from his own hands。 He shook his head decidedly。
〃I understand；〃 I continued； confidently； 〃you want me to keep them for
her。〃 〃No；〃 said Warts； doggedly。 〃Then you only want me to tell her how
nice they are？〃 The idea was apparently so shamelessly true that he
blushed himself hastily into the passage； and ceased any future
contribution。 Naturally still more ineffective was the slightest attempt to
bring his devotion into the physical presence of Sarah Walker。 The most
ingenious schemes to lure him into my room while she was there failed
utterly。 Yet he must have at one time basked in her baleful presence。 〃Do
you like Warts？〃 I asked her one day bluntly。 〃Yes；〃 said Sarah Walker
with cheerful directness； 〃ain't HE got a lot of 'em？though he used to
have more。 But；〃 she added reflectively； 〃do you know the little Ilsey
boy？〃 I was compelled to admit my ignorance。 〃Well！〃 she said with a
