a summer in a canyon-第13节

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down　to　kiss　her　mischievous　little　brother。

'But　what　a　looking　creature！'　exclaimed　Geoff；　as　he　stooped　over
the　recovered　treasure。　　'See；　Bell；　his　curls　are　glistening　with
pitch；　his　dress　is　torn　into　ribbons；　and　his　handsugh；　how
dirty！'

'Poor　little　darling；　he　is　thoroughly　used　up；'　whispered　Bell；
wiping　tears　of　joy　from　her　brown　eyes。　　'Now；　I'll　run　home　like
lightning　to　blow　the　horn；　and　you　carry　Dicky；　for　he　is　too　sleepy
and　stiff　to　walk；　and；　Geoff'（here　she　laid　an　embarrassed　hand　on
his　shoulder）'I'm　afraid　he'll　be　awfully　cross；　but　you'll　not
mind　it；　will　you？　　He's　so　worn…out。'

'Not　I；'　laughed　Geoff；　as　he　dropped　a　brotherly　kiss　on　Bell's　pale
cheek。　　'But　I've　no　idea　of　letting　you　go　alone；　you're　tired　to
death；　and　you'll　miss　the　path。　　I　wish　I　could　carry　you　both。'

'Tiredafraid！'　cried　Bell；　with　a　ringing　laugh；　while　Dicky　woke
with　a　stare；　and　nestled　on　Geoffrey's　shoulder　as　if　nothing　had
happened。　　'Why；　now　that　this　weight　is　lifted　off　my　heart；　I　could
see　a　path　in　an　untravelled　forest！　　Good…bye；　you　dear；　darling；
cruel　boy！　　I　must　run；　for　every　moment　is　precious　to　mamma。'　　And
with　one　strangling　hug；　which　made　Dicky's　ribs　crack；　she　dashed
off。

Oh　how　joyously；　how　sweetly　and　tunefully；　the　furious　blast　of　the
old　cracked　dinner…horn　fell　on　the　anxious　ears　in　that　canyon。　　It
seemed　clearer　and　more　musical　than　a　chime　of　silver　bells。

In　a　trice　the　wandering　couples　had　gathered　jubilantly　round　the
camp…fire；　all　embracing　Bell；　who　was　the　heroine　of　the　hour
entirely　by　chance；　and　not　though　superior　vision　or　courage；　as　she
confessed。

It　was　hardly　fifteen　minutes　when　Geoff　strode　into　the　ring　with
his　sorry…looking　burden；　which　he　laid　immediately　in　Aunt　Truth's
lap。

'Oh　my　darling！'　she　cried；　embracing　him　fondly。　　'To　think　you　are
really　not　dead；　after　all！'

'No；　he　is　about　as　alive　as　any　chap　I　ever　saw。'　　And　while　the
happy　parents　caressed　their　restored　darling；　Geoff　gathered　the
girls　and　boys　around　the　dinner…table；　and　repeated　some　of　Dicky's
remarks　on　the　homeward　trip。

It　seems　that　he　considered　himself　the　injured　party；　and　with　great
ingenuity　laid　all　the　blame　of　the　mishap　on　his　elders。

'Nobuddy　takes　care　of　me；　anyhow；'　he　grumbled。　　'If　my　papa　wasn't
a　mean　fing　I'd　orter　to　have　a　black　nurse　with　a　white　cap　and
apurn；　like　Billy　Thomas；　'n'　then　I　couldn't　git　losted　so　offul
easy。　　An'　you　all　never　cared　a　cent　about　it　either；　or　you'd　a
founded　me　quicker　'n　this'n'　I've　been　hungry　fur　nineteen　hours；
'n'　I　guess　I've　been　gone　till　December；　by　the　feelin'；　but　you　was
too　lazy　to　found　me　'f　I　freezed　to　def'n'　there　ain't　but　one
singul　boy　of　me　round　the　whole　camp；　'n'　't　would　serveded　you
right　if　I　had　got　losted　for　ever；　then　I　bet　you　wouldn't　had　much
fun　Fourth　of　July　'thout　my　two　bits　'n'　my　fire…crackers！'

It　was　an　hour　or　two　before　peace　and　quiet　were　restored　to　the
camp。　　The　long…delayed　dinner　had　to　be　eaten；　and　to　Hop　Yet's　calm
delight；　it　was　a　very　bad　one。　　Dicky's　small　wounds　were　dressed
with　sweet　oil；　and　after　being　fed　and　bathed　he　was　tucked　lovingly
into　bed；　with　a　hundred　kisses　or　more　from　the　whole　party。

A　little　rest　and　attention　had　entirely　restored　his　good…humour；
and　when　Dr。　Paul　went　into　the　tent　to　see　that　all　was　safe　for　the
night；　he　found　him　sitting　up　in　bed　with　a　gleeful　countenance；
prattling　like　a　little　angel。

'We　had　an　offul　funny　time　'bout　my　gittin'　losted；　didn't　we；
mamma？'　chuckled　he；　with　his　gurgling　little　laugh。　　'Next　time　I'm
goin'　to　get　losted　in　annover　bran'…new　place　where　no…bud…dy　can
find　me！　　I　fink　it　was　the　nicest　time　'cept　Fourth　of　July；　don't
you；　mamma？'　　And　he　patted　his　mother's　cheek　and　imprinted　an　oily
kiss　thereon。

'Truth；'　said　the　Doctor；　with　mild　severity；　'I　know　you　don't
believe　in　applying　the　slipper；　but　I　do　think　we　should　arrange
some　plan　for　giving　that　child　an　idea　of　the　solemnity　of　life。　　So
far　as　I　can　judge；　he　looks　at　it　as　one　prolonged　picnic。'

'My　sentiments　exactly！'　cried　Bell；　energetically。　　'I　can't　stand
many　more　of　these　trying　scenes；　I　am　worn　to　a　〃shadder。〃'

Dicky　tucked　his　head　under　his　mother's　arm；　with　a　sigh　of　relief
that　there　was　one　person；　at　least；　whose　sentiments　were　always
favourable　and　always　to　be　relied　upon。

'I　love　you　the　best　of　anybuddy；　mamma；'　whispered　he；　and　fell
asleep。



CHAPTER　IV：　　RHYME　AND　REASON



A　BUDGET　OF　LETTERS　FROM　THE　CAMP　MAIL…BAG

'The　letter　of　a　friend　is　a　likeness　passing　true。'


Our　friend　Polly　was　seated　in　a　secluded　spot　whence　all　but　her　had
fled；　her　grave　demeanour；　her　discarded　sun…bonnet；　her　corrugated
brow；　all　bespoke　more　than　common　fixedness　of　purpose；　the　cause　of
which　will　be　discovered　in　what　follows。

I。　　FROM　THE　COUNTESS　PAULINA　OLIVERA　TO　HER　FRIEND　AND　CONFIDANTE；
THE　LADY　ELSIE　HOWARD。　｛1｝

Scene：　　A　sequestered　nook　in　the　Valley　of　the　Flowers。

CAMP　CHAPARRAL；　July　6；　188…。

The　countess　is　discovered　at　her　ommerlu　｛1a｝　writing…table。　　A
light　zephyr　｛1b｝　plays　with　her　golden　locks　｛1c｝　and　caresses　her
Grecian　｛1d｝　nosea　nose　that　carries　on　its　surface　a　few　trifling
freckles；　which　serve　but　to　call　attention　to　its　exquisite　purity
of　outline　and　the　height　of　its　ambition。　　Her　eyes　reflect　the
changing　shadows　of　moonlight；　and　her　mouth　is　one　fit　for　sweet
sounds；　｛1e｝　yet　this　only　gives　you　a　faint　idea　of　the　beauteous
creature　whose　fortunes　we　shall　follow　in　our　next　number。　｛1f｝

I　have　given　that　style　a　fair　trial；　my　dear　darling；　but　I　cannot
stand　it　another　minute；　not　being　familiar　with　the　language　of　what
our　cook　used　to　call　the　'fuddal　aristocracy'　（feudal；　you　know）。

I；　your　faithful　Polly；　am　seated　in　the　card…room；　writing　with　a
dreadful　pen　which　Phil　gave　me　yesterday。　　Its　internal　organs　are
filled　with　ink；　which　it　disgorges　when　PRESSED　to　do　so；　but　just
now　it　is　'too　full　for　utterance；'　as　you　will　see　by　the　blots。

We　have　decided　not　to　make　this　a　real　round…robin　letter；　like　the
last；　because　we　want　to　write　what　we　like；　and　not　have　it　read　by
the　person　who　comes　next。

I　have　been　badgered　to　death　over　my　part　of　the　communication　sent
to　you　last　week；　for　the　young　persons　connected　with　this　camp　have
a　faculty　of　making　mountains　out　of　mole…hills；　as　you　know；　and　I
have　to　suffer　for　every　careless　little　speech。　　However；　as　we
didn't　wish　to　bore　you　with　six　duplicate　letters；　we　invented　a
plan　for　keeping　off　each　other's　ground；　and　appointed　Geoff　a
committee　of　one　to　settle　our　line　of　march。　　It　is　to　be　a
collective　letter；　made　up　of　individual　notes；　and　these　are　Geoff's
sealed　orders；　which　must　be　obeyed；　on　pain　of　dismissal　from　the
camp：

No。　1　（Polly）　is　to　amuse！
No。　2　（Phil）　　。。。　inform！
No。　3　（Geoff）　。。。　edify！！
No。　4　（Madge）　。。。　gossip。
No。　5　（Bell）　　。。。　versify。
No。　6　（Jack）　　。。。　illustrate

So；　my　dear；　if　you　get　any　'information'　or　happen　to　be　'edified'
by　what　I　write；　don't　mention　it　for　worlds！　　（I　just　screamed　my
fears　about　this　matter　to　Jack；　and　he　says　'I　needn't　fret。'　　I
shall　certainly　slap　that　boy　before　the　summer　is　over。）

I　could　just　tell　you　a　lovely　story　about　Dicky's　getting　lost　in
the　woods　the　day　before　yesterday；　and　our　terrible　fright　about
him；　and　how　we　all　joined　in　the　boy…hunt；　until　Geoff　and　Bell
found　him　at　the　Lone　Stump；　but　I　suppose　the　chronicle　belongs　to
Phil's　province；　so　I　desist。　　But　what　can　I　say？　　Suppose　I　tell
you　that　Uncle　Doc　and　the　boys　have　been　shooting　innocent；　TAME
sheep；　skinning　and　cutting　them　up　on　the　way　home；　and　making　us
believe　for　two　days　that　we　were　eating　venison；　and　we　never　should
have　discovered　the　imposition　had　not　Dicky　dragged　home　four　sheep…
skins　from　the　upper　pool；　and　told　us　that　he　saw　the　boys　'PEELING
THEM　OFF　A　VENISON。'　　Perhaps　Phil　may　call　this　information；　and
Margery　will　vow　that　it　is　gossip　and　belongs　to　her；　any　way；　they
consider　it　a　splendid　joke；　and　chuckle　themselves　to　sleep　over　it
every　night；　but　I　think　the　whole　affair　is　perfectly　maddening；　and
it　makes　me　boil　with　rage　to　be　taken　in　so　easily。　　Such　a　to…do　as
they　make　over　the　matter　you　never　saw；　you　would　think　it　was　the
first　successful　joke　since　the　Deluge。　　（That　wasn't　a　DRY　joke；　was
it？　　Ha；　ha！）

This　is　the　way　they　twang　on　their　harp　of　a　thousand　strings。　　At
breakfast；　this　morning；　when　Jack　passed　me　the　corn…bread；　I　said
innocently；　'Why；　what　have　we　here？'　　'It　is　manna　that　fell　in　the
night；'　answered　Jack；　with　an　exasperating　snicker。　　'You　didn't
know　mutton；　but　I　thought；　being　a　Sunday…school　teacher；　you　would
know　something　about　manna。'　　（N。B。He　alludes　to　that　time　I　took
the　infant　class　for　Miss　Jones；　and　they　all　ran　out　to　see　a
military　funeral　procession。）　　'I　wish　you　knew　something　about
manners；'　snapped　I；　and　then　Aunt　Truth　had　to　warn　us　both；　as
usual。　　Oh　dear！　it's　a　weary　world。　　I'd　just　like　to　get　Jack　at　a
disadvantage　once！

＇Next　par