a summer in a canyon-第4节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


it　commanded　a　full　view　of　the　scene　of　action。　　His　amiability　was
further　increased；　moreover；　by　the　possession　of　a　bright　new
policeman's　whistle；　which　was　carefully　tied　to　his　button…hole　by　a
neat　little　silk　cord；　and　which　his　fond　parents　intended　that　he
should　blow　if　he　chanced　to　fall　into　danger　during　his　rambles
about　the　camp。　　We　might　as　well　state　here；　however；　that　this
precaution　proved　fruitless；　for　he　blew　it　at　all　times　and　seasons；
and　everybody　became　so　hardened　to　its　melodious　shriek　that　they
paid　no　attention　to　it　whatever；history；　or　fable；　thus　again
repeating　itself。

Mr。　and　Mrs。　Noble　had　driven　Margery　and　Phil　into　town　from　the
fruit　ranch；　and　were　waiting　to　see　the　party　off。

Mrs。　Oliver　was　to　live　in　the　Winship　house　during　the　absence　of
the　family；　and　was　aiding　them　to　do　those　numberless　little　things
that　are　always　found　undone　at　the　last　moment。　　She　had　given　her
impetuous　daughter　a　dozen　fond　embraces；　smothering　in　each　a　gentle
warning；　and　stood　now　with　Mrs。　Winship　at　the　gate；　watching　the
three　girls；　who　had　gone　on　to　bid　Elsie　good…bye。

'I　hope　Pauline　won't　give　you　any　trouble；'　she　said。　　'She　is　so
apt　to　be　too　impulsive　and　thoughtless。'

'I　shall　enjoy　her；'　said　sweet　Aunt　Truth；　with　that　bright；　cordial
smile　of　hers　that　was　like　a　blessing。　　'She　has　a　very　loving
heart；　and　is　easily　led。　　How　pretty　the　girls　look；　and　how
different　they　are！　　Polly　is　like　a　thistledown　or　a　firefly；
Margery　like　one　of　our　home　Mayflowers；　and　I　can't　help　thinking　my
Bell　like　a　sunbeam。'

The　girls　did　look　very　pretty；　for　their　mothers　had　fashioned　their
camping…dresses　with　much　care　and　taste；　taking　great　pains　to　make
them　picturesque　and　appropriate　to　their　summer　life　'under　the
greenwood　tree。'

Over　a　plain　full　skirt　of　heavy　crimson　serge　Bell　wore　a　hunting
jacket　and　drapery　of　dark　leaf…green；　like　a　bit　of　forest　against　a
sunset。　　Her　hair；　which　fell　in　a　waving　mass　of　burnished
brightness　to　her　waist；　was　caught　by　a　silver　arrow；　and　crowned　by
a　wide　soft　hat　of　crimson　felt　encircled　with　a　bird's　breast。

Margery　wore　a　soft　grey　flannel；　the　colour　of　a　dove's　throat；
adorned　with　rows　upon　rows　of　silver　braid　and　sparkling　silver
buttons；　while　her　big　grey　hat　had　nothing　but　a　silver　cord　and
tassel　tied　round　it　in　Spanish　fashion。

Polly　was　all　in　sailor　blue；　with　a　distractingly　natty　little
double…breasted　coat　and　great　white　rolling　collar。　　Her　hat　swung
in　her　hand；　as　usual；　showing　her　boyish　head　of　sunny　auburn　curls；
and　she　carried　on　a　neat　chatelaine　a　silver　cup　and　little　clasp…
knife；　as　was　the　custom　in　the　party。

'It's　very　difficult；'　Polly　often　exclaimed；　'to　get　a　dress　that
will　tone　down　your　hair　and　a　hat　that　will　tone　up　your　nose；　when
the　first　is　red　and　the　last　a　snub！　　My　nose　is　the　root　of　all
evil；　it　makes　people　think　I'm　saucy　before　I　say　a　word；　and　as　for
my　hair；　they　think　I　must　be　peppery；　no　matter　if　I　were　really　as
meek　as　Moses。　　Now　there's　Margery；　the　dear；　darling　mouse！　　People
look　at　her　two　sleek　braids；　every　hair　doing　just　what　it　ought　to
do　and　lying　straight　and　smooth；　and　ask；　〃Who　is　that　sweet　girl？〃
There's　something　wrong　somewhere。　　I　ought　not　to　suffer　because　of
one　small；　simple；　turned…up　nose　and　a　head　of　hair　which　reveals
the　glowing　tints　of　autumn；　as　Jack　gracefully　says。'

'Here　they　come！'　shouted　Jack　from　the　group　on　the　Howards'　piazza。
'Christopher　Columbus；　what　gorgeousness！　　The　Flamingo；　the　Dove；
and　the　Blue…jay！　　Good…morning；　young　ladies；　may　we　be　allowed　to
travel　in　the　same　steamer　with　your　highnesses？'

'You　needn't　be　troubled；'　laughed　Bell。　　'We　shall　not　disclose
these　glories　until　we　reach　the　camp。　　But　you　are　dressed　as　usual。
What's　the　matter？'

'Why；　the　fact　is；'　answered　Geoffrey；　'our　courage　failed　us　at　the
last　moment。　　We　donned　our　uniforms；　and　looked　like　brigands；
highway　robbers；　cowboys；　firemen；anything　but　modest　young　men；
and　as　it　was　too　warm　for　ulsters；　we　took　refuge　in　civilised
raiment　for　to…day。　　When　we　arrive；　you　shall　behold　our　dashing
sombreros　fixed　up　with　peacock　feathers；　and　our　refulgent　shirts；
which　are　of　the　most　original　style　and　decoration。'

'Aboriginal；　in　fact；'　said　Jack。　　'We　have　broad　belts　of　alligator
skin；　pouches；　pistols；　bowie…knives；　and　tan…coloured　shoes；　but　we
dislike　to　flaunt　them　before　the　eyes　of　a　city　public。'

'Here　they　are！'　cried　Geoffrey；　from　the　gate。　　'Uncle；　and　aunt；
and　Dicky；　andgood　gracious！　　Is　he　really　going　to　take　that
wretched　tan　terrier？'

'Won't　go　without　him；'　said　Bell；　briefly。　　'There　are　cases　where
it　is　better　to　submit　than　to　fight。'

So　the　last　good…byes　were　said；　and　Elsie　bore　up　bravely；　better；
indeed；　than　the　others；　who　shed　many　a　furtive　tear　at　leaving　her。
'Make　haste　and　get　well；　darling；'　whispered　the　girls；　lovingly。

'Pray；　pray；　dear　Mrs。　Howard；　bring　her　down　to　us　as　soon　as
possible。　　We'll　take　such　good　care　of　her；'　teased　Bell；　with　one
last　squeeze；　and　strong　signs　of　a　shower　in　both　eyes。

'Come；　girls　and　boys；'　said　kind　Dr。　Paul；　'the　steamer　has　blown
her　first　whistle；　and　we　must　be　off。'

Oh；　how　clear　and　beautiful　a　day　it　was；　and　how　charmingly　gracious
Dame　Ocean　looked　in　her　white　caps　and　blue　ruffles！　　Even　the
combination　steamboat　smell　of　dinner；　oil；　and　close　air　was
obliterated　by　the　keen　sea…breeze。

The　good　ship　Orizaba　ploughed　her　way　through　the　sparkling；　sun…lit
waves；　traversing　quickly　the　distance　which　lay　between　the　young
people　and　their　destination。　　They　watched　the　long　white　furrow
that　stretched　in　her　wake；　the　cloud　of　black　smoke　which　floated
like　a　dark　shadow　above　the　laughing　crests　of　the　waves；　and　the
flocks　of　sea…gulls　sailing　overhead；　with　wild　shrill　screams　ever
and　anon　swooping　down　for　some　bit　of　food　flung　from　the　ship；　and
then　floating　for　miles　on　the　waves。

How　they　sung　'Life　on　the　Ocean　Wave；'　'Bounding　Billow；'　and
'Rocked　in　the　Cradle　of　the　Deep！'　　How　Jack　chanted；　…


　　　'I　wish　I　were　a　fish；
　　　　　　With　a　great　long　tail；
　　　A　tiny　little　tittlebat；
　　　　　　A　wiggle　or　a　whale；
In　the　middle　of　the　great　blue　sea。　　Oh；　my！'


'Oh；　how　I　long　to　be　there！'　exclaimed　Philip；　'to　throw　aside　all
the　formal　customs　of　a　wicked　world　I　abhor；　and　live　a　free　life
under　the　blue　sky！'

'Why；　Philip　Noble！　　I　never　saw　you　inside　of　a　house　in　my　life；'
cried　Polly。

'Oh；　yes；　you're　mistaken。　　I've　been　obliged　to　eat　most　of　my　meals
in　the　house；　and　sleep　there；　but　I　don't　approve　of　it；　and　it's　a
trial　to　be　borne　with　meekness　only　when　there's　no　remedy　for　it。'

'Besides；'　said　Jack；　'even　when　we　are　out…of…doors　we　are　shelling
the　reluctant　almond；　poisoning　the　voracious　gopher；　pruning　grape…
vines；　and　〃sich。〃　　Now　I　am　only　going　to　shoot　to　eat；　and　eat　to
shoot！'

'Hope　you've　improved　since　last　year；　or　you'll　have　a　low　diet；'
murmured　Phil；　in　an　undertone。

'The　man　of　genius　must　expect　to　be　the　butt　of　ridicule；'　sighed
Jack；　meekly。

'But　you'll　not　repine；　although　your　heartstrings　break；　will　you？'
said　Polly；　sympathisingly；　'especially　in　the　presence　of　several
witnesses　who　have　seen　you　handle　a　gun。'

'How　glad　I　am　that　I'm　too　near…sighted　to　shoot；'　said　Geoffrey；
taking　off　the　eye…glasses　that　made　him　look　so　wise　and　dignified。
'I　shall　lounge　under　the　trees；　read　Macaulay；　and　order　the　meals。'

'I　shall　need　an　assistant　about　the　camp；'　said　Aunt　Truth；
smilingly；　'but　I　hardly　think　he'll　have　much　time　to　lounge；　when
everything　else　fails；　there's　always　Dicky；　you　know。'

Geoffrey　looked　discouraged。

'And；　furthermore；　I　declare　by　the　nose　of　the　great　Tam　o'　Shanter
that　I　will　cut　down　every　tree　in　the　vicinity　ere　you　shall　lounge
under　it；'　said　Jack。

'Softly；　my　boy。　　Hill's　blue…gum　forest　is　not　so　very　far　away。
You'll　have　your　hands　full；'　laughed　Dr。　Paul。

Here　Margery　and　Bell　joined　the　group　after　a　quick　walk　up　and　down
the　deck。

'Papa；'　said　Bell；　excitedly；　'we　certainly　are　nearing　the　place。
Do　you　see　that　bend　in　the　shore；　and　don't　you　remember　that　the
landing　isn't　far　below？'

'Bell's　bump　of　locality　is　immense。　　There　are　nineteen　bends　in　the
shore　exactly　like　that　one　before　we　reach　the　landing。　　How　many
knots　an　hour　do　you　suppose　this　ship　travels；　my　fair　cousin？'
asked　Geoffrey。

'I　could　tell　better；'　replied　Bell　calmly；　'if　I　could　ever　remember
how　many　knots　made　a　mile；　or　how　many　miles　made　a　knot；　but　I
always　forget。'

'Oh；　see！　　There's　a　porpoise！'　cried　Jack。　　'Polly；　why　is　a
porpoise　like　a　water…lily？'

But　before　he　could　say　'Guess；'　Phil；　Geoff；　and　the　girls　had　drawn
themselves　into　a　line；　and；　with　a　whispered　'One；　two；　three；'　to
secure　a　good　start；　replied　in　concert；　'We…give…it…up！'

'What　a　deafening　shout！'　cried　Aunt　Truth；　coming　out　of　the　cabin。
'What's　the　matter；　pray？'

'Nothing；　aunty；'　laughed　Polly。　　'But　we　have　formed　a　society　for
suppressing　Jack's　conundrums；　and　thi