a summer in a canyon-第7节

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waiting　for　the　kettle　to　boil　in　the　morning'

'Must　have　been　a　slow　boiler；'　interrupted　Polly；　wickedly。　　'Seems
to　me　it　would　have　been　economy　to　sell　it　and　buy　a　new　one。'

'Oh；　Polly！　you　are　so　wilfully　stupid！　　The　kettle　isn't　the　point
but　the　languages。　　Besides；　she　didn't　learn　all　the　ninety…six
while　the　kettle　was　boiling　once；　you　know。

'Oh；　didn't　she？　　That　alters　the　case。　　Thank　you；'　said　Polly；
sarcastically。

'Now　observe　me；'　said　Bell。　　'I　have　made　the　getting　into　a　hammock
a　study。　　I　first　open　it　very　wide　at　the　top　with　both　hands；　then；
holding　it　in　that　position；　I　gracefully　revolve　my　body　from　left
to　right　as　upon　an　imaginary　swivel；　meantime　I　raise　my　right　foot
considerably　from　mother　earth；　with　a　view　to　passing　it　over　the
hammock's　edge。　　Every　move　is　calculated；　you　perceive；　and　produces
its　own　share　of　the　perfect　result；　the　method　is　the　same　that
Rachel　used　in　rehearsing　her　wonderful　tragic　poses。　　I　am　now
seated　in　the　hammock；　you　observe；　with　both　hands　extending　the　net
from　side　to　side　and　the　right　foot　well　in　position；　I　now　raise
the　left　foot　with　a　swift　but　admirably　steady　movement；　and　I　am
Help！　　Help！！　　Murder！！！'

'In　short；　you　are　not　in；　but　out；'　cried　Polly；　in　a　burst　of
laughter；　for　Bell　had　leaned　too　far　to　the　right；　and　on　bringing
the　other　foot　in；　with　its　'swift　but　admirably　steady'　motion；　she
gave　a　sudden　lurch；　pulled　the　hammock　entirely　over　herself　and
fell　out　head　first　on　the　other　side；　leaving　her　feet　tangled　in
its　meshes。　　'Shall　we　help　her　out；　Meg？　　She　doesn't　deserve　it；
after　that　pompous　oration　and　attempt　to　show　off　her　superior
abilities。　　Nevertheless；　she　always　accepts　mercy　more　gracefully
than　justice。　　Heave　ahoy；　my　hearties！'

Bell　was　extricated；　and　looked　sufficiently　ashamed。

'We　are　much　obliged　for　the　lesson；'　said　Margery；　'but　the　method
is　open　to　criticism；　so　I　think　we'll　manage　in　our　ordinary　savage
way。　　We　may　not　be　graceful　or　scientific；　but　we　get　in；　which　is
the　main　point。'

The　hammocks　did　not　prove　the　easiest　of　nests；　as　the　girls　had
imagined。　　In　fact；　to　be　perfectly　candid　about　the　matter；　the
wicked　flea　of　California；　which　man　pursueth　but　seldom　catcheth；　is
apt；　on　many　a　summer　night；　to　interfere　shamelessly　with　slumber。
On　this　particular　night　he　was　fairly　rampant；　perhaps　because　sweet
humanity　on　which　to　feed　was　very　scarce　in　that　canyon。

'Good…night；　girls！'　called　Jack；　when　matters　seemed　to　be　finally
settled　for　sleep。　　'Bell；　you　must　keep　one　eye　open；　for　the
coyotes　will　be　stealing　down　the　mountain　in　a　jiffy；　and　yours　is
the　first　hammock　in　the　path。'

'Of　course；'　moaned　Bell；'that's　why　the　girls　gave　me　this　one；
they　knew　very　well　that　one　victim　always　slakes　the　animals'　thirst
for　blood。　　Well；　let　them　come　on。　　I　shiver　with　terror；　but　my
only　hope　is　that　I　may　be　eaten　in　my　sleep；　if　at　all。'


'There　was　a　young　party　named　Bell；
Who　slept　out　of　doors　for　a　spell；
　　　When　asked　how　she　fared；
　　　She　said　she　was　scared；
But　otherwise　doing　quite　well。


'How's　that？'　asked　Jack。　　'I　shall　be　able　to　drive　Bell　off　her　own
field；　with　a　little　practice。'

'Go　to　sleep！'　roared　Dr。　Paul。　　'In　your　present　condition　of　mind
and　body　you　are　not　fit　for　poetry！'

'That's　just　the　point；　sir；'　retorted　Jack；　slyly；　'for；　you
remember；　poets　are　not　FIT；　but　nascitur；don't　you　know？'　and　he
retired　under　his　blanket　for　protection。

But　quiet　seemed　to　be　impossible：　　there　were　all　sorts　of　strange
sounds；　and　the　moon；　too；　was　so　splendid　that　they　almost　felt　as
if　they　were　lying　beneath　the　radiance　of　a　calcium　light；　while　in
the　dark　places；　midst　the　branches　of　thick　foliage；　the　owls　hooted
gloomily。　　If　you　had　happened　to　be　an　owl　in　that　vicinity；　you
might　have　heard　not　only　the　feverish　tossing　to　and　fro　of　the
girls　in　the　hammocks；　but　many　dismal　sighs　and　groans　from　Dr。
Winship　and　the　boys；　for　the　bare　ground　is；　after　all；　more
rheumatic　than　romantic；　and　they　too　tumbled　from　side　to　side；
seeking　comfort。

But　at　midnight　quiet　slumber　had　descended　upon　them；　and　they
presented　a　funny　spectacle　enough　to　one　open…eyed　watcher。　　A　long
slender　sycamore　log　was　extended　before　the　fire；　and　constituted
their　pillow；　on　this　their　heads　reposed；　each　decorated　with　a
tightly　fitting　silk　handkerchief；　then　came　a　compact；　papoose…like
roll　of　grey　blanket；　terminated　by　a　pair　of　erect　feet；　whose
generous　proportions　soared　to　different　heights。　　There　was　a　little
snoring；　too；　perhaps　the　log　was　hollow。

At　midnight　you　might　have　seen　a　quaintly　despondent　little　figure；
whose　curly　head　issued　from　a　hooded　cloak；　staggering　hopelessly
from　a　hammock；　and　seating　herself　on　a　mossy　stump。　　From　the
limpness　of　her　attitude　and　the　pathetic　expression　of　her　eyes；　I
fear　Polly　was　reviewing　former　happy　nights　spent　on　spring…beds；
and　at　this　particular　moment　the　realities　of　camping…out　hardly
equalled　her　anticipations。　　Whatever　may　have　been　her　feelings；
however；　they　were　promptly　stifled　when　a　certain　insolent　head
reared　itself　from　its　blanket…roll；　and　a　hoarse　voice　cackled；
'Pretty　Polly！　　Polly　want　a　canyon？'　　At　this　insult　Miss　Oliver
wrapped　her　drapery　about　her　and　strode　to　her　hammock　with　the　air
of　a　tragedy　queen。



CHAPTER　III：　　LIFE　IN　THE　CANYONTHE　HEIR　APPARENT　LOSES　HIMSELF



'Know'st　thou　the　land　where　the　lemon…trees　bloom；
Where　the　gold　orange　glows　in　the　green　thicket's　gloom；
Where　the　wind；　ever　soft；　from　the　blue　heaven　blows；
And　groves　are　of　myrtle；　and　olive；　and　rose？'


On　the　next　morning；　as　we　have　seen；　they　named　their　summer　home
Camp　Chaparral；　and　for　a　week　or　more　they　were　the　very　busiest
colony　of　people　under　the　sun；　for　it　takes　a　deal　of　hard　work　and
ingenuity　to　make　a　comfortable　and　beautiful　dwelling…place　in　the
forest。

The　best　way　of　showing　you　how　they　accomplished　this　is　to　describe
the　camp　after　it　was　nearly　finished。

The　two　largest　bedroom　tents　were　made　of　bright　awning　cloth；　one
of　red　and　white；　the　other　of　blue　and　white；　both　gaily　decorated
with　braid。　　They　were　pitched　under　the　same　giant　oak；　and　yet　were
nearly　forty　feet　apart；　that　of　the　girls　having　a　canvas　floor。
They　were　not　quite　willing　to　sleep　on　the　ground；　so　they　had
brought　empty　bed…sacks　with　them；　and　Pancho's　first　duty　after　his
arrival　had　been　to　drive　to　a　neighbouring　ranch　for　a　great　load　of
straw。

In　a　glorious　tree　near　by　was　a　'sky　parlour；'　arranged　by　a　few
boards　nailed　high　up　in　the　leafy　branches；　and　reached　from　below
by　a　primitive　ladder。　　This　was　the　favourite　sitting…room　of　the
girls　by　day；　and　served　for　Pancho's　bedroom　at　night。　　It　was
beautiful　enough　to　be　fit　shelter　for　all　the　woodland　nymphs；　with
its　festoons　of　mistletoe　and　wild　grape…vines；　but　Pancho　was　rather
an　unappreciative　tenant；　even　going　so　far　as　to　snore　in　the　sacred
place！

Just　beyond　was　a　card…room；imagine　itin　which　a　square　board；
nailed　on　a　low　stump；　served　for　a　table；　where　Dr。　Paul　and　the
boys　played　many　a　game　of　crib；　backgammon；　and　checkers。　　Here；
too；　all　Elsie's　letters　were　written　and　Bell's　nonsense　verses；　and
here　was　the　identical　spot　where　Jack　Howard；　that　mischievous
knight　of　the　brush；　perpetrated　those　modern　travesties　on　the
'William　Henry　pictures；'　for　Elsie's　delectation。

The　dressing…room　was　reached　by　a　path　cut　through　bushes　to　a
charming　little　pool。　　Here　were　unmistakable　evidences　of　feminine
art：　　looking…glasses　hanging　to　trees；　snowy　wash…cloths；　each
bearing　its　owner's　initials；　adorning　the　shrubs；　while　numerous
towels　waved　in　the　breeze。　　Between　two　trees　a　thin　board　was
nailed；　which　appeared　to　be　used；　as　nearly　as　the　woodpeckers　could
make　out；　as　a　toothbrush　rack。　　In　this；　Philip；　the　skilful
carpenter；　had　bored　the　necessary　number　of　holes；　and　each　one
contained　a　toothbrush　tied　with　a　gorgeous　ribbon。

In　this　secluded　spot　Bell　was　wont　to　marshal　every　morning　the
entire　force　of　'the　toothbrush　brigade'；　and；　conducting　the　drill
with　much　ingenuity；　she　would　take　her　victims　through　a　long　series
of　military　manoeuvres　arranged　for　the　toothbrush。　　Oh；　the
gaspings；　the　chokings　and　stranglings；　which　occurred　when　she
mounted　a　rock　by　the　edge　of　the　pool；　and　after　calling　in　tones　of
thunder；


'Brush；　brothers；　brush　with　care！
Brush　in　the　presence　of　the　commandaire！'


ordered　her　unwilling　privates　to　polish　their　innocent　molars　to　the
tune　of　'Hail；　Columbia；'　or　'Auld　Lang　Syne'！　　And　if　they　became
mutinous；　it　was　Geoffrey　who　reduced　them　to　submission；　and　ordered
them　to　brush　for　three　mornings　to　the　tune　of　'Bluebells　of
Scotland'　as　a　sign　of　loyalty　to　their　commander。

As　for　the　furnishing　of　the　camp；　there　were　impromptu　stools　and
tables　made　of　packing…boxes　and　trunks；　all　covered　with　bright
Turkey…red　cotton；　there　were　no　less　than　three　rustic　lounges　and
two　arm…chairs　made　from　manzanita　branches；　and　a　Queen　Anne
bedstead　wa