a summer in a canyon-第3部分

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！



'Why；　that　wasn't　disrespectful。　　It　is　my　newest　word；　and　it　simply
means　having　many　titles。　　I'm　sure　you　have　more　than　most　people。'

'Very　well；　then！　　I'll　overlook　the　irreverence　this　time；　and
announce　that　I　shall　not　take　anything　whatever　to　read；　but　simply
reflect　upon　what　I　know　already。'

'That　may　last　for　the　first　week；'　said　Bell；　slyly；　'but　what　will
you　do　afterward？'

'I'll　reflect　upon　what　you　don't　know；'　retorted　Polly。　　'That　will
easily　occupy　me　two　months。'

Fortunately；　at　the　very　moment　this　stinging　remark　was　made；　Phil
Noble　dashed　up　to　the　front　gate；　flung　his　bridle　over　the
hitching…post；　and　lifted　his　hat　from　a　very　warm　brow。

'Hail；　chief　of　the　commissary　department！'　cried　Geoffrey；　with　mock
salute。　　'Have　you　despatched　the　team？'

'Yes；　everything　is　all　right；'　said　Phil；　breathlessly；　delivering
himself　of　his　information　in　spasmodic　bursts　of　words。　　'Such　a　lot
of　work　it　was！　here's　the　list。　　Pancho　will　dump　them　on　the　ground
and　let　us　settle　them　when　we　get　there。　　Such　a　load！　　You　should
have　seen　it！　　Hardly　room　for　him　to　sit　up　in　front　with　the
Chinaman。　　Just　hear　this；'　and　he　drew　a　large　document　from　what
Polly　called　'a　back…stairs　pocket。'

'Forty　cans　corned　beef；　four　guns；　three　Dutch　cheeses；　pickles；
fishing…tackle；　flour；　bacon；　three　bushels　onions；　crate　of　dishes；
Jack's　banjo；　potatoes；　Short　History　of　the　English　People；　cooking
utensils；　three　hair　pillows；　box　of　ginger…snaps；　four　hammocks；
coffee；　cartridges；　sugar；　Macaulay's　Essays；　Pond's　extract；　sixteen
hams；　Bell's　guitar；　pop…corn；　molasses；　salt；　St。　Jacob's　Oil；
Conquest　of　Mexico；　sack　of　almonds；　flea…powder；　and　smoked　herring。
Whew！　　I　packed　them　all　myself。'

'In　precisely　that　order？'　questioned　Polly。

'In　precisely　that　order；　Miss　Oliver；'　returned　Phil；　urbanely。
'Any　one　who　feels　that　said　packing　might　be　improved　upon　has　only
to　mount　the　fleet　Arabian　yonder'　（the　animal　alluded　to　seized　this
moment　to　stand　on　three　legs；　hang　his　head；　and　look　dejected）；
'and；　giving　him　the　rein；　speed　o'er　the　trackless　plain　which　leads
to　San　Miguel；　o'ertake　the　team；　and　re…pack　the　contents　according
to　her　own　satisfaction。'

'No　butter；　nor　eggs；　nor　fresh　vegetables？'　asked　Margery。　　'We
shall　starve！'

'Not　at　all；'　quoth　Jack。　　'Polly　will　gracefully　dispose　a　horse…
blanket　about　her　shoulders；　to　shield　her　from　the　chill　dews　of　the
early　morn；　mount　the　pack　mule　exactly　at　cock…crow　everyday；　and
ride　to　a　neighbouring　ranch　where　there　are　tons　of　the　aforesaid
articles　awaiting　our　consumption。'

'Can　you　see　me　doing　it；　girls？　　Does　it　seem　entirely　natural？'
asked　Polly；　with　great　gravity。

'Now　hear　my　report　as　chairman　of　the　committee　of　arrangements；'
said　Geoffrey　Strong；　seating　himself　with　dignity　on　a　barrel　of
nails。　　'The　tents；　ropes；　tool…boxes；　bed…sacks；　blankets；
furniture；　etc。；　all　went　down　on　Monday's　steamer；　and　I　have　a
telegram　from　Larry's　Landing　saying　that　they　arrived　in　good　order；
and　that　a　Mexican　gentleman　who　owns　a　mammoth　wood…cart　will　take
them　up　to…morrow　when　we　go　ourselves。　　The　procession　will　move　at
one　P。M。；　wind　and　weather　permitting；　in　the　following　order：…

'1。　　Chief　Noble　on　his　gallant　broncho。

'2。　　Commander　Strong　on　his　ditto；　ditto。

'3。　　Main　conveyance　or　triumphal　chariot；　driven　by　Aide…de…Camp
John　Howard；　and　carrying　Dr。　and　Mrs。　Winship；　our　most　worshipful
and　benignant　host　and　hostess；　Master　Dick　Winship；　the　heir…
apparent；　three　other　young　persons　not　worth　mentioning；　and　four
cans　of　best　leaf　lard；　which　I　omitted　to　put　with　the　other
provisions。

'4。　　Wood…cart　containing　baggage；　driven　by　Senor　Don　Manuel　Felipe
Hilario　Noriega　from　Dead　Wood　Gulch。

'5。　　One　small　tan　terrier。'

'Oh；　Geoff；　Geoff；　pray　do　stop！　it's　too　much！'　cried　the　girls　in　a
fit　of　laughter。

'Hurrah！'　shouted　Jack；　tossing　his　hat　into　a　tall　eucalyptus…tree
in　his　excitement；　'Tent　life　for　ever！'

'Good…bye；　ye　pomps　and　vanities！'　chanted　Bell；　kissing　her　hand　in
imaginary　farewell。　　'Verily　the　noisy　city　shall　know　us　no　more；
for　we　depart　for　the　green　forests。'

'And　the　city　will　not　be　as　noisy　WHEN　you　depart；'　murmured　Jack；
with　an　impudence　that　luckily　passed　unnoticed。

'If　Elsie　could　only　come　too！'　sighed　Polly。


Wednesday　morning　dawned　as　bright　and　beautiful　as　all　mornings　are
wont　to　dawn　in　Southern　California。　　A　light　mist　hung　over　the　old
adobe　mission　church；　through　which；　with　its　snow…white　towers　and
cold；　clear…cut　lines；　it　rose　like　a　frozen　fairy　castle。　　Bell
opened　her　sleepy　eyes　with　the　very　earliest　birds；　and　running　to
the　little　oval　window；　framed　with　white…rose　vines；　looked　out　at
the　new　day　just　creeping　up　into　the　world。

'Oh　dear　and　beautiful　home　of　mine；　how　charming；　how　charming　you
are！　　I　wonder　if　you　are　not　really　Paradise！'　she　said；　dreamily；
and　the　marvel　is　that　the　rising　sun　did　not　stop　a　moment　in　sheer
surprise　at　the　sight　of　this　radiant　morning　vision；　for　the　oval
window　opening　to　the　east　was　a　pretty　frame；　with　its　outline
marked　by　the　dewy　rose…vine　covered　with　hundreds　of　pure；　half…
opened　buds　and　swaying　tendrils；　and　she　stood　there　in　it；　a　fair
image　of　the　morning　in　her　innocent　white　gown。　　Her　luminous　eyes
still　mirrored　the　shadowy　visions　of　dreamland；　mingled　with　dancing
lights　of　hope　and　joyful　anticipation；　while　on　her　fresh　cheeks；
which　had　not　yet　lost　the　roundness　of　childhood；　there　glowed；　as
in　the　eastern　skies；　the　faint　pink　blush　of　the　morning。

The　town　is　yet　asleep；　and　in　truth　it　is　never　apt　to　be　fairly
wide　awake。　　The　air　is　soft　and　balmy；　the　lovely　Pacific；　a
quivering；　sparkling　sheet　of　blue　and　grey　and　green　flecked　with
white　foam；　stretches　far　out　until　it　is　lost　in　the　rosy　sky；　and
the　mountains；　all　purple　and　pink　and　faint　crimson　and　grey；　stand
like　sentinels　along　the　shore。　　The　scent　of　the　roses；　violets；　and
mignonette　mingled　with　the　cloying　fragrance　of　the　datura　is　heavy
in　the　still　air。　　The　bending；　willowy　pepper…trees　show　myriad
bunches　of　yellow　blossoms；　crimson　seed…berries；　and　fresh　green
leaves；　whose　surface；　not　rain…washed　for　months；　is　as　full　of
colour　as　ever。　　The　palm…trees　rise　without　a　branch；　tall；　slender；
and　graceful；　from　the　warmly　generous　earth；　and　spread　at　last；　as
if　tired　of　their　straightness；　into　beautiful　crowns　of　fans；　which
sway　toward　each　other　with　every　breath　of　air。　　Innumerable
butterflies　and　humming…birds；　in　the　hot；　dazzling　sunshine　of
noonday；　will　be　hovering　over　the　beds　of　sweet　purple　heliotrope
and　finding　their　way　into　the　hearts　of　the　passion…flowers；　but　as
yet　not　the　faintest　whirr　of　wings　can　be　heard。　　Looking　eastward
or　westward；　you　see　either　brown　foot…hills；　or；　a　little　later　on；
emerald　slopes　whose　vines　hang　heavy　with　the　half…ripened　grapes。

And　hark！　　A　silvery　note　strikes　on　the　dewy　stillness。　　It　is　the
mission　bell　ringing　for　morning　mass；　and　if　you　look　yonder　you　may
see　the　Franciscan　friars　going　to　prayers；　with　their　loose　grey
gowns；　their　girdle　of　rope；　their　sandaled　feet；　and　their　jingling
rosaries；　and　perhaps　a　Spanish　senorita；　with　her　trailing　dress；
and　black　shawl　loosely　thrown　over　her　head；　from　out　the　folds　of
which　her　two　dark　eyes　burn　like　gleaming　fires。　　A　solitary　Mexican
gallops　by；　with　gayly　decorated　saddle　and　heavily　laden　saddle…bags
hanging　from　it；　perhaps　he　is　taking　home　provisions　to　his　wife　and
dark…eyed　babies　who　live　up　in　a　little　dimple　of　the　mountain　side；
almost　hidden　from　sight　by　the　olive…trees。　　And　then　a　patient；
hardy　little　mustang　lopes　along　the　street；　bearing　on　his　back
three　laughing　boys；　one　behind　the　other；　on　a　morning　ride　into
town　from　the　mesa。

The　mist　had　floated　away　from　the　old　mission　now；　the　sun　has
climbed　a　little　higher；　and　Bell　has　come　away　from　the　window　in　a
gentle　mood。

'Oh；　Polly；　I　don't　see　how　anybody　can　be　wicked　in　such　a
beautiful；　beautiful　world。'

'Humph！'　said　Polly；　dipping　her　curly　head　deep　into　the　water…bowl；
and　coming　up　looking　like　a　little　drowned　kitten。　　'When　you　want
to　be　hateful；　you　don't　stop　to　think　whether　you're　looking　at　a
cactus　or　a　rosebush；　do　you？'

'Very　true；'　sighed　Bell；　quite　silenced　by　this　practical
illustration。　　'Now　I'll　try　the　effect　of　the　landscape　on　my　temper
by　dressing　Dicky；　while　he　dances　about　the　room　and　plays　with　his
tan　terrier。'

But　it　happened　that　Dicky　was　on　his　very　best　behaviour；　and　stood
as　still　as　a　signpost　while　being　dressed。　　It　is　true　he　ate　a
couple　of　matches　and　tumbled　down…stairs　twice　before　breakfast；　so
that　after　that　hurried　meal　Bell　tied　him　to　one　of　the　verandah
posts；　that　he　might　not　commit　any　act　vicious　enough　to　keep　them
at　home。　　As　he　had　a　huge　pocket　full　of　apricots　he　was　in　perfect
good…humour；　not　taking　his　confinement　at　all　to　heart；　inasmuch　as
it　commanded　a　full　view　of　the　scene　of　action。　　His　amiability　was
further　increased；　moreover；　by　the　possess