the call of the canyon-第10章

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！



Flo　left　with　a　parting　admonition　not　to　let　the　stove　get　red…hot。　And　Carley　lay　snuggled　in　the　warm　blankets；　dreading　the　ordeal　of　getting　out　into　that　cold　bare　room。　Her　nose　was　cold。　When　her　nose　grew　cold；　it　being　a　faithful　barometer　as　to　temperature；　Carley　knew　there　was　frost　in　the　air。　She　preferred　summer。　Steam…heated　rooms　with　hothouse　flowers　lending　their　perfume　had　certainly　not　trained　Carley　for　primitive　conditions。　She　had　a　spirit；　however；　that　was　waxing　a　little　rebellious　to　all　this　intimation　as　to　her　susceptibility　to　colds　and　her　probable　weakness　under　privation。　Carley　got　up。　Her　bare　feet　landed　upon　the　board　floor　instead　of　the　Navajo　rug；　and　she　thought　she　had　encountered　cold　stone。　Stove　and　hot　water　notwithstanding；　by　the　time　she　was　half　dressed　she　was　also　half　frozen。　〃Some　actor　fellow　once　said　w…when　you　w…went　West　you　were　c…camping　out；〃　chattered　Carley。　〃Believe　me；　he　said　something。〃

The　fact　was　Carley　had　never　camped　out。　Her　set　played　golf；　rode　horseback；　motored　and　house…boated；　but　they　had　never　gone　in　for　uncomfortable　trips。　The　camps　and　hotels　in　the　Adirondacks　were　as　warm　and　luxurious　as　Carley's　own　home。　Carley　now　missed　many　things。　And　assuredly　her　flesh　was　weak。　It　cost　her　effort　of　will　and　real　pain　to　finish　lacing　her　boots。　As　she　had　made　an　engagement　with　Glenn　to　visit　his　cabin；　she　had　donned　an　outdoor　suit。　She　wondered　if　the　cold　had　anything　to　do　with　the　perceptible　diminishing　of　the　sound　of　the　waterfall。　Perhaps　some　of　the　water　had　frozen；　like　her　fingers。

Carley　went　downstairs　to　the　living　room；　and　made　no　effort　to　resist　a　rush　to　the　open　fire。　Flo　and　her　mother　were　amused　at　Carley's　impetuosity。　〃You'll　like　that　stingin'　of　the　air　after　you　get　used　to　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Hutter。　Carley　had　her　doubts。　When　she　was　thoroughly　thawed　out　she　discovered　an　appetite　quite　unusual　for　her；　and　she　enjoyed　her　breakfast。　Then　it　was　time　to　sally　forth　to　meet　Glenn。

〃It's　pretty　sharp　this　mawnin'；〃　said　Flo。　〃You'll　need　gloves　and　sweater。〃

Having　fortified　herself　with　these；　Carley　asked　how　to　find　West　Fork　Canyon。

〃It's　down　the　road　a　little　way；〃　replied　Flo。　〃A　great　narrow　canyon　opening　on　the　right　side。　You　can't　miss　it。〃

Flo　accompanied　her　as　far　as　the　porch　steps。　A　queer…looking　individual　was　slouching　along　with　ax　over　his　shoulder。

〃There's　Charley；〃　said　Flo。　〃He'll　show　you。〃　Then　she　whispered：　〃He's　sort　of　dotty　sometimes。　A　horse　kicked　him　once。　But　mostly　he's　sensible。〃

At　Flo's　call　the　fellow　halted　with　a　grin。　He　was　long；　lean；　loose　jointed；　dressed　in　blue　overalls　stuck　into　the　tops　of　muddy　boots；　and　his　face　was　clear　olive　without　beard　or　line。　His　brow　bulged　a　little；　and　from　under　it　peered　out　a　pair　of　wistful　brown　eyes　that　reminded　Carley　of　those　of　a　dog　she　had　once　owned。

〃Wal；　it　ain't　a…goin'　to　be　a　nice　day；〃　remarked　Charley；　as　he　tried　to　accommodate　his　strides　to　Carley's　steps。

〃How　can　you　tell？〃　asked　Carley。　〃It　looks　clear　and　bright。〃

〃Naw；　this　is　a　dark　mawnin'。　Thet's　a　cloudy　sun。　We'll　hev　snow　on　an'　off。〃

〃Do　you　mind　bad　weather？〃

〃Me？　All　the　same　to　me。　Reckon；　though；　I　like　it　cold　so　I　can　loaf　round　a　big　fire　at　night。〃

〃I　like　a　big　fire；　too。〃

〃Ever　camped　out？〃　he　asked。

〃Not　what　you'd　call　the　real　thing；〃　replied　Carley。

〃Wal；　thet's　too　bad。　Reckon　it'll　be　tough　fer　you；〃　he　went　on；　kindly。　〃There　was　a　gurl　tenderfoot　heah　two　years　ago　an'　she　had　a　hell　of　a　time。　They　all　joked　her；　'cept　me；　an'　played　tricks　on　her。　An'　on　her　side　she　was　always　puttin'　her　foot　in　it。　I　was　shore　sorry　fer　her。〃

〃You　were　very　kind　to　be　an　exception；〃　murmured　Carley。

〃You　look　out　fer　Tom　Hutter；　an'　I　reckon　Flo　ain't　so　darn　above　layin'　traps　fer　you。　'Specially　as　she's　sweet　on　your　beau。　I　seen　them　together　a　lot。〃

〃Yes？〃　interrogated　Carley；　encouragingly。

〃Kilbourne　is　the　best　fellar　thet　ever　happened　along　Oak　Creek。　I　helped　him　build　his　cabin。　We've　hunted　some　together。　Did　you　ever　hunt？〃

〃No。〃

〃Wal；　you've　shore　missed　a　lot　of　fun；〃　he　said。　〃Turkey　huntin'。　Thet's　what　fetches　the　gurls。　I　reckon　because　turkeys　are　so　good　to　eat。　The　old　gobblers　hev　begun　to　gobble　now。　I'll　take　you　gobbler　huntin'　if　you'd　like　to　go。〃

〃I'm　sure　I　would。〃

〃There's　good　trout　fishin'　along　heah　a　little　later；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　the　stream。　〃Crick's　too　high　now。　I　like　West　Fork　best。　I've　ketched　some　lammin'　big　ones　up　there。〃

Carley　was　amused　and　interested。　She　could　not　say　that　Charley　had　shown　any　indication　of　his　mental　peculiarity　to　her。　It　took　considerable　restraint　not　to　lead　him　to　talk　more　about　Flo　and　Glenn。　Presently　they　reached　the　turn　in　the　road；　opposite　the　cottage　Carley　had　noticed　yesterday；　and　here　her　loquacious　escort　halted。

〃You　take　the　trail　heah；〃　he　said；　pointing　it　out；　〃an'　foller　it　into　West　Fork。　So　long；　an'　don't　forget　we're　goin'　huntin'　turkeys。〃

Carley　smiled　her　thanks；　and；　taking　to　the　trail；　she　stepped　out　briskly；　now　giving　attention　to　her　surroundings。　The　canyon　had　widened；　and　the　creek　with　its　deep　thicket　of　green　and　white　had　sheered　to　the　left。　On　her　right　the　canyon　wall　appeared　to　be　lifting　higherand　higher。　She　could　not　see　it　well；　owing　to　intervening　treetops。　The　trail　led　her　through　a　grove　of　maples　and　sycamores；　out　into　an　open　park…like　bench　that　turned　to　the　right　toward　the　cliff。　Suddenly　Carley　saw　a　break　in　the　red　wall。　It　was　the　intersecting　canyon；　West　Fork。　What　a　narrow　red…walled　gateway！　Huge　pine　trees　spread　wide　gnarled　branches　over　her　head。　The　wind　made　soft　rush　in　their　tops；　sending　the　brown　needles　lightly　on　the　air。　Carley　turned　the　bulging　corner；　to　be　halted　by　a　magnificent　spectacle。　It　seemed　a　mountain　wall　loomed　over　her。　It　was　the　western　side　of　this　canyon；　so　lofty　that　Carley　had　to　tip　back　her　head　to　see　the　top。　She　swept　her　astonished　gaze　down　the　face　of　this　tremendous　red　mountain　wall　and　then　slowly　swept　it　upward　again。　This　phenomenon　of　a　cliff　seemed　beyond　the　comprehension　of　her　sight。　It　looked　a　mile　high。　The　few　trees　along　its　bold　rampart　resembled　short　spear…pointed　bushes　outlined　against　the　steel　gray　of　sky。　Ledges；　caves；　seams；　cracks；　fissures；　beetling　red　brows；　yellow　crumbling　crags；　benches　of　green　growths　and　niches　choked　with　brush；　and　bold　points　where　single　lonely　pine　trees　grew　perilously；　and　blank　walls　a　thousand　feet　across　their　shadowed　facesthese　features　gradually　took　shape　in　Carley's　confused　sight；　until　the　colossal　mountain　front　stood　up　before　her　in　all　its　strange；　wild；　magnificent　ruggedness　and　beauty。

〃Arizona！　Perhaps　this　is　what　he　meant；〃　murmured　Carley。　〃I　never　dreamed　of　anything　like　this。　。　。　。　But；　oh！　it　overshadows　mebears　me　down！　I　could　never　have　a　moment's　peace　under　it。〃

It　fascinated　her。　There　were　inaccessible　ledges　that　haunted　her　with　their　remote　fastnesses。　How　wonderful　world　it　be　to　get　there；　rest　there；　if　that　were　possible！　But　only　eagles　could　reach　them。　There　were　places；　then；　that　the　desecrating　hands　of　man　could　not　touch。　The　dark　caves　were　mystically　potent　in　their　vacant　staring　out　at　the　world　beneath　them。　The　crumbling　crags；　the　toppling　ledges；　the　leaning　rocks　all　threatened　to　come　thundering　down　at　the　breath　of　wind。　How　deep　and　soft　the　red　color　in　contrast　with　the　green！　How　splendid　the　sheer　bold　uplift　of　gigantic　steps！　Carley　found　herself　marveling　at　the　forces　that　had　so　rudely；　violently；　and　grandly　left　this　monument　to　nature。

〃Well；　old　Fifth　Avenue　gadder！〃　called　a　gay　voice。　〃If　the　back　wall　of　my　yard　so　halts　youwhat　will　you　ever　do　when　you　see　the　Painted　Desert；　or　climb　Sunset　Peak；　or　look　down　into　the　Grand　Canyon？〃

〃Oh；　Glenn；　where　are　you？〃　cried　Carley；　gazing　everywhere　near　at　hand。　But　he　was　farther　away。　The　clearness　of　his　voice　had　deceived　her。　Presently　she　espied　him　a　little　distance　away；　across　a　creek　she　had　not　before　noticed。

〃Come　on；〃　he　called。　〃I　want　to　see　you　cross　the　stepp