in the carquinez woods-第9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！



To　Miss　Nellie's　several　gifts　I　fear　the　gods　had　not　added
poetry。　　A　slight　knowledge　of　English　verse　of　a　select
character；　unfortunately；　did　not　assist　her　in　the
interpretation　of　the　young　man's　speech；　nor　relieve　her　from
the　momentary　feeling　that　he　was　at　times　deficient　in
intellect。　　She　preferred；　however；　to　take　a　personal　view　of
the　question；　and　expressed　her　sarcastic　regret　that　she　had　not
known　before　that　she　had　been　indebted　to　the　great　flume　and
ditch　at　Excelsior　for　the　pleasure　of　his　acquaintance。　　This
pert　remark　occasioned　some　explanation；　which　ended　in　the
girl's　accepting　a　kiss　in　lieu　of　more　logical　argument。
Nevertheless；　she　was　still　conscious　of　an　inward　irritation
always　distinct　from　her　singular　and　perfectly　material　passion
which　found　vent　as　the　difficulties　of　their　undeviating
progress　through　the　underbrush　increased。　　At　last　she　lost　her
shoe　again；　and　stopped　short。　　〃It's　a　pity　your　Indian　friends
did　not　christen　you　'Wild　Mustard'　or　'Clover；'〃　she　said
satirically；　〃that　you　might　have　had　some　sympathies　and
longings　for　the　open　fields　instead　of　these　horrid　jungles！　　I
know　we　will　not　get　back　in　time。〃

Unfortunately；　Low　accepted　this　speech　literally　and　with　his
remorseless　gravity。　　〃If　my　name　annoys　you；　I　can　get　it
changed　by　the　legislature；　you　know；　and　I　can　find　out　what　my
father's　name　was；　and　take　that。　　My　mother；　who　died　in　giving
me　birth；　was　the　daughter　of　a　chief。〃

〃Then　your　mother　was　really　an　Indian？〃　said　Nellie；　〃and　you
are〃　　She　stopped　short。

〃But　I　told　you　all　this　the　day　we　first　met；〃　said　Low；　with
grave　astonishment。　　〃Don't　you　remember　our　long　talk　coming
from　church？〃

〃No；〃　said　Nellie　coldly；　〃you　didn't　tell　me。〃　　But　she　was
obliged　to　drop　her　eyes　before　the　unwavering；　undeniable
truthfulness　of　his。

〃You　have　forgotten；〃　he　said　calmly；　〃but　it　is　only　right　you
should　have　your　own　way　in　disposing　of　a　name　that　I　have　cared
little　for；　and　as　you're　to　have　a　share　of　it〃

〃Yes；　but　it's　getting　late；　and　if　we　are　not　going　forward〃
interrupted　the　girl　impatiently。

〃We　ARE　going　forward；〃　said　Low　imperturbably；　〃but　I　wanted　to
tell　you；　as　we　were　speaking　on　THAT　subject〃　（Nellie　looked　at
her　watch）；　〃I've　been　offered　the　place　of　botanist　and
naturalist　in　Professor　Grant's　survey　of　Mount　Shasta；　and　if　I
take　itwhy；　when　I　come　back；　darlingwell〃

〃But　you're　not　going　just　yet；〃　broke　in　Nellie；　with　a　new
expression　in　her　face。

〃No。〃

〃Then　we　need　not　talk　of　it　now；〃　she　said；　with　animation。

Her　sudden　vivacity　relieved　him。　　〃I　see　what's　the　matter；〃　he
said　gently；　looking　down　at　her　feet；　〃these　little　shoes　were
not　made　to　keep　step　with　a　moccasin。　　We　must　try　another　way。〃
He　stooped　as　if　to　secure　the　erring　buskin；　but　suddenly　lifted
her　like　a　child　to　his　shoulder。　　〃There；〃　he　continued；　placing
her　arm　round　his　neck；　〃you　are　clear　of　the　ferns　and　brambles
now；　and　we　can　go　on。　　Are　you　comfortable？〃　　He　looked　up；　read
her　answer　in　her　burning　eyes　and　the　warm　lips　pressed　to　his
forehead　at　the　roots　of　his　straight　dark　hair；　and　again　moved
onward　as　in　a　mesmeric　dream。　　But　he　did　not　swerve　from　his
direct　course；　and　with　a　final　dash　through　the　undergrowth
parted　the　leafy　curtain　before　the　spring。

At　first　the　young　girl　was　dazzled　by　the　strong　light　that　came
from　a　rent　in　the　interwoven　arches　of　the　wood。　　The　breach　had
been　caused　by　the　huge　bulk　of　one　of　the　great　giants　that　had
half　fallen；　and　was　lying　at　a　steep　angle　against　one　of　its
mightiest　brethren；　having　borne　down　a　lesser　tree　in　the　arc　of
its　downward　path。　　Two　of　the　roots；　as　large　as　younger　trees；
tossed　their　blackened　and　bare　limbs　high　in　the　air。　　The
springthe　insignificant　cause　of　this　vast　disruptiongurgled；
flashed；　and　sparkled　at　the　base；　the　limpid　baby　fingers　that
had　laid　bare　the　foundations　of　that　fallen　column　played　with
the　still　clinging　rootlets；　laved　the　fractured　and　twisted
limbs；　and；　widening；　filled　with　sleeping　water　the　graves　from
which　they　had　been　torn。

〃It　had　been　going　on　for　years；　down　there；〃　said　Low；　pointing
to　a　cavity　from　which　the　fresh　water　now　slowly　welled；　〃but　it
had　been　quickened　by　the　rising　of　the　subterranean　springs　and
rivers　which　always　occurs　at　a　certain　stage　of　the　dry　season。
I　remember　that　on　that　very　nightfor　it　happened　a　little
after　midnight；　when　all　sounds　are　more　audibleI　was　troubled
and　oppressed　in　my　sleep　by　what　you　would　call　a　nightmare；　a
feeling　as　if　I　was　kept　down　by　bonds　and　pinions　that　I　longed
to　break。　　And　then　I　heard　a　crash　in　this　direction；　and　the
first　streak　of　morning　brought　me　the　sound　and　scent　of　water。
Six　months　afterwards　I　chanced　to　find　my　way　here；　as　I　told
you；　and　gave　it　your　name。　　I　did　not　dream　that　I　should　ever
stand　beside　it　with　you；　and　have　you　christen　it　yourself。〃

He　unloosened　the　cup　from　his　flask；　and　filling　it　at　the
spring　handed　it　to　her。　　But　the　young　girl　leant　over　the　pool；
and　pouring　the　water　idly　back　said；　〃I'd　rather　put　my　feet　in
it。　　Mayn't　I？〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　he　said　wonderingly。

〃My　feet　are　SO　hot　and　dusty。　　The　water　looks　deliciously　cool。
May　I？〃

〃Certainly。〃

He　turned　away　as　Nellie；　with　apparent　unconsciousness；　seated
herself　on　the　bank；　and　removed　her　shoes　and　stockings。　　When
she　had　dabbled　her　feet　a　few　moments　in　the　pool；　she　said　over
her　shoulder

〃We　can　talk　just　as　well；　can't　we？〃

〃Certainly。〃

〃Well；　then；　why　didn't　you　come　to　church　more　often；　and　why
didn't　you　think　of　telling　father　that　you　were　convicted　of　sin
and　wanted　to　be　baptized？〃

〃I　don't　know；〃　hesitated　the　young　man。

〃Well；　you　lost　the　chance　of　having　father　convert　you；　baptize
you；　and　take　you　into　full　church　fellowship。〃

〃I　never　thought〃　he　began。

〃You　never　thought。　　Aren't　you　a　Christian？〃

〃I　suppose　so。〃

〃He　supposes　so！　　Have　you　no　convictionsno　profession？〃

〃But；　Nellie；　I　never　thought　that　you〃

〃Never　thought　that　Iwhat？　　Do　you　think　that　I　could　ever　be
anything　to　a　man　who　did　not　believe　in　justification　by　faith；
or　in　the　covenant　of　church　fellowship？　　Do　you　think　father
would　let　me？〃

In　his　eagerness　to　defend　himself　he　stepped　to　her　side。　　But
seeing　her　little　feet　shining　through　the　dark　water；　like
outcroppings　of　delicately　veined　quartz；　he　stopped　embarrassed。
Miss　Nellie；　however；　leaped　to　one　foot；　and；　shaking　the　other
over　the　pool；　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder　to　steady　herself。
〃You　haven't　got　a　towelor；〃　she　said　dubiously；　looking　at　her
small　handkerchief；　〃anything　to　dry　them　on？〃

But　Low　did　not；　as　she　perhaps　expected；　offer　his　own　handkerchief。

〃If　you　take　a　bath　after　our　fashion；〃　he　said　gravely；　〃you
must　learn　to　dry　yourself　after　our　fashion。〃

Lifting　her　again　lightly　in　his　arms；　he　carried　her　a　few　steps
to　the　sunny　opening；　and　bade　her　bury　her　feet　in　the　dried
mosses　and　baked　withered　grasses　that　were　bleaching　in　a
hollow。　　The　young　girl　uttered　a　cry　of　childish　delight；　as　the
soft　ciliated　fibres　touched　her　sensitive　skin。

〃It　is　healing；　too；〃　continued　Low；　〃a　moccasin　filled　with　it
after　a　day　on　the　trail　makes　you　all　right　again。〃

But　Miss　Nellie　seemed　to　be　thinking　of　something　else。

〃Is　that　the　way　the　squaws　bathe　and　dry　themselves？〃

〃I　don't　know；　you　forget　I　was　a　boy　when　I　left　them。〃

〃And　you're　sure　you　never　knew　any？〃

〃None。〃

The　young　girl　seemed　to　derive　some　satisfaction　in　moving　her
feet　up　and　down　for　several　minutes　among　the　grasses　in　the
hollow；　then；　after　a　pause；　said；　〃You　are　quite　certain　I　am
the　first　woman　that　ever　touched　this　spring？〃

〃Not　only　the　first　woman；　but　the　first　human　being；　except
myself。〃

〃How　nice！〃

They　had　taken　each　other's　hands；　seated　side　by　side；　they
leaned　against　a　curving　elastic　root　that　half　supported；　half
encompassed；　them。　　The　girl's　capricious；　fitful　manner
succumbed　as　before　to　the　near　contact　of　her　companion。
L