high-water mark-第3章

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protesting；　and　at　last　dropped　its　gaunt　legs　only　a　few　yards

from　her。　　But；　strangest　of　all；　a　pretty　white　bird；　larger　than

a　dovelike　a　pelican；　but　not　a　pelicancircled　around　and

around　her。　　At　last　it　lit　upon　a　rootlet　of　the　tree；　quite　over

her　shoulder。　　She　put　out　her　hand　and　stroked　its　beautiful　white

neck；　and　it　never　appeared　to　move。　　It　stayed　there　so　long　that

she　thought　she　would　lift　up　the　baby　to　see　it；　and　try　to

attract　her　attention。　　But　when　she　did　so；　the　child　was　so

chilled　and　cold；　and　had　such　a　blue　look　under　the　little　lashes

which　it　didn't　raise　at　all；　that　she　screamed　aloud；　and　the　bird

flew　away；　and　she　fainted。



Well；　that　was　the　worst　of　it；　and　perhaps　it　was　not　so　much；

after　all；　to　any　but　herself。　　For　when　she　recovered　her　senses

it　was　bright　sunlight；　and　dead　low　water。　　There　was　a　confused

noise　of　guttural　voices　about　her；　and　an　old　squaw；　singing　an

Indian　〃hushaby；〃　and　rocking　herself　from　side　to　side　before　a

fire　built　on　the　marsh；　before　which　she；　the　recovered　wife　and

mother；　lay　weak　and　weary。　　Her　first　thought　was　for　her　baby；

and　she　was　about　to　speak；　when　a　young　squaw；　who　must　have　been

a　mother　herself；　fathomed　her　thought　and　brought　her　the

〃mowitch；〃　pale　but　living；　in　such　a　queer　little　willow　cradle

all　bound　up；　just　like　the　squaw's　own　young　one；　that　she　laughed

and　cried　together；　and　the　young　squaw　and　the　old　squaw　showed

their　big　white　teeth　and　glinted　their　black　eyes　and　said；

〃Plenty　get　well；　skeena　mowitch；〃　〃wagee　man　come　plenty　soon；〃

and　she　could　have　kissed　their　brown　faces　in　her　joy。　　And　then

she　found　that　they　had　been　gathering　berries　on　the　marsh　in

their　queer；　comical　baskets；　and　saw　the　skirt　of　her　gown

fluttering　on　the　tree　from　afar；　and　the　old　squaw　couldn't　resist

the　temptation　of　procuring　a　new　garment；　and　came　down　and

discovered　the　〃wagee〃　woman　and　child。　　And　of　course　she　gave　the

garment　to　the　old　squaw；　as　you　may　imagine；　and　when　HE　came　at

last　and　rushed　up　to　her；　looking　about　ten　years　older　in　his

anxiety；　she　felt　so　faint　again　that　they　had　to　carry　her　to　the

canoe。　　For；　you　see；　he　knew　nothing　about　the　flood　until　he　met

the　Indians　at　Utopia；　and　knew　by　the　signs　that　the　poor　woman

was　his　wife。　　And　at　the　next　high　tide　he　towed　the　tree　away

back　home；　although　it　wasn't　worth　the　trouble；　and　built　another

house；　using　the　old　tree　for　the　foundation　and　props；　and　called

it　after　her；　〃Mary's　Ark！〃　　But　you　may　guess　the　next　house　was

built　above　high…water　mark。　　And　that's　all。



Not　much；　perhaps；　considering　the　malevolent　capacity　of　the

Dedlow　Marsh。　　But　you　must　tramp　over　it　at　low　water；　or　paddle

over　it　at　high　tide；　or　get　lost　upon　it　once　or　twice　in　the　fog；

as　I　have；　to　understand　properly　Mary's　adventure；　or　to

appreciate　duly　the　blessings　of　living　beyond　High…Water　Mark。