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第59章

the riverman-第59章

小说: the riverman 字数: 每页4000字

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the day had been but an illusion of a season that had gone。  This 

was not summer; but; in the quaint old phrase; Indian summer; and 

its end would be as though the necromancer had waved his wand。



To Newmark; sitting at his desk; reported Captain Floyd of the steam 

barge NORTH STAR。



〃All loaded by noon; sir;〃 he said。



Newmark looked up in surprise。



〃Well; why do you tell me?〃 he inquired。



〃I want your orders。〃



〃My orders?  Why?〃



〃This is a bad time of year;〃 explained Captain Floyd; 〃and the 

storm signal's up。  All the signs are right for a blow。〃



Newmark whirled in his chair。



〃A blow!〃 he cried。  〃What of it?  You don't come in every time it 

blows; do you?〃



〃You don't know the lakes; sir; at this time of year;〃 insisted 

Captain Floyd。



〃Are you afraid?〃 sneered Newmark。



Captain Floyd's countenance burned a dark red。



〃I only want your orders;〃 was all he said。  〃I thought we might 

wait to see。〃



〃Then go;〃 snapped Newmark。  〃That lumber must get to the market。  

You heard Mr。 Orde's orders to sail as soon as you were loaded。〃



Captain Floyd nodded curtly and went out without further comment。



Newmark arose and looked out of the window。  The sun shone as 

balmily soft as ever。  English sparrows twittered and fought 

outside。  The warm smell of pine shingles rose from the street。  

Only close down to the horizon lurked cold; flat; greasy…looking 

clouds; and in the direction of the Government flag…pole he caught 

the flash of red from the lazily floating signal。  He was little 

weatherwise; and he shook his head sceptically。  Nevertheless it was 

a chance; and he took it; as he had taken a great many others。







XXXIV





To Carroll's delight; Orde returned unexpectedly from the woods late 

that night。  He was so busy these days that she welcomed any chance 

to see him。  Much to his disappointment; Bobby had been taken duck…

hunting by his old friend; Mr。 Kincaid。  Next morning; however; Orde 

told Carroll his stay would be short and that his day would be 

occupied。



〃I'd take old Prince and get some air;〃 he advised。  〃You're too 

much indoors。  Get some friend and drive around。  It's fine and 

blowy out; and you'll get some colour in your cheeks。〃



After breakfast Carroll accompanied her husband to the front door。  

When they opened it a blast of air rushed in; whirling some dead 

leaves with it。



〃I guess the fine weather's over;〃 said Orde; looking up at the sky。



A dull lead colour had succeeded the soft gray of the preceding 

balmy days。  The heavens seemed to have settled down closer to the 

earth。  A rising wind whistled through the branches of the big maple 

trees; snatching the remaining leaves in handfuls and tossing them 

into the air。  The tops swayed like whips。  Whirlwinds scurried 

among the piles of dead leaves on the lawns; scattering them; 

chasing them madly around and around in circles。



〃B…r…r…r!〃 shivered Carroll。  〃Winter's coming。〃



She kept herself busy about the house all the morning; ate her lunch 

in solitude。  Outside; the fierce wind; rising in a crescendo 

shriek; howled around the eaves。  The day darkened; but no rain 

fell。  At last Carroll resolved to take her husband's advice。  She 

stopped for Mina Heinzman; and the two walked around to the stable; 

where the men harnessed old Prince into the phaeton。



They drove; the wind at their backs; across the drawbridge; past the 

ship…yards; and out beyond the mills to the Marsh Road。  There; on 

either side the causeway; miles and miles of cat…tails and reeds 

bent and recovered under the snatches of the wind。  Here and there 

showed glimpses of ponds or little inlets; the surface of the water 

ruffled and dark blue。  Occasionally one of these bayous swung in 

across the road。  Then the two girls could see plainly the fan…like 

cat's…paws skittering here and there as though panic…stricken by the 

swooping; invisible monster that pursued them。



Carroll and Mina Heinzman had a good time。  They liked each other 

very much; and always saw a great deal to laugh at in the things 

about them and in the subjects about which they talked。  When; 

however; they turned toward home; they were forced silent by the 

mighty power of the wind against them。  The tears ran from their 

eyes as though they were crying; they had to lower their heads。  

Hardly could Carroll command vision clear enough to see the road 

along which she was driving。  This was really unnecessary; for 

Prince was buffeted to a walk。  Thus they crawled along until they 

reached the turn…bridge; where the right…angled change in direction 

gave them relief。  The river was full of choppy waves; considerable 

in size。  As they crossed; the SPRITE darted beneath them; lowering 

her smokestack as she went under the bridge。



They entered Main Street; where was a great banging and clanging of 

swinging signs and a few loose shutters。  All the sidewalk displays 

of vegetables and other goods had been taken in; and the doors; 

customarily wide open; were now shut fast。  This alone lent to the 

street quite a deserted air; which was emphasised by the fact that 

actually not a rig of any sort stood at the curbs。  Up the empty 

roadway whirled one after the other clouds of dust hurried by the 

wind。



〃I wonder where all the farmers' wagons are?〃 marvelled the 

practical Mina。  〃Surely they would not stay home Saturday afternoon 

just for this wind!〃



Opposite Randall's hardware store her curiosity quite mastered her。



〃Do stop!〃 she urged Carroll。  〃I want to run in and see what's the 

matter。〃



She was gone but a moment; and returned; her eyes shining with 

excitement。



〃Oh; Carroll!〃 she cried; 〃there are three vessels gone ashore off 

the piers。  Everybody's gone to see。〃



〃Jump in!〃 said Carroll。  〃We'll drive out。  Perhaps they'll get out 

the life…saving crew。〃



They drove up the plank road over the sand…hill; through the beech 

woods; to the bluff above the shore。  In the woods they were 

somewhat sheltered from the wind; although even there the crash of 

falling branches and the whirl of twigs and dead leaves advertised 

that the powers of the air were abroad; but when they topped the 

last rise; the unobstructed blast from the open Lake hit them square 

between the eyes。



Probably a hundred vehicles of all descriptions were hitched to 

trees just within the fringe of woods。  Carroll; however; drove 

straight ahead until Prince stood at the top of the plank road that 

led down to the bath houses。  Here she pulled up。



Carroll saw the lake; slate blue and angry; with white…capped 

billows to the limit of vision。  Along the shore were rows and rows 

of breakers; leaping; breaking; and gathering again; until they were 

lost in a tumble of white foam that rushed and receded on the sands。  

These did not look to be very large until she noticed the twin piers 

reaching out from the river's mouth。  Each billow; as it came in; 

rose sullenly above them; broke tempestuously to overwhelm the 

entire structure of their ends; and ripped inshore along their 

lengths; the crest submerging as it ran every foot of the massive 

structures。  The piers and the light…houses at their ends looked 

like little toys; and the compact black crowd of people on the shore 

below were as small as Bobby's tin soldiers。



〃Look thereout farther!〃 pointed Mina。



Carroll looked; and rose to her feet in excitement



Three little toy shipsor so they seemed compared to the mountains 

of waterlay broadside…to; just inside the farthest line of 

breakers。  Two were sailing schooners。  These had been thrown on 

their beam ends; their masts pointing at an angle toward the beach。  

Each wave; as it reached; stirred them a trifle; then broke in a 

deluge of water that for a moment covered their hulls completely 

from sight

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