a summer in a canyon-第8章
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way。 We may not be graceful or scientific； but we get in； which is
the main point。'
The hammocks did not prove the easiest of nests； as the girls had
imagined。 In fact； to be perfectly candid about the matter； the
wicked flea of California； which man pursueth but seldom catcheth； is
apt； on many a summer night； to interfere shamelessly with slumber。
On this particular night he was fairly rampant； perhaps because sweet
humanity on which to feed was very scarce in that canyon。
'Good…night； girls！' called Jack； when matters seemed to be finally
settled for sleep。 'Bell； you must keep one eye open； for the
coyotes will be stealing down the mountain in a jiffy； and yours is
the first hammock in the path。'
'Of course；' moaned Bell；'that's why the girls gave me this one；
they knew very well that one victim always slakes the animals' thirst
for blood。 Well； let them come on。 I shiver with terror； but my
only hope is that I may be eaten in my sleep； if at all。'
'There was a young party named Bell；
Who slept out of doors for a spell；
When asked how she fared；
She said she was scared；
But otherwise doing quite well。
'How's that？' asked Jack。 'I shall be able to drive Bell off her own
field； with a little practice。'
'Go to sleep！' roared Dr。 Paul。 'In your present condition of mind
and body you are not fit for poetry！'
'That's just the point； sir；' retorted Jack； slyly； 'for； you
remember； poets are not FIT； but nascitur；don't you know？' and he
retired under his blanket for protection。
But quiet seemed to be impossible： there were all sorts of strange
sounds； and the moon； too； was so splendid that they almost felt as
if they were lying beneath the radiance of a calcium light； while in
the dark places； midst the branches of thick foliage； the owls hooted
gloomily。 If you had happened to be an owl in that vicinity； you
might have heard not only the feverish tossing to and fro of the
girls in the hammocks； but many dismal sighs and groans from Dr。
Winship and the boys； for the bare ground is； after all； more
rheumatic than romantic； and they too tumbled from side to side；
seeking comfort。
But at midnight quiet slumber had descended upon them； and they
presented a funny spectacle enough to one open…eyed watcher。 A long
slender sycamore log was extended before the fire； and constituted
their pillow； on this their heads reposed； each decorated with a
tightly fitting silk handkerchief； then came a compact； papoose…like
roll of grey blanket； terminated by a pair of erect feet； whose
generous proportions soared to different heights。 There was a little
snoring； too； perhaps the log was hollow。
At midnight you might have seen a quaintly despondent little figure；
whose curly head issued from a hooded cloak； staggering hopelessly
from a hammock； and seating herself on a mossy stump。 From the
limpness of her attitude and the pathetic expression of her eyes； I
fear Polly was reviewing former happy nights spent on spring…beds；
and at this particular moment the realities of camping…out hardly
equalled her anticipations。 Whatever may have been her feelings；
however； they were promptly stifled when a certain insolent head
reared itself from its blanket…roll； and a hoarse voice cackled；
'Pretty Polly！ Polly want a canyon？' At this insult Miss Oliver
wrapped her drapery about her and strode to her hammock with the air
of a tragedy queen。
CHAPTER III： LIFE IN THE CANYONTHE HEIR APPARENT LOSES HIMSELF
'Know'st thou the land where the lemon…trees bloom；
Where the gold orange glows in the green thicket's gloom；
Where the wind； ever soft； from the blue heaven blows；
And groves are of myrtle； and olive； and rose？'
On the next morning； as we have seen； they named their summer home
Camp Chaparral； and for a week or more they were the very busiest
colony of people under the sun； for it takes a deal of hard work and
ingenuity to make a comfortable and beautiful dwelling…place in the
forest。
The best way of showing you how they accomplished this is to describe
the camp after it was nearly finished。
The two largest bedroom tents were made of bright awning cloth； one
of red and white； the other of blue and white； both gaily decorated
with braid。 They were pitched under the same giant oak； and yet were
nearly forty feet apart； that of the girls having a canvas floor。
They were not quite willing to sleep on the ground； so they had
brought empty bed…sacks with them； and Pancho's first duty after his
arrival had been to drive to a neighbouring ranch for a great load of
straw。
In a glorious tree near by was a 'sky parlour；' arranged by a few
boards nailed high up in the leafy branches； and reached from below
by a primitive ladder。 This was the favourite sitting…room of the
girls by day； and served for Pancho's bedroom at night。 It was
beautiful enough to be fit shelter for all the woodland nymphs； with
its festoons of mistletoe and wild grape…vines； but Pancho was rather
an unappreciative tenant； even going so far as to snore in the sacred
place！
Just beyond was a card…room；imagine itin which a square board；
nailed on a low stump； served for a table； where Dr。 Paul and the
boys played many a game of crib； backgammon； and checkers。 Here；
too； all Elsie's letters were written and Bell's nonsense verses； and
here was the identical spot where Jack Howard； that mischievous
knight of the brush； perpetrated those modern travesties on the
'William Henry pictures；' for Elsie's delectation。
The dressing…room was reached by a path cut through bushes to a
charming little pool。 Here were unmistakable evidences of feminine
art： looking…glasses hanging to trees； snowy wash…cloths； each
bearing its owner's initials； adorning the shrubs； while numerous
towels waved in the breeze。 Between two trees a thin board was
nailed； which appeared to be used； as nearly as the woodpeckers could
make out； as a toothbrush rack。 In this； Philip； the skilful
carpenter； had bored the necessary number of holes； and each one
contained a toothbrush tied with a gorgeous ribbon。
In this secluded spot Bell was wont to marshal every morning the
entire force of 'the toothbrush brigade'； and； conducting the drill
with much ingenuity； she would take her victims through a long series
of military manoeuvres arranged for the toothbrush。 Oh； the
gaspings； the chokings and stranglings； which occurred when she
mounted a rock by the edge of the pool； and after calling in tones of
thunder；
'Brush； brothers； brush with care！
Brush in the presence of the commandaire！'
ordered her unwilling privates to polish their innocent molars to the
tune of 'Hail； Columbia；' or 'Auld Lang Syne'！ And if they became
mutinous； it was Geoffrey who reduced them to submission； and ordered
them to brush for three mornings to the tune of 'Bluebells of
Scotland' as a sign of loyalty to their commander。
As for the furnishing of the camp； there were impromptu stools and
tables made of packing…boxes and trunks； all covered with bright
Turkey…red cotton； there were no less than three rustic lounges and
two arm…chairs made from manzanita branches； and a Queen Anne
bedstead was being slowly constructed； day by day； by the ambitious
boys for their beloved Elsie。
One corner of each tent was curtained off for a bath…room； another
for a clothes…press； and there were a dozen devices for comfort； as
Dr。 Winship was opposed to any more inconvenience than was strictly
necessary。 Dr。 and Mrs。 Winship and little Dicky occupied one tent；
the boys another； and the girls a third。
When Bell； Polly； and Margery emerged from their tent on the second
morning； they were disagreeably surprised to see a large placard over
the front entrance； bearing the insolent inscription； 'Tent Chatter。'
They said nothing； but on the night after； a committee of two stole
out and glued a companion placard； 'Tent Clatter；' over the door of
their masculine neighbours。 And to tell the truth； one was as well
deserved as the other； for if there was generally a subdued hum of
conversation in the one； there never failed to be a perfect din and
uproar in the other。
Under a
