the queen of the pirate isle-第2章

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be　in　another　world　than　theirs；　the　children　found　a　greater
attraction　in　the　fascinating　depths　of　a　mysterious　gulf；　or
canyon；　as　it　was　called；　whose　very　name　filled　their　ears　with　a
weird　music。　　To　creep　to　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　to　sit　upon　the
brown　branches　of　some　fallen　pine；　and；　putting　aside　the　dried
tassels；　to　look　down　upon　the　backs　of　wheeling　hawks　that　seemed
to　hang　in　mid…air　was　a　never…failing　delight。　　Here　Polly　would
try　to　trace　the　winding　red　ribbon　of　road　that　was　continually
losing　itself　among　the　dense　pines　of　the　opposite　mountains；　here
she　would　listen　to　the　far…off　strokes　of　a　woodman's　axe；　or　the
rattle　of　some　heavy　wagon；　miles　away；　crossing　the　pebbles　of　a
dried…up　watercourse。　　Here；　too；　the　prevailing　colors　of　the
mountains；　red　and　white　and　green；　most　showed　themselves。　　There
were　no　frowning　rocks　to　depress　the　children's　fancy；　but
everywhere　along　the　ridge　pure　white　quartz　bared　itself　through
the　red　earth　like　smiling　teeth；　the　very　pebbles　they　played　with
were　streaked　with　shining　mica　like　bits　of　looking…glass。　　The
distance　was　always　green　and　summer…like；　but　the　color　they　most
loved；　and　which　was　most　familiar　to　them；　was　the　dark　red　of　the
ground　beneath　their　feet　everywhere。　　It　showed　itself　in　the
roadside　bushes；　its　red　dust　pervaded　the　leaves　of　the
overhanging　laurel；　it　colored　their　shoes　and　pinafores；　I　am
afraid　it　was　often　seen　in　Indian…like　patches　on　their　faces　and
hands。　　That　it　may　have　often　given　a　sanguinary　tone　to　their
fancies　I　have　every　reason　to　believe。

It　was　on　this　ridge　that　the　three　children　gathered　at　ten
o'clock　that　morning。　　An　earlier　flight　had　been　impossible　on
account　of　Wan　Lee　being　obliged　to　perform　his　regular　duty　of
blacking　the　shoes　of　Polly　and　Hickory　before　breakfast；a　menial
act　which　in　the　pure　republic　of　childhood　was　never　thought
inconsistent　with　the　loftiest　piratical　ambition。　　On　the　ridge
they　met　one　〃Patsey；〃　the　son　of　a　neighbor；　sun…burned；　broad…
brimmed　hatted；　red…handed；　like　themselves。　　As　there　were
afterwards　some　doubts　expressed　whether　he　joined　the　Pirates　of
his　own　free　will；　or　was　captured　by　them；　I　endeavor　to　give　the
colloquy　exactly　as　it　occurred：

Patsey：　〃Hallo；　fellers。〃

The　Pirates：　〃Hello！〃

Patsey：　〃Goin'　to　hunt　bars？　　Dad　seed　a　lot　o'　tracks　at　sun…up。〃

The　Pirates　（hesitating）：　〃Noo〃

Patsey：　〃I　am；　know　where　I　kin　get　a　six…shooter？〃

The　Pirates　（almost　ready　to　abandon　piracy　for　bear…hunting；　but
preserving　their　dignity）：　〃Can't！　　We've　runn'd　away　for　real
pirates。〃

Patsey：　〃Not　for　good！〃

The　Queen　（interposing　with　sad　dignity　and　real　tears　in　her　round
blue　eyes）：　〃Yes！〃　（slowly　and　shaking　her　head）。　　〃Can't　go　back
again。　　Never！　Never！　Never！　　Thetheeye　is　cast！〃

Patsey　（bursting　with　excitement）：　〃No…o！　　Sho'o！　　Wanter　know。〃

The　Pirates　（a　little　frightened　themselves；　but　tremulous　with
gratified　vanity）：　〃The　Perleese　is　on　our　track！〃

Patsey：　〃Lemme　go　with　yer！〃

Hickory：　〃Wot'll　yer　giv？〃

Patsey：　〃Pistol　and　er　bananer。〃

Hickory　（with　judicious　prudence）：　〃Let's　see　'em。〃

Patsey　was　off　like　a　shot；　his　bare　little　red　feet　trembling
under　him。　　In　a　few　minutes　he　returned　with　an　old…fashioned
revolver　known　as　one　of　〃Allen's　pepper…boxes〃　and　a　large　banana。
He　was　at　once　enrolled；　and　the　banana　eaten。

As　yet　they　had　resolved　on　no　definite　nefarious　plan。　　Hickory；
looking　down　at　Patsey's　bare　feet；　instantly　took　off　his　own
shoes。　　This　bold　act　sent　a　thrill　through　his　companions。　　Wan
Lee　took　off　his　cloth　leggings；　Polly　removed　her　shoes　and
stockings；　but；　with　royal　foresight；　tied　them　up　in　her
handkerchief。　　The　last　link　between　them　and　civilization　was
broken。

〃Let's　go　to　the　Slumgullion。〃

〃Slumgullion〃　was　the　name　given　by　the　miners　to　a　certain　soft；
half…liquid　mud；　formed　of　the　water　and　finely　powdered　earth　that
was　carried　off　by　the　sluice…boxes　during　gold…washing；　and
eventually　collected　in　a　broad　pool　or　lagoon　before　the　outlet。
There　was　a　pool　of　this　kind　a　quarter　of　a　mile　away；　where　there
were　〃diggings〃　worked　by　Patsey's　father；　and　thither　they
proceeded　along　the　ridge　in　single　file。　　When　it　was　reached　they
solemnly　began　to　wade　in　its　viscid　paint…like　shallows。　　Possibly
its　unctuousness　was　pleasant　to　the　touch；　possibly　there　was　a
fascination　in　the　fact　that　their　parents　had　forbidden　them　to　go
near　it；　but　probably　the　principal　object　of　this　performance　was
to　produce　a　thick　coating　of　mud　on　the　feet　and　ankles；　which；
when　dried　in　the　sun；　was　supposed　to　harden　the　skin　and　render
their　shoes　superfluous。　　It　was　also　felt　to　be　the　first　real
step　towards　independence；　they　looked　down　at　their　ensanguined
extremities　and　recognized　the　impossibility　of　their　ever　again
crossing　（unwashed）　the　family　threshold。

Then　they　again　hesitated。　　There　was　a　manifest　need　of　some
well…defined　piratical　purpose。　　The　last　act　was　reckless　and
irretrievable；　but　it　was　vague。　　They　gazed　at　each　other。　　There
was　a　stolid　look　of　resigned　and　superior　tolerance　in　Wan　Lee's
eyes。

Polly's　glance　wandered　down　the　side　of　the　slope　to　the　distant
little　tunnels　or　openings　made　by　the　miners　who　were　at　work　in
the　bowels　of　the　mountain。　　〃I'd　like　to　go　into　one　of　them　funny
holes；〃　she　said　to　herself；　half　aloud。

Wan　Lee　suddenly　began　to　blink　his　eyes　with　unwonted　excitement。
〃Catchee　tunnelheap　gold；〃　he　said　quickly。　　〃When　manee　come
outside　to　catchee　dinnerPilats　go　inside　catchee　tunnel！
Shabbee！　　Pilats　catchee　gold　allee　samee　Melican　man！〃

〃And　take　perseshiun；〃　said　Hickory。

〃And　hoist　the　Pirate　flag；〃　said　Patsey。

〃And　build　a　fire；　and　cook；　and　have　a　family；〃　said　Polly。

The　idea　was　fascinating　to　the　point　of　being　irresistible。　　The
eyes　of　the　four　children　became　rounder　and　rounder。　　They　seized
each　other's　hands　and　swung　them　backwards　and　forwards；
occasionally　lifting　their　legs　in　a　solemn　rhythmic　movement　known
only　to　childhood。

〃It's　orful　far　off！〃　said　Patsey　with　a　sudden　look　of　dark
importance。　　〃Pap　says　it's　free　miles　on　the　road。　　Take　all　day
ter　get　there。〃

The　bright　faces　were　overcast。

〃Less　go　down　er　slide！〃　said　Hickory　boldly。

They　approached　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　　The　〃slide〃　was　simply　a
sharp　incline　zigzagging　down　the　side　of　the　mountain　used　for
sliding　goods　and　provisions　from　the　summit　to　the　tunnel…men　at
the　different　openings　below。　　The　continual　traffic　had　gradually
worn　a　shallow　gully　half　filled　with　earth　and　gravel　into　the
face　of　the　mountain　which　checked　the　momentum　of　the　goods　in
their　downward　passage；　but　afforded　no　foothold　for　a　pedestrian。
No　one　had　ever　been　known　to　descend　a　slide。　　That　feat　was
evidently　reserved　for　the　Pirate　band。　　They　approached　the　edge
of　the　slide；　hand　in　hand；　hesitated；　and　the　next　moment
disappeared。

Five　minutes　later　the　tunnel…men　of　the　Excelsior　mine；　a　mile
below；　taking　their　luncheon　on　the　rude　platform　of　debris　before
their　tunnel；　were　suddenly　driven　to　shelter　in　the　tunnel　from　an
apparent　rain　of　stones；　and　rocks；　and　pebbles；　from　the　cliffs
above。　　Looking　up；　they　were　startled　at　seeing　four　round　objects
revolving　and　bounding　in　the　dust　of　the　slide；　which　eventually
resolved　themselves　into　three　boys　and　a　girl。　　For　a　moment　the
good　men　held　their　breath　in　helpless　terror。　　Twice　one　of　the
children　had　struck　the　outer　edge　of　the　bank；　and　displaced
stones　that　shot　a　thousand　feet　down　into　the　dizzy　depths　of　the
valley；　and　now　one　of　them；　the　girl；　had　actually　rolled　out　of
the　slide　and　was　hanging　over　the　chasm　supported　only　by　a　clump
of　chamisal　to　which　she　clung！

〃Hang　on　by　your　eyelids；　sis！　but　don't　stir；　for　Heaven's　sake！〃
shouted　one　of　the　men；　as　two　others　started　on　a　hopeless　ascent
of　the　cliff　above　them。

But　a　light　childish　laugh　from　the　clinging　little　figure　seemed
to　mock　them！　　Then　two　small　heads　appeared　at　the　edge　of　the
slide；　then　a　diminutive　figure；　whose　feet　w