the man from glengarry-第48部分

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！


none　like　the　canoe。　　It　alone　has　the　sweet；　smooth　glide；　the
swift；　silent　dart　answering　the　paddle　sweep；　the　quick　swerve　in
response　to　the　turn　of　the　wrist。　　Ranald　felt　as　if　he　could　have
gladly　paddled　on　right　out　to　the　open　sea；　but　sweeping　around　a
bend　a　long；　clear　call　hailed　them；　and　there；　far　down　at　the
bottom　of　a　little　bay；　at　the　foot　of　the　big；　scarred；　and
wrinkled　rock　the　smoke　and　glimmer　of　the　camp…fire　could　be　seen。
A　flip　of　the　stern　paddle；　and　the　canoe　pointed　for　the　waving
figure；　and　under　the　rhythmic　sweep　of　the　paddles；　sped　like　an
arrow　down　the　waters；　sloping　to　the　shore。　　There；　on　a　great
rock；　stood　Kate；　directing　their　course。

〃Here's　a　good　landing；〃　she　cried。　　Right　at　the　rock　dashed　the
canoe　at　full　speed。　　A　moment　more　and　her　dainty　nose　would　be
battered　out　of　all　shape　on　the　cruel　rock；　but　a　strong　back
stroke；　a　turn　of　the　wrist；　flip；　and　she　lay　floating　quietly
beside　the　rock。

〃Splendid！〃　cried　Kate。

〃Well　done；　by　Jove！〃　exclaimed　the　lieutenant；　who　was　himself　an
expert　with　the　paddle。

〃I　suppose　you　have　no　idea　how　fine　you　look；〃　cried　Kate。

〃And　I　am　quite　sure；〃　answered　Harry；　〃you　have　no　suspicion　of
what　a　beautiful　picture　you　all　make。〃　　And　a　beautiful　picture　it
was：　the　great　rocky　cliff　in　the　background；　tricked　out　in　its
new　spring　green　of　moss　and　shrub　and　tree；　the　grassy　plot　at　its
foot　where　a　little　stream　gurgled　out　from　the　rock；　the　blazing
camp…fire　with　the　little　group　about　it；　and　in　front　the　sunlit
river。　　How　happy　they　all　were！　　And　how　ready　to　please　and　to　be
pleased。　　Even　little　Mr。　Sims　had　his　charm。　　And　at　the　making　of
the　tea；　which　Kate　had　taken　in　charge　with　Ranald　superintending；
what　fun　there　was　with　burning　of　fingers　and　upsetting　of
kettles！　　And　then；　the　talk　and　the　laughter　at　the　lieutenant's
brilliant　jokes；　and　the　chaffing　of　the　〃lumbermen〃　over　their
voracious　appetites！　　It　was　an　hour　of　never…to…be…forgotten
pleasure。　　They　were　all　children　again；　and　with　children's　hearts
were　happy　in　childhood's　simple　joys。　　And　why　not？　　There　are　no
joys　purer　than　those　of　the　open　air；　of　grass　and　trees　flooded
with　the　warm　light　and　sweet　scents　of　the　soft　springtime。　　Too
soon　it　all　came　to　an　end；　and　then　they　set　off　to　convoy　the
stately　old　lady　to　her　carriage　at　the　top　of　the　cliff。　　Far　in
front　went　Kate；　disdaining　the　assistance　of　Harry　and　Mr。　Sims；
who　escorted　her。　　Near　at　hand　the　lieutenant　was　in　attendance
upon　Maimie；　who　seemed　to　need　his　constant　assistance；　for　the
way　was　rough；　and　there　were　so　many　jutting　points　of　rock　for
wonderful　views；　and　often　the　very　prettiest　plants　were　just　out
of　reach。　　Last　of　all　came　Madame　De　Lacy；　climbing　the　steep　path
with　difficulty　and　holding　fast　to　Ranald's　arm。　　With　charming
grace　she　discoursed　of　the　brave　days　of　old　in　which　her
ancestors　had　played　a　worthy　part。　　An　interesting　tale　it　was；
but　in　spite　of　all　her　charm　of　speech；　and　grace　of　manner；
Ranald　could　not　keep　his　mind　from　following　his　heart　and　eyes
that　noted　every　step　and　move　of　the　beautiful　girl；　flitting　in
and　out　among　the　trees　before　them。　　And　well　it　was　that　his　eyes
were　following　so　close；　for；　as　she　was　reaching　for　a　dainty
spray　of　golden　birch；　holding　by　the　lieutenant's　hand；　the
treacherous　moss　slipped　from　under　Maimie's　feet；　and　with　a
piercing　shriek　she　went　rolling　down　the　sloping　mountain…side；
dragging　her　escort　with　her。　　Like　a　flash　of　light　Ranald　dropped
madame's　arm；　and　seizing　the　top　of　a　tall　birch　that　grew　up　from
the　lower　ledge；　with　a　trick　learned　as　a　boy　in　the　Glengarry
woods；　he　swung　himself　clear　over　the　edge；　and　dropping　lightly
on　the　mossy　bank　below；　threw　himself　in　front　of　the　rolling
bodies；　and　seizing　them　held　fast。　　In　another　moment　leaving　the
lieutenant　to　shift　for　himself；　Ranald　was　on　his　knees　beside
Maimie；　who　lay　upon　the　moss；　white　and　still。　　〃Some　water；　for
God's　sake！〃　he　cried；　hoarsely；　to　De　Lacy；　who　stood　dazed　beside
him；　and　then；　before　the　lieutenant　could　move；　Ranald　lifted
Maimie　in　his　arms；　as　if　she　had　been　an　infant；　and　bore　her　down
to　the　river's　edge；　and　laid　her　on　the　grassy　bank。　　Then；　taking
up　a　double　handful　of　water；　he　dashed　it　in　her　face。　　With　a
little　sigh　she　opened　her　eyes；　and　letting　them　rest　upon　his
face；　said；　gently；　〃Oh；　Ranald；　I　am　so　glad　youI　am　so　sorry　I
have　been　so　bad　to　you。〃　　She　could　say　no　more；　but　from　her
closed　eyes　two　great　tears　made　their　way　down　her　pale　cheeks。

〃Oh；　Maimie；　Maimie；〃　said　Ranald；　in　a　broken　voice；　〃tell　me　you
are　not　hurt。〃

Again　she　opened　her　eyes　and　said；　〃No；　I　am　not　hurt；　but　you
will　take　me　home；　you　will　not　leave　me！〃　　Her　fingers　closed　upon
his　hand。

With　a　quick；　strong　clasp；　he　replied：　　〃I　will　not　leave　you。〃

In　a　few　minutes　she　was　able　to　sit　up；　and　soon　they　were　all
about　her；　exclaiming　and　lamenting。

〃What　a　silly　girl　I　am；〃　she　said；　with　a　little　tremulous　laugh；
〃and　what　a　fright　I　must　have　given　you　all！〃

〃Don't　rise；　my　dear；〃　said　Madame　De　Lacy；　〃until　you　feel　quite
strong。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　quite　right；〃　said　Maimie；　confidently；　〃I　am　sure　I　am
not　hurt　in　the　least。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　so　thankful！〃　cried　Kate。

〃It　is　the　Lord's　mercy；〃　said　Ranald；　in　a　voice　of　deep　emotion。

〃Are　you　quite　sure　you　are　not　hurt？〃　said　Harry；　anxiously。

〃Yes；　I　really　think　I　am　all　right；　but　what　a　fright　I　must
look！〃

〃Thank　God！〃　said　Harry　fervently；　〃I　guess　you're　improving；〃　at
which　they　all　laughed。

〃Now　I　think　we　must　get　home；〃　said　Madame　De　Lacy。　　〃Do　you　think
you　can　walk；　Maimie？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　cried　Maimie；　and　taking　Ranald's　hand；　she　tried　to
stand　up；　but　immediately　sank　back　with　a　groan。

〃Oh；　it　is　my　foot；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　afraid　it　is　hurt。〃

〃Let　me　see！〃　cried　Harry。　　〃I　don't　think　it　is　broken；〃　he　said；
after　feeling　it　carefully；　〃but　I　have　no　doubt　it　is　a　very　bad
sprain。　　You　can't　walk　for　certain。〃

〃Then　we　shall　have　to　carry　her；〃　said　Madame　De　Lacy；　and　she
turned　to　her　son。

〃I　fear　I　can　offer　no　assistance；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　pointing
to　his　arm　which　was　hanging　limp　at　his　side。

〃Why；　Albert；　are　you　hurt？　　What　is　the　matter？　　You　are　hurt！〃
cried　his　mother；　anxiously。

〃Not　much；　but　I　fear　my　arm　is　useless。　　You　might　feel　it；〃　he
said　to　Ranald。

Carefully　Ranald　passed　his　hand　down　the　arm。

〃Say　nothing；〃　whispered　the　lieutenant　to　him。　　〃It's　broken。　　Tie
it　up　some　way。〃　　Without　a　word　Ranald　stripped　the　bark　of　a
birch　tree；　and　making　a　case；　laid　the　arm　in　it　and　bound　it
firmly　with　his　silk　handkerchief。

〃We　ought　to　have　a　sling；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Kate；。

〃Here；〃　said　Madame　De　Lacy；　untying　a　lace　scarf　from　her　neck；
〃take　this。〃

Kate　took　the　scarf；　and　while　Ranald　held　the　arm　in　place　she
deftly　made　it　into　a　sling。

〃There；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　〃that　feels　quite　comfortable。　　Now
let's　go。〃

〃Come；　Maimie；　I'll　carry　you　up　the　hill；〃　said　Harry。

〃No；〃　said　Ranald；　decidedly；　〃she　will　go　in　the　canoe。　　That　will
be　easier。〃

〃Quite　right；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　　〃Sims；　perhaps　you　will　give
my　mother　your　arm；　and　if　Miss　Kate　will　be　kind　enough　to　escort
me；　we　can　all　four　go　in　the　carriage；　but　first　we　shall　see　the
rest　of　the　party　safely　off。〃

〃Come；　then；　Maimie；〃　said　Harry；　approaching　his　sister；　〃let　me
carry　you。〃

But　Maimie　glanced　up　at　Ranald；　who　without　a　word；　lifted　her　in
his　arms。

〃Put　your　arm　about　his　neck；　Maimie；〃　cried　Harry；　〃you　will　go
more　comfortably　that　way。　　Ranald　won't　mind；〃　he　added；　with　a
laugh。

At　the　touch　of　her　clinging　arms　the　blood　mounted　slowly　into
Ranald's　neck　and　face；　showing　red　through　the　dark　tan　of　his
skin。

〃How　strong　you　are；〃　said　Maimie；　softly；　〃and　how　easily　you
carry　me。　　But　you　would　soon　tire　of　me；〃　she　added　with　a　little
laugh。

〃I　would　not　tire　forever；〃　said　Ranald；　as　he　laid　her　gently　down
in　the　canoe。

〃I　shall　send　the　carriage　to　the　wharf　for　you；〃　said　Madame　De
Lacy；　〃and　you　will　come　right　home　to　me；　and　you；　too；　Miss
Raymond。〃

Ranald　took　his　place　in　the　stern　with　Maimie　reclining　in　the
canoe　so　as　to　face　him。

〃You　are　sure　you　are　comfortable；〃　he　said；　with　anxious　solicitude
in　his　tone。

〃Quite；〃　she　replied；　with　a　cosy　little　snuggle　down　among　the
cushions　placed　around　her。

〃Then　let　her　go；〃　cried　Ranald；　dipping　in　his　paddle。

〃Good　by；〃　cried　Kate；　waving　her　hand　at　them　from　the　rock。
〃We'll　meet　you　at　the　wharf。　　Take　good　care　of　your　invalid；
Ranald。〃

With　hardly　a　glance　at　her　Ranald　replied：　　〃You　may　be　sure　of
that；〃　and　with　a　long；　swinging　stroke　shot　the　canoe　out　into　the
river。　　For　a　moment　or　two　Kate　stood　looking　after　them；　and
then；　with　a　weary　look　in　her　face；　turned；　and　with　the
lieutenant；　followed　Madame　De　Lacy　and　Mr。　Sims。

〃You　are　tired；〃　said　the　lieutenant；　looking　into　her　face。

〃Yes；〃　she　replied；　with　a　little　sigh；　〃I　think　I　am　tired。〃

The　paddle　home　was　all　too　short　to　Ranald；　but　whether　it　took
minutes　or　hours　he　could　not　have　told。　　As　in　a　dream　he　swung
his　paddle　and　guided　his　canoe。　　He　saw　only　the　beautiful　face
and　the　warm　light　in　the　bright　eyes　before　him。　　He　woke　to　see
Kate　on　the　wharf　before　them；　and　for　a　moment　he　wondered　how　she
came　there。　　Once　more；　as　he　bore　her　from　the　canoe　to　the
carriage；　he　felt　Maimie's　arms　clinging　about　his　neck　and　heard
her　whisper；　〃You　will　not　leave　me；　Ranald；〃　and　again　he　replied；
〃No；　I　will　not　leave　you。〃

Swiftly　the　De　Lacy　carriage　bore　them　through　the　crooked；
climbing　streets　of　the　city　and　out　along　the　country　road；　then
up　a　stately　avenue　of　beeches；　and　drew　up　before　the　stone　steps；
of　a　noble　old　chateau。　　Once　more　Ranald　lifted　Maimie　in　his　arms
and　carried　her　up　the　broad　steps；　and　through　the　great　oak…
paneled　hall　into　Madame　De　Lacy's　own　cosy　sitting…room；　and　there
he　laid　her　safely　in　a　snug　nest　of　cushions　prepared　for　her。
There　was　nothing　more　to　do；　but　to