a summer in a canyon-第6部分

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lamb　of　romance；　but　the　lamb　of　reality。　　You　can't　get　him
anywhere；　he　doesn't　know　enough。　　He　won't　drive；　he　can't　follow；
he's　too　stupid。　　Why；　I　went　out　for　a　couple　of　'em　once；　that　were
lost　in　the　canyon。　　I　found　them；that　was　comparatively　easy；　but
when　I　tried　to　get　them　home；　I　couldn't。　　At　last；　after　infinite
trouble；　I　managed　to　drive　them　up　on　to　the　trail；　which　was　so
narrow　there　was　but　one　thing　for　a　rational　creature　to　do；　and
that　was　to　go　ahead。　　Then；　if　you'll　believe　me；　those　idiots　kept
bleating　and　getting　under　the　horse's　fore…feet；　finally；　one　of
them；　the　champion　simpleton；　tumbled　over　into　the　canyon；　and　I
tied　the　legs　of　the　other　one　together；　and　carried　him　home　on　the
front　of　my　saddle。'

'They　are　innocent；　any　way；'　insisted　Margery。　　'I　won't　believe
they're　not。　　I　can't　bear　these　people　who　interfere　with　all　your
cherished　ideas；　and　say　that　Columbus　didn't　discover　America；　and
Shakespeare　wasn't　Shakespeare；　and　William　Tell　didn't　shoot　the
apple。'

'Nevertheless；　I　claim　that　the　lamb　is　not　half　so　much　an　emblem　of
innocence　as　he　is　of　utter　and　profound　stupidity。　　There　is　that
charming　old　lyric　about　Mary's　little　lamb；　I　can　explain　that。
After　he　came　to　school　（which　was　an　error　of　judgment　at　the　very
beginning）；　he　made　the　rumpus；　you　know　…


〃And　then　the　teacher　turned　him　out；
　　　But　still　he　lingered　nee…ar；
And　waited　patiently　about
　　　Till　Mary　did　appee…ar。〃


Of　course　he　did。　　He　didn't　know　enough　to　go　home　alone。


〃And　then　he　ran　to　her　and　laid
　　　His　head　upon　her　arr…um；
As　if　to　say；　'I'm　not　afraid；
　　　You'll　keep　me　from　all　harr…um。'〃


As　if　a　lamb　could　be　capable　of　that　amount　of　reasoning！　　And　then


〃'What　makes　the　lamb　love　Mary　so？
　　　The　eager　children　cry；
'Why；　Mary　loves　the　lamb；　you　know；'
　　　The　teacher　did　reply。〃


And　might　have　added　that　as　Mary　fed　the　lamb　three　times　a　day　and
twice　on　Sundays；　he　probably　not　only　knew　on　which　side　his　daily
bread　was　buttered；　but　also　who　buttered　it。'

'Dreadful　boy！'　laughed　Bell。　　'Polly；　pray　lower　the　umbrella；　we
are　going　to　meet　some　respectable　people；　and　we　actually　are　too
dirty　to　be　seen。　　I　have　really　been　eating　dust。'

'They　must　be　equally　dusty；'　said　Polly；　sagely。　　'Why；　it　is　the
Burtons；　from　Tacitas　ranch！'

The　Burton　ranch　wagon　was　drawn　up；　as　its　driver　recognised　Dr。
Winship；　and　he　proceeded　to　cheer　the　spirits　of　the　party　by
telling　them　that　he　had　passed　Pancho　two　hours　before；　and　that　he
was　busily　clearing　rubbish　from　the　camping…ground。　　This　was　six
o'clock；　and　by　a　little　after　eight　the　weary；　happy　party　were
seated　on　saddle…blankets　and　carriage…cushions　round　a　cheery　camp…
fire；　eating　a　frugal　meal；　which　tasted　sweeter　than　nectar　and
ambrosia　to　their　keen　appetites。

The　boys　expressed　their　intention　of　spending　the　night　in　unpacking
their　baggage　and　getting　to　rights　generally；　but　Dr。　Winship　placed
a　prompt　and　decisive　veto　on　this　proposition；　and　they　submitted
cheerfully　to　his　better　judgment。

Getting　to　bed　was　an　exciting　occupation　for　everybody。　　Dicky　was
first　tucked　up　in　a　warm　nest　of　rugs　and　blankets；　under　a　tree；
and　sank　into　a　profound　slumber　at　once；　with　the　happy
unconsciousness　of　childhood。　　His　father　completed　the　preparations
for　his　comfort　by　opening　a　huge　umbrella　and　arranging　it　firmly
over　his　head；　so　that　no　falling　leaf　might　frighten　him　and　no
sudden　gust　of　air　blow　upon　his　face。

Bell　stood　before　her　hammock；　and　meditated。　　'Well；'　she　said；
'going　to　bed　is　a　simple　matter　after　all；　when　you　have　shorn　it　of
all　useless　formalities。　　Let　me　see：　　I　generally　walk　to　and　fro　in
the　room；　eating　a　bunch　of　grapes　or　an　orange；　look　out　of　the
window　five　or　ten　minutes；　brush　my　hair；　read　my　chapter　in　the
Bible；　take　my　book　and　study　Spanish　five　minutes；　on　the　principle
of　that　abnormal　woman　who　learned　ninety…six　languages　while　she　was
waiting　for　the　kettle　to　boil　in　the　morning'

'Must　have　been　a　slow　boiler；'　interrupted　Polly；　wickedly。　　'Seems
to　me　it　would　have　been　economy　to　sell　it　and　buy　a　new　one。'

'Oh；　Polly！　you　are　so　wilfully　stupid！　　The　kettle　isn't　the　point
but　the　languages。　　Besides；　she　didn't　learn　all　the　ninety…six
while　the　kettle　was　boiling　once；　you　know。

'Oh；　didn't　she？　　That　alters　the　case。　　Thank　you；'　said　Polly；
sarcastically。

'Now　observe　me；'　said　Bell。　　'I　have　made　the　getting　into　a　hammock
a　study。　　I　first　open　it　very　wide　at　the　top　with　both　hands；　then；
holding　it　in　that　position；　I　gracefully　revolve　my　body　from　left
to　right　as　upon　an　imaginary　swivel；　meantime　I　raise　my　right　foot
considerably　from　mother　earth；　with　a　view　to　passing　it　over　the
hammock's　edge。　　Every　move　is　calculated；　you　perceive；　and　produces
its　own　share　of　the　perfect　result；　the　method　is　the　same　that
Rachel　used　in　rehearsing　her　wonderful　tragic　poses。　　I　am　now
seated　in　the　hammock；　you　observe；　with　both　hands　extending　the　net
from　side　to　side　and　the　right　foot　well　in　position；　I　now　raise
the　left　foot　with　a　swift　but　admirably　steady　movement；　and　I　am
Help！　　Help！！　　Murder！！！'

'In　short；　you　are　not　in；　but　out；'　cried　Polly；　in　a　burst　of
laughter；　for　Bell　had　leaned　too　far　to　the　right；　and　on　bringing
the　other　foot　in；　with　its　'swift　but　admirably　steady'　motion；　she
gave　a　sudden　lurch；　pulled　the　hammock　entirely　over　herself　and
fell　out　head　first　on　the　other　side；　leaving　her　feet　tangled　in
its　meshes。　　'Shall　we　help　her　out；　Meg？　　She　doesn't　deserve　it；
after　that　pompous　oration　and　attempt　to　show　off　her　superior
abilities。　　Nevertheless；　she　always　accepts　mercy　more　gracefully
than　justice。　　Heave　ahoy；　my　hearties！'

Bell　was　extricated；　and　looked　sufficiently　ashamed。

'We　are　much　obliged　for　the　lesson；'　said　Margery；　'but　the　method
is　open　to　criticism；　so　I　think　we'll　manage　in　our　ordinary　savage
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