a summer in a canyon-第8部分

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graceful　alders　and　poison…oak　bushes；　vivid　in　crimson　and　yellow
leaves；　while　delicate　maiden…hair　ferns　grew　in　miniature　forests
between　the　crevices　of　the　rocks；　yet；　with　the　practicality　of
Chinese　human　nature；　Hop　Yet　used　all　this　beauty　for　a　dish…pan　and
refrigerator！

Now；　confess　that；　after　having　seen　exactly　how　it　looks；　you　would
like　to　rub　a　magic　lamp；　like　Aladdin；　and　wish　yourself　there　with
our　merry　young　sextette。　　For　California　is　a　lovely　land　and　a
strange　one；　even　at　this　late　day；　when　her　character　has　been
nearly　ruined　by　dreadful　stories；　or　made　ridiculous　by　foolish
ones。

When　you　were　all　babies　in　long　clothes；　some　people　used　to　believe
that　there　were　nuggets　of　gold　to　be　picked　up　in　the　streets；　and
that　in　the　flowery　valleys；　flowing　with　milk　and　honey；　there　grew
groves　of　beet…trees；　and　forests　of　cabbages；　and　shady　bowers　of
squash…vines；　and　they　thought　that　through　these　fertile　valleys
strode　men　of　curious　mien；　wild　bandits　and　highway　robbers；　with
red　flannel　shirts　and　many　pockets　filled　with　playing…cards　and
revolvers　and　bowie…knives；　and　that　when　you　met　these　frightful
persons　and　courteously　asked　the　time　of　day；　they　were　apt　to　turn
and　stab　you　to　the　heart　by　way　of　response。

Now；　some　of　these　things　were　true；　and　some　were　not；　and　some　will
never　happen　again；　for　the　towns　and　cities　no　longer　conduct
themselves　like　headstrong　young　tomboys　out　on　a　lark；　but　have
grown　into　ancient　and　decorous　settlements　some　twenty…five　or
thirty　years　old。

Perhaps　California　isn't　really　so　interesting　since　she　began　to
learn　manners；　but　she　is　a　land　of　wonders　still；　with　her　sublime
mountains　and　valleys；　her　precious　metals；　her　vineyards　and
orchards　of　lemons　and　oranges；　figs；　limes；　and　nuts；　her　mammoth
vegetables；　each　big　enough　for　a　newspaper　story；　her　celebrated
trees；　on　the　stumps　of　which　dancing…parties　are　given；　her
vultures；　her　grizzly　bears；　and　her　people；　drawn　from　every　nook
and　corner　of　the　mappink；　yellow；　blue；　red；　and　green　countries。
And　though　the　story　of　California　is　not　written；　in　all　its
romantic　details；　in　the　school…books　of　to…day；　it　is　a　part　of　the
poetry　of　our　late　American　history；　full　of　strange　and　thrilling
scenes；　glowing　with　interest　and　dramatic　fire。

I　know　a　little　girl　who　crossed　the　plains　in　that　great　ungeneraled
army　of　fifteen　or　twenty　thousand　people　that　made　the　long　and
weary　journey　to　the　land　of　gold　in　1849。　　She　tells　her　children
now　of　the　strange；　long　days　and　months　in　the　ox…team；　passing
through　the　heat　and　dust　of　alkali　deserts；　fording　rivers；　and
toiling　over　steep　mountains。　　She　tells　them　how　at　night　she　often
used　to　lie　awake；　curled　up　in　her　grey　blanket；　and　hear　the　men
talking　together　of　the　gold　treasures　they　were　to　dig　from　the
groundtreasures；　it　seemed　to　her　childish　mind；　more　precious　than
those　of　which　she　read　in　The　Arabian　Nights。　　And　from　a　little
hole　in　the　canvas　cover　of　the　old　emigrant　wagon　she　used　to　see
the　tired　fathers　and　brothers；　worn　and　footsore　from　their　hard
day's　tramp；　some　sleeping　restlessly；　and　others　guarding　the　cattle
or　watching　for　Indians；　who　were　always　expected；　and　often　came；
and　the　last　thing　at　night；　when　her　eyes　were　heavy　with　sleep；　she
peered　dreamily　out　into　the　darkness　to　see　the　hundreds　of　gleaming
camp…fires；　which　dotted　the　plain　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach。


You　will　have　noticed　that　this　first　week　of　camp…life　was　a　quiet
one；　spent　mostly　by　the　young　people　in　getting　their　open…air　home
comfortably　arranged；　making　conveniences　of　all　kinds；　becoming
acquainted　with　the　canyon　so　far　as　they　could；　and　riding　once　or
twice　to　neighbouring　ranches　for　hay　or　provisions。

Dr。　Winship　believed　in　a　good　beginning；　and；　as　this　was　not　a
week's　holiday；　but　a　summer　campaign；　he　wanted　his　young　people　to
get　fully　used　to　the　situation　before　undertaking　any　of　the
exciting　excursions　in　prospect。　　So；　before　the　week　was　over；　they
began　to　enjoy　sound；　dreamless　sleep　on　their　hard　straw　beds；　to
eat　the　plain　fare　with　decided　relish；　to　grow　a　little　hardy　and
brown；　and　quite　strong　and　tough　enough　for　a　long　tramp　or
horseback　ride。

After　a　religious　devotion　to　cold　cream　for　a　few　nights；　Polly　had
signified　her　terrible　intention　of　'letting　her　nose　go。'　　'I　disown
it！'　she　cried；　peeping　in　her　tiny　mirror；　and　lighting　up　her　too
rosy　tints　with　a　tallow　candle。　　'Hideous　objick；　I　defy　thee！　　Spot
and　speckle；　yea；　burn　to　a　crisp；　and　shed　thy　skin　afterwards！　　I
care　not。　　Indeed；　I　shall　be　well　rid　of　thee；　thouh'mthou
well；　leopard；　for　instance。'

One　beautiful　day　followed　another；　each　the　exact　counterpart　of　the
one　that　had　preceded　it；　for　California　boys　and　girls　never　have　to
say　'wind　and　weather　permitting'　from　March　or　April　until　November。
They　always　know　what　the　weather　is　going　to　do；　and　whether　this　is
an　advantage　or　not　is　a　difficult　matter　to　settle　conclusively。

New　England　boys　affirm　that　they　wouldn't　live　in　a　country　where　it
couldn't　rain　any　day　it　felt　like　it；　and　California　lads　retort
that　they　are　glad　their　dispositions　are　not　ruined　by　the　freaks　of
New　England　weather。　　At　all　events；　it　is　a　paradise　for　would…be
campers；　and　any　one　who　should　assert　the　contrary　would　meet　with
energetic　opposition　from　the　loyal　dwellers　in　Camp　Chaparral。

Bell　returned　one　day　from　a　walk　which　she　had　taken　by　herself；
while　the　other　girls　were　off　on　some　errand　with　the　Doctor。　　After
luncheon　she　drew　them　mysteriously　into　the　square　tent；　and　lowered
the　curtains。

'What　is　it？'　Polly　whispered；　with　an　anxious　expression　of
countenance。　　'Have　you　lost　your　gold　thimble　again；　or　your　temper；
or　have　you　discovered　a　silver　mine？'

'I　have　found；'　she　answered　mysteriously；　'the　most　beautifully
secret　place　you　ever　beheld。　　It　will　be　just　the　spot　for　us　to
write　and　study　in　when　we　want　to　be　alone；　or　it　will　even　do　for　a
theatre；　and　it　is　scarcely　more　than　half　a　mile　up　the　canyon。'

'How　did　you　find　it？'　asked　Margery。

'As　I　was　walking　along　by　the　brookside；　I　saw　a　snake　making　its
way　through　the　bushes；　and'

'Goodness！'　shrieked　Polly；　'I　shall　not　write　there；　thank　you。'

'Goose！　　Just　wait　a　minute。　　I　looked　at　it；　and　followed　at　a
distance；　it　was　a　harmless　little　thing；　and　I　thought；　for　the　fun
of　it；　I　would　just　push　blindly　on　and　see　what　I　should　find；
because　we　are　for　ever　walking　in　the　beaten　path；　and　I　long　for
something　new。'

'A　bad　instinct；'　remarked　Madge；　'and　one　which　will　get　you　into
trouble；　so　you　should　crush　it　in　its　infancy。'

'Well；　I　took　up　my　dress　and　ploughed　through　the　chaparral；　until　I
came；　in　about　three　minutes　of　scratching　and　fighting；　to　an　open
circular　place　about　as　large　as　this　tent。　　It　was　exactly　round；
which　is　the　curious　part　of　it；　and　in　the　centre　was　one　stump；
covered　with　moss　and　surrounded　by　great　white　toadstools。　　How　any
one　happened　to　go　in　there　and　cut　down　a　single　tree　I　can't
understand；　nor　yet　how　they　managed　to　bring　out　the　tree　through
the　tangled　brush。　　It　is　so　strange　that　it　seems　as　if　there　must
be　a　mystery　about　it。'

'Certainly；'　said　Margery　promptly。　　'A　tragedy　of　the　darkest　kind！
Some　cruel　wretch　has　cut　down；　in　the　pride　and　pomp　of　it　beauty；
one　sycamore…tree；　its　innocent　life…blood　has　stained　the　ground；
and　given　birth　to　the　white　toadstools　which　mark　the　spot　and
testify　to　the　purity　of　the　victim。'

'Well；'　continued　Bell；　impressively；　'I　knew　I　could　never　find　it
again；　and　I　wanted　so　much　you　should　see　it　that　I　took　the　ball　of
twine　we　always　carry；　unrolled　it；　and　dropped　the　thread　all　the
way　along　to　the　brookside；　like　Phrygia；　or　Melpomene；　or　Anemone；
or　whatever　her　name　was。'

'Or　Artesia；　or　Polynesia；　or　Euthanasia；'　interrupted　Polly。　　'I
think　the　lady　you　mean　is　Ariadne。'

'Exactly。　　Now　we'll　take　papa　to　see　it；　and　then　we'll　fit　it　up　as
a　retreat。　　Won't　it　be　charming？　　We'll　call　it　the　Lone　Stump。'

'Oh；　I　like　that；　it　makes　me　shiver！'　cried　Polly。　　'I'm　going　to
write　an　ode　to　it　at　once。　　Ahem！　　It　shall　beginlet　me　see　…


'O　lonely　tree；
What　cruel　〃he〃
Did　lay　thee　low？
Tell　us　the　facts；
Did　cruel　axe
Abuse　thee　so？'


'Sublime！　　Second　verse；'　said　Bell　slowly；　with　pauses　between　the
lines：…


'Or　did　a　gopher；
The　wicked　loafer；
Gnaw　at　thy　base；
And；　doing　so；
Contrive　to　go；
And　leave　no　trace？'


'Oh　dear！'　sighed　Margery；　'if　you　will　do　it；　wait　a　minute。


'O　toadstools　white；
Pray　give　us　light
Upon　the　question。
Did　gopher　gnaw；
And　live　in　awe
Of　indigestion？'


'Good！'　continued　Bell：…


'Or　did　a　man
Malicious　plan
The　good　tree's　ruin；
And　leave　it　so
Convenient　low；
A　seat　for　Bruin？


For　travelling　grizzlies；　you　know。　　We　may　go　there　and　see　a　hungry
creature　making　a　stump…speech；　while　an　admiring　audience　of
grasshoppers　and　tarantulas　seat　themselves　in　a　circle　on　the
toadstools。'

'Charming　prospect！'　said　Madge。　　'I　don't　think　I　care　to　visit　the
Lone　Stump　or　pass　my　mornings　there。'

'Nonsense；　dear　child；　it　is　just　like　every　other　part　of　the
canyon；　only　a　little　more　lonely。　　It　is　not　half　a　mile　from　camp；
and　hardly　a　dozen　steps　from　the　place　where　the　boys　go　so　often　to
shoot　quail。'

'Very　well；'　said　the　girls。　　'We　must　go　there　to…morrow　morning；
and　perhaps　we'd　better　not　tell　the　boys；they　are　so　peculiar。
Jack　will　certainly　interfere　with　us　in　some　way；　if　he　hears　about
it。'

'Now　let　us　take　our　books　and　run　down　by　the　pool　for　an　hour　or
two；'　said　Bell。　　'Papa　and　the　boys　are　all　off　shooting；　and　mamma
is　lying　down。　　We　can　have　a　cool；　quiet　time；　the　sunshine　is　so
hot　here　by　the　tents。'

Accordingly；　they　departed；　as　they　often　did；　for　one　of　the
prolonged　chats　in　which　school…girls　are　wont　to　indulge；　and　which
so　often；　too；　are　but　idle；　senseless　chatter。

These　young　people；　however；　had　been　fortunate　in　having　the　wisest
and　most　loving　guardianship