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！
Thou hast lain down to rest and to dream of me in thy slumbers！
When shall these eyes behold； these arms be folded about thee？〃
Loud and sudden and near the note of a whippoorwill sounded
Like a flute in the woods； and anon； through the neighboring
thickets；
Farther and farther away it floated and dropped into silence。
〃Patience！〃 whispered the oaks from oracular caverns of darkness：
And； from the moonlit meadow； a sigh responded； 〃To…morrow！〃
Bright rose the sun next day； and all the flowers of the garden
Bathed his shining feet with their tears； and anointed his
tresses
With the delicious balm that they bore in their vases of crystal。
〃Farewell！〃 said the priest； as he stood at the shadowy
threshold；
〃See that you bring us the Prodigal Son from his fasting and
famine；
And； too； the Foolish Virgin； who slept when the bridegroom was
coming。〃
〃Farewell！〃 answered the maiden； and； smiling； with Basil
descended
Down to the river's brink； where the boatmen already were
waiting。
Thus beginning their journey with morning； and sunshine； and
gladness；
Swiftly they followed the flight of him who was speeding before
them；
Blown by the blast of fate like a dead leaf over the desert。
Not that day； nor the next； nor yet the day that succeeded；
Found they trace of his course； in lake or forest or river；
Nor； after many days； had they found him； but vague and uncertain
Rumors alone were their guides through a wild and desolate
Country；
Till； at the little inn of the Spanish town of Adayes；
Weary and worn； they alighted； and learned from the garrulous
landlord；
That on the day before； with horses and guides and companions；
Gabriel left the village； and took the road of the prairies。
IV
Far in the West there lies a desert land； where the mountains
Lift； through perpetual snows； their lofty and luminous summits。
Down from their jagged； deep ravines； where the gorge； like a
gateway；
Opens a passage rude to the wheels of the emigrant's wagon；
Westward the Oregon flows and the Walleway and Owyhee。
Eastward； with devious course； among the Wind…river Mountains；
Through the Sweet…water Valley precipitate leaps the Nebraska；
And to the south； from Fontaine…qui…bout and the Spanish sierras；
Fretted with sands and rocks； and swept by the wind of the
desert；
Numberless torrents； with ceaseless sound； descend to the ocean；
Like the great chords of a harp； in loud and solemn vibrations。
Spreading between these streams are the wondrous； beautiful
prairies；
Billowy bays of grass ever rolling in shadow and sunshine；
Bright with luxuriant clusters of roses and purple amorphas。
Over them wandered the buffalo herds； and the elk and the
roebuck；
Over them wandered the wolves； and herds of riderless horses；
Fires that blast and blight； and winds that are weary with
travel；
Over them wander the scattered tribes of Ishmael's children；
Staining the desert with blood； and above their terrible
war…trails
Circles and sails aloft； on pinions majestic； the vulture；
Like the implacable soul of a chieftain slaughtered in battle；
By invisible stairs ascending and scaling the heavens。
Here and there rise smokes from the camps of these savage
marauders；
Here and there rise groves from the margins of swift…running
rivers；
And the grim； taciturn bear； the anchorite monk of the desert；
Climbs down their dark ravines to dig for roots by the
brook…side；
And over all is the sky； the clear and crystalline heaven；
Like the protecting hand of God inverted above them。
Into this wonderful land； at the base of the Ozark Mountains；
Gabriel far had entered； with hunters and trappers behind him。
Day after day； with their Indian guides； the maiden and Basil
Followed his flying steps； and thought each day to o'ertake him。
Sometimes they saw； or thought they saw； the smoke of his
camp…fire
Rise in the morning air from the distant plain； but at nightfall；
When they had reached the place； they found only embers and
ashes。
And； though their hearts were sad at times and their bodies were
weary；
Hope still guided them on； as the magic Fata Morgana
Showed them her lakes of light； that retreated and vanished
before them。
Once； as they sat by their evening fire； there silently entered
Into the little camp an Indian woman； whose features
Wore deep traces of sorrow； and patience as great as her sorrow。
She was a Shawnee woman returning home to her people；
From the far…off hunting…grounds of the cruel Camanches；
Where her Canadian husband； a Coureur…des…Bois； had been
murdered。
Touched were their hearts at her story； and warmest and
friendliest welcome
Gave they； with words of cheer； and she sat and feasted among
them
On the buffalo…meat and the venison cooked on the embers。
But when their meal was done； and Basil and all his companions；
Worn with the long day's march and the chase of the deer and the
bison；
Stretched themselves on the ground； and slept where the quivering
fire…light
Flashed on their swarthy cheeks； and their forms wrapped up in
their blankets
Then at the door of Evangeline's tent she sat and repeated
Slowly； with soft； low voice； and the charm of her Indian accent；
All the tale of her love； with its pleasures； and pains； and
reverses。
Much Evangeline wept at the tale； and to know that another
Hapless heart like her own had loved and had been disappointed。
Moved to the depths of her soul by pity and woman's compassion；
Yet in her sorrow pleased that one who had suffered was near her；
She in turn related her love and all its disasters。
Mute with wonder the Shawnee sat； and when she had ended
Still was mute； but at length； as if a mysterious horror
Passed through her brain； she spake； and repeated the tale of the
Mowis；
Mowis； the bridegroom of snow； who won and wedded a maiden；
But； when the morning came； arose and passed from the wigwam；
Fading and melting away and dissolving into the sunshine；
Till she beheld him no more； though she followed far into the
forest。
Then； in those sweet； low tones； that seemed like a weird
incantation；
Told she the tale of the fair Lilinau； who was wooed by a
phantom；
That； through the pines o'er her father's lodge； in the hush of
the twilight；
Breathed like the evening wind； and whispered love to the maiden；
Till she followed his green and waving plume through the forest；
And nevermore returned； nor was seen again by her people。
Silent with wonder and strange surprise； Evangeline listened
To the soft flow of her magical words； till the region around her
Seemed like enchanted ground； and her swarthy guest the
enchantress。
Slowly over the tops of the Ozark Mountains the moon rose；
Lighting the little tent； and with a mysterious splendor
Touching the sombre leaves； and embracing and filling the
woodland。
With a delicious sound the brook rushed by； and the branches
Swayed and sighed overhead in scarcely au