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！
〃And；〃 continued Ranald； with a little hesitation； 〃he told me he
would be wearing a jersey and duck trousers； and I think that was
very fine of him。〃
〃Why； of course；〃 said Harry； quite mystified； 〃what else would he
wear？〃
Ranald looked at him curiously for a moment； and said： 〃A swallow…
tail； perhaps； or a blanket； maybe；〃 and he turned away leaving
Harry more mystified than ever。
Soon after six； Harry paddled around in his canoe； and gave the
stern to Ranald。 What a joy it was to him to be in a canoe stern
again； to feel the rush of the water under his knees； to have her
glide swiftly on her soundless way down the full…bosomed； sunbathed
river； to see her put her nose into the little waves and gently；
smoothly push them asunder with never a splash or swerve； to send
her along straight and true as an arrow in its flight； and then
flip！ flip to swing her off a floating log or around an awkward
boat lumbering with clumsy oars。 That was to be alive again。 Oh；
the joy of it！ Of all things that move to the will of man there is
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