They sat around the fire talking and sewing busily, for it was true that much had been neglected in the enjoyment2 of other things. Beatrice, the least enthusiastic seamstress of the three, was the one whose wardrobe needed the most repair, since her scrambles3 over the mountains had wrought4 more ruin than she had realized. If Aunt Anna had not mended the rent in her riding skirt and Nancy had not sewed up the rip in her sheepskin coat, she would never have come to the end.
“I seem to have strewed5 the whole State of Montana over with buttons,” she declared with a sigh, “but, oh, how much I have seen while I have been doing it! If it is still raining to-morrow, I think Buck6 will kick out the side of his stall, he is so impatient to be off again, and so am I.”
There was a promise of clearing at sunset, for the clouds began to lift, and patches of blue sky showed to the westward7, a hopeful sign for the morrow. The peak of Gray Cloud Mountain, visible from their doorstep, loomed8 through the mist that had shrouded9 it from view and before dark showed its towering outline, clear-cut against the clouds. And never, never, so Beatrice and Nancy thought, had they seen a more glorious day than the morrow turned out to be. With the whole world washed clean, with the dripping water dried up in an hour by the all-conquering sunshine, it seemed that nothing could be more perfect.
Before they had finished breakfast, there was a loud trampling10 of hoofs11 outside, announcing a cavalcade—Hester Herrick on her pinto pony12, Dr. Minturn with her, and Olaf riding behind leading a packhorse.
“It is the day of all days for a picnic,” Hester announced. “All the time you have been here, we have talked of going to Eagle Rock, and you promised to come with me the first day I could arrange it. Christina will spend the day with Miss Deems, this horse that Olaf is on will do for Nancy to ride; and everything we could possibly need is packed on old Martha here. Dr. Minturn rode by our house this morning, and thought he would come over with me; though he is in a hurry to get to the village. He will come back this evening after we have got home to make your aunt a real, proper visit. Do say you will come.”
Her eagerness and the inviting13 beauty of the day were not to be denied, so that in a moment Nancy and Beatrice were running to and fro in hasty preparation.
“Bring warm coats and your swimming suits and hurry,” Hester directed. “Olaf will saddle Buck while you are getting ready.”
It was well that Olaf was there to deal with Beatrice’s pony, for with the gathered energy of two days’ vacation, Buck went through all the tricks in his repertoire14 during the cinching of the saddle. He was off down the trail like an arrow the moment his mistress was in the saddle, leaving the others trailing far behind. They came together soon, however, and climbed merrily upward, looking back at the valley mapped out below them and at the bare, brown slopes of the range opposite. They looked so near in the clear air that Beatrice shouted, “to see if there would be an echo.”
“Hardly,” commented Hester, “for they are twenty miles away.”
Beatrice tried many times, as they went along, to think of some question to put to Hester that might bring forth15 information about John Herrick, but no matter how often she led up to it, she was never able to think what to say. She had told Nancy of that strange scene in the moonlight, and she was afraid now of her sister’s blunt frankness, should the talk touch upon that matter of which both their minds were so full. In the end, therefore, she said nothing.
They reached Eagle Rock well before noon, unsaddled their horses, removed the generous bundles of lunch from the back of the willing pack-pony, and turned all four out to graze. Above them rose abruptly16 a huge gray mass of granite17, set in the midst of a smooth slope of grass and scrubby trees. A clear stream swept in a curve below the foot of the rock, spread to a broad pool, and then ran babbling18 out of sight among the trees. Hester, who was, in her own sphere, a capable and self-reliant young person, showed them how to hobble the horses lest they stray too far, how to build a fireplace of stones with its back to the wind, and then brought out her fishing tackle and set about teaching the two girls how to catch rainbow trout19.
Beatrice succeeded very badly, displaying a great talent for tangling20 her hook in the bushes when she tried to learn to cast. She laid down her rod after a little, stretched herself upon her back on the warm grass, and fell to watching the fleet of towering white clouds that went drifting overhead. One of them, which looked even more than the others like a tall vessel21 with curved and shining sails, had come to grief on the jagged shoulder of Gray Cloud Mountain and hung there, beating itself to pieces, growing thinner and thinner as it spread out in long wreaths across the glowing blue sky. Some of Beatrice’s cares and worries seemed to be fading from her mind in much the same way, blown afar by the brisk, warm gusts22 of wind.
“I believe everything will come out right after all,” she thought, “and I shall know, when the time comes, what I ought to do.”
She got up at last and went to join the others, who greeted her with reproaches for having made so little effort to catch any fish.
Nancy, more patient and painstaking23, had come into better fortune. She had learned to cast, after a fashion, and had managed to dangle24 her gay-colored fly in the water at the edge of a riffle just as Hester had instructed her. Then came the first tug25 at her line, a magic quiver which seemed to send an electric shock of excitement all up her arm. In that second she became a fisherman.
They landed twelve trout between them, although Hester’s share was by far the greater, and they ate all twelve for the lunch that they spread on a flat, sun-warmed shelf of Eagle Rock. Such a feast as it was, with sizzling fried bacon, toasted cheese sandwiches, hot cocoa, and the trout cooked to a turn by Hester. Afterward26 they sat and talked for a very long time, talked of everything and of nothing, until Hester jumped up and said there was only just time for a swim before going home.
“I did not know,” said Nancy a little doubtfully, “that swimming was one of the usual sports in the Rocky Mountains.”
“Most of the water is too cold to be pleasant,” replied Hester, “but this pool is warm enough. It is the only one I know of. Roddy found it long ago, and taught me to swim here. He says perhaps it was beavers28 that helped to dam it and went away years before we discovered it. The stream is fed by melted snow, like all the others, but it runs very shallow for miles above here, out in the open where the sun can warm it. By mid-afternoon, like this, it is not cold at all.”
She donned her bathing suit and dropped into the water with a splash. After a moment of doubt and hesitation29, her two friends followed.
“Oh!” cried Beatrice and “Oh,” echoed Nancy, “I did not know it would be like this!”
A person who has never bathed in the clear, rock pools of the high mountainsides cannot know what real exhilaration is. The two girls caught their breath with delight and wonder, with a pleasure that was quite indescribable. To plunge30 into the crystal-blue water, to know that it has poured down from the vast glaciers31 and great, empty snow-fields where no human foot ever comes, to feel all the tingling32 freshness of the water without its deadly cold—there are few things like it in the world. The girls laughed and splashed and swam and floated until Hester warned them that it was not wise to stay in too long, and they came out reluctantly to dry themselves in the sun.
They scrambled33 almost to the top of Eagle Rock, found a shelf that was sheltered from the wind, and sat down in a row, swinging their feet over the void beneath and looking out over the long ranges of hills and mountains, brown, russet, red, and chrome-yellow, fading to the blue peaks in the far distance.
“That must be a mountain sheep, that dot moving there opposite us,” Hester observed. “And you can see Gray Cloud Pass over beyond the shoulder of this nearest hill. The tuft of green above is that stretch of woods growing around the lake, but see how bare the slope is where it goes up beyond—nothing but solid rock and overhanging cliffs to the very top. There is a little trail that picks its way back and forth over the face of the mountain; it is called Dead Man’s Mile, there is so much danger, just there, from unsteady footing and rocks falling from above.”
Beatrice remembered how she had come to grief even on the lower, easier slope, and shuddered34 at the thought of the difficulties higher up.
“Yet I should like to climb it,” she thought. The very impossibility of the idea made it seem all the more inviting.
They sat there even after they were dry, but finally Hester, with a sigh, declared they must go.
“It has been such a pleasant day,” she said, “I hate to have it end. We—we aren’t very happy at home, just now, Roddy and I.”
“What!” exclaimed Nancy. “What can be the matter?”
“I don’t know,” Hester answered hopelessly. “I really brought you here so that we could talk about it, but it has been so hard to speak that I haven’t said anything, and now it is time to go home. Long ago Roddy used to be like this sometimes. He would look worried and troubled for days and at last would go off, camping in the hills, hunting and fishing and thinking things out, and he would come home quite cheerful again. That was long, long past; I had almost forgotten it, but now it has all come back again. He is miserable35 and restless, and troubled over something I can’t understand. Just last night he asked me the strangest thing. He wanted to know if I could be happy in some other place if he decided36 not to live here any longer. And I had thought he loved Gray Cloud Mountain best of any place in the world!”
If John Herrick did not tell her his secret, they had no right to do so. Such was the unspoken message that passed between the sisters as Nancy tried to offer comfort, with very little success.
“I suppose there is no use in talking of it,” said little Hester at last with a sigh. “Things may be better some time. Well, we must be going home. Climb down, and I will show you how to throw the diamond hitch38 on a packhorse.”
The ride home was less hilarious39 than their setting out had been, and Beatrice and Nancy went up the path to the cabin with no very light hearts. In the evening, however, they were made happy again by a visit from Dr. Minturn and his very good report of Aunt Anna.
“I could not ask for anything better,” he declared, fully27 as delighted as were they. The beaming warmth of his smile seemed to light the whole room.
“I have something to propose,” he went on. “Nancy here has come to be more of a rider than she was when I visited you before, and I have been wondering if she would go over the pass with me to-morrow and spend a few days with Miriam. Mrs. Minturn has asked me over and over again if she couldn’t learn to know both the girls, and this is a good chance. Beatrice can ride over to come back with her, since she should not go over the trail alone.”
It was difficult to persuade Nancy to leave her housekeeping, but arguments prevailed at last and she set off next morning, with many last messages and instructions to Beatrice, and with a great deal of pleasure and excitement shining in her eyes. John Herrick had sent over the same horse she had ridden yesterday, a gentle creature on which she was more comfortable than when mounted upon the gay spirited Buck. Beatrice was to follow in three days to come back with her. The house seemed very empty without her busy presence, and Olaf, when he came with the milk, declared that nothing was the same at all with Miss Nancy gone.
“And things aren’t very cheerful where I live, either,” he said. “Miss Hester has been crying, and that Dabney Mills has been hanging around the place. He brings no good with him, whatever he comes for.”
Beatrice was not inclined to take the amateur detective very seriously; but, she was concerned indeed to hear that Hester was still unhappy. She was desirous of riding over to see her, but her unpractised skill as a housewife made it difficult for her to find a spare moment. Most of the next day passed without her having time for visiting, but when evening came she was ordered by Aunt Anna to go out for a little, since she had toiled40 in the house all day. As there was not time enough for a ride, she strolled down the path under the pines and stood at the bars of the gate, watching the slow tide of shadows creep up the hillsides opposite. For so long a time did she stand there that when two figures came down the hill from the direction of John Herrick’s house it was too dark to see who they were, and they were only to be recognized by their voices. The loudness of their speech indicated that neither Olaf nor Dabney Mills was in a friendly mood.
“We give you warning,” Olaf was saying, “that you are not to come on John Herrick’s place again. You are to ask no more questions of anybody. You are to put that note-book in your pocket and shut your mouth and get out. If you show yourself here again, you will get something that will make what you took from the bear seem like a love-pat.”
“You warn me? Who are you, giving orders?” Dabney Mills thrust his face forward sharply and spoke37 almost into the other’s. “Who are you? That’s what I’m asking?”
Olaf hesitated, then swung about without replying and strode off up the hill.
“Imposter!” cried Dabney after him. “Liar!” He caught sight suddenly of Beatrice beside the gate and changed his manner quickly.
“Good evening,” he said pleasantly, “might I ask——”
He had glanced upward toward Olaf, disappearing in the dusk, so that Beatrice guessed the question concerned him, and interrupted.
“There is no use in your asking me anything,” she said. “We are all very tired of your questions, and think you have no right to ask them.”
“Oh, I don’t want to inquire about him,” returned Dabney, indicating Olaf with a jerk of his thumb. “I know who he is all right—Christina’s boy that went off to sea, and that has such a warm welcome waiting for him in Ely. I found out who he was the day the bear knocked me out. I came to and saw him hanging over that precipice41 and I knew, all in a minute, that only a sailor could have the head to do such a thing. I had my suspicions before, and I only needed that to make me sure.”
“If you tell about him in the village,” said Beatrice, growing rather indiscreet in the defense42 of Olaf, “he may have something to tell about you and my sister and the bear.”
“Oh, I don’t care to talk very much about him for a while,” Dabney declared hastily. “It’s another person I have my eye on—bigger game than Olaf Jensen. I’m trying to find out who took that money and broke up the work down in Ely. And I’ve about found out, too.”
He gave her a long meaning look and turned away.
“Wait!” cried Beatrice. “You don’t mean that you think Olaf——” She could not go on.
“What’s he hanging around here for, afraid to show himself and afraid to go away? Oh, he’s in it all right; he may even have done the actual stealing, but not just for himself. There’s some one else involved—some one higher up. I’ll soon be able to tell who took the company’s money and wrecked43 the whole project.”
“Who?” the question broke from Beatrice in a cry of anger, but she felt also a sickening dread44 and foreboding of what his answer would be.
“Oh, I’m not telling—yet,” he replied, quite restored to his usual impudent45 calm. “He’s a fellow that it will be hard to prove anything against. Most people, even the laborers46, talk pretty well of him, and nobody knows anything to his discredit47. Nobody knows very much about him at all, as far as I can make out. But I’ve got my proofs all lined up and with just a little more——”
“Who?” cried Beatrice desperately48 again.
Dabney Mills merely jerked his thumb toward where the lights of John Herrick’s house were shining among the trees. Even as they looked up, the door opened, showing, silhouetted49 against the light within, Hester and John Herrick standing50 on the threshold. He turned as though to bid her good-by, then strode down the steps without looking back. She stood, however, with the door still open and the light streaming out, so that they could see him mount his horse and ride away up the trail into the mountains.
“Yes,” said Dabney, “that’s the one.”
But Beatrice did not answer.
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收听单词发音
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1
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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2
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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3
scrambles
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| n.抢夺( scramble的名词复数 )v.快速爬行( scramble的第三人称单数 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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4
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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5
strewed
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| v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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6
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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7
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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8
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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9
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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10
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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11
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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13
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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14
repertoire
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| n.(准备好演出的)节目，保留剧目；(计算机的)指令表，指令系统， <美>(某个人的)全部技能；清单，指令表 | |
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15
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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16
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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17
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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babbling
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| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
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19
trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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20
tangling
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| （使）缠结， （使）乱作一团( tangle的现在分词 ) | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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22
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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23
painstaking
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| adj.苦干的；艰苦的，费力的，刻苦的 | |
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24
dangle
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| v.(使)悬荡，(使)悬垂 | |
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25
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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28
beavers
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| 海狸( beaver的名词复数 )； 海狸皮毛； 棕灰色； 拼命工作的人 | |
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29
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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30
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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31
glaciers
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| 冰河，冰川( glacier的名词复数 ) | |
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32
tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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33
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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34
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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35
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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36
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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37
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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38
hitch
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| v.免费搭(车旅行)；系住；急提；n.故障；急拉 | |
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39
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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40
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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41
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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42
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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43
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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44
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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45
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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46
laborers
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| n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工 | |
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47
discredit
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| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
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48
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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49
silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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50
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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