The pulses of the river, its windings1, and its swell3;
Who knew its closest secrets, by dark as well as light,
Each bluff4 and ringing forest, each swamp or looming5 height.
Mackay.
Early in the morning Winona appeared, surrounded by its protecting hills, reposing6, as do most of those pretty towns, in the shadow of the great bluffs7, “like peace in the bosom8 of strength.”
The boat stopped for some time at La Crosse, a very nourishing town. Here Mrs. Lester saw two Indians in blankets and leggings, a sight Norman missed, to his great disappointment. He was at the other end of the boat, too far off to be summoned in time.
The pilot, having just left his watch of six hours, came and invited them to 125come up to the pilot-house in the afternoon. It was a welcome invitation, for the day was very warm, and the pilot-house, with its cool breeze, and its commanding view of the scenery, was a most desirable place. Norman admired the handsome pilot as, with steadfast9 eye and erect10 figure, he stood at the wheel, scanning the waters, and guiding the vessel11 in the channel, winding2 round the islands, and from one shore to the other of the great river. Turning the wheel, first to the right, and then to the left, it seems very easy work, a very simple operation; and yet what destinies depend upon those movements; fortune, happiness, life, all involved! Hundreds of human beings pass days of enjoyment12 and nights of quiet rest because they have faith in their pilot.
And there are men who, as they guide the pen, or utter calm, truthful13 words, or pray in the deep of their hearts, seem to 126be doing very little, and yet those pen traces, those simple words, those earnest prayers, may guide hundreds in the perilous14 voyage of life, may direct their course away from the shoals and snags that threaten destruction, and float them safely to their desired haven15.
Norman was greatly mortified16 at the disabled state of the Grey Eagle, one wing broken, how could she maintain her triumphant17 flight? Others accustomed to yield the palm, now passed her with ease.
“I hope they know that her paddle-wheel is broken,” said Norman; “just look at those boats; what efforts they are making to pass us!”
Norman watched the boats with great interest, as they put on more steam, and darted18 past the Grey Eagle, making the landings before her, and carrying off the waiting passengers.
The view, crossing the river from Prairie du Chien, overlooking the islands as 127they now could from their elevated position, was extremely fine.
The Northern Light and the Grey Eagle met at M’Gregor’s Landing, and the captain of the latter was telling the captain of the former about his broken paddle-wheel and his consequently tardy19 progress.
“There is a lady trying to speak to you,” said the pilot. On the Northern Light was Mrs. Ralston, with whom Mrs. Lester had intended to journey to St. Paul. Handkerchiefs were waved and mute signals attempted, but the few desired words of explanation were wanting. Near and yet afar off. The boats soon parted for their opposite points of destination, and Mr. and Mrs. Ralston, from the hurricane deck, waved their good-by. Nearly opposite M’Gregor’s landing is the mouth of the Wisconsin River.
“There was a memorable20 voyage on that river nearly two hundred years ago,” 128said Mrs. Lester. “Two canoes, containing seven men, floated down these waters, ‘entering happily this great river with a joy that could not be expressed.’”
“Who were they, mother?”
“Father Marquette, the gentle, good missionary21; Joliet, a citizen of Quebec, and five Frenchmen, their companions. They had left the Fox River, which flows into Green Bay, and carrying their canoes, they crossed the narrow portage that divides it from the Wisconsin on the 10th of June, 1673. Down the river for seven days, floating in those majestic22 solitudes23, seeing neither man nor beast, passing beautiful prairies, and green hillsides, the discoverers at length reached the great river which they were seeking to find.
“And where did they go then?” asked Norman. “Over these waters the light birch bark canoes floated for about sixty leagues. Then they landed on the western bank of the river, where they saw 129foot-prints on the shore. They followed them till they came in sight of an Indian village.
“They commended themselves to God, and cried aloud. Four old men advanced to meet them, bearing the calumet, the peace-pipe, adorned24 with brilliant feathers, and saying, “We are Illinois,” which means, “We are men.” The Indians invited the strangers to their village, prepared a feast in their honor, and entertained them for six days. Several hundred warriors25 then escorted them to their canoes, hanging around the neck of Marquette, on parting, the calumet, with its plumage of various hues26, a pledge of safety for the wanderers among savage27 tribes.”
“Do go on, mother, and tell me something more about Marquette. I think his adventures are very interesting.”
“I know little more about him, except that he sailed down the river past the Missouri and the Ohio, and that some 130warlike Indians, armed with clubs, axes, bows and arrows, came out to meet them with the fearful war-whoop. Marquette stood up, holding the sacred peace-pipe, and God touched the hearts of the Indians, so that at the sight of this symbol they threw their bows and arrows into the canoes, and welcomed the strangers.
“On their return they sailed up the river Illinois, through the beautiful prairies. The tribe of Illinois that live on its banks wanted the good missionary to remain with them, and one of their chiefs, with his young men, led the party to Lake Michigan, by way of Chicago. Here Marquette remained to preach to the Miamis north of Chicago, and Joliet returned to Quebec, to announce the discovery of the upper Mississippi.
“And what became of the good Marquette?”
“Two years afterward28, as he was going to Mackinaw, he entered a little river in 131Michigan, which, for a long time afterward, was called by his name. He requested the men who paddled his canoe to carry him ashore29. They did so; and there, with no shelter but the little bark cabin which his men hastily erected30, he endured great agony. But he seems to have had faith in Christ, and died in great peace. In the gloom of the vast forests he slept to wake again in the green solitudes of the New World. His companions dug his grave on a rising ground near the river, and buried his body, which was afterward taken up by the Indians, and carried with great respect to old Mackinaw, and placed in a little vault31 of a Catholic church, which has long since disappeared.”
The scenery that on their upward course was vailed in mist and drizzling32 rain, was now seen in its “fairest, happiest attitude.” Nothing was wanting to “the gentle grace” of that parting day. Purple, 132crimson, and gold painted the western sky, as the sun sank slowly below the horizon, lighting33 up a fairy scene on the placid34 waters of the river. Then, as the onward35 motion of the boat rudely disturbed the sleeping glory, new combinations of beauty sought to make amends36 for the loss of the serene37 picture of the radiant heavens. Golden ripples38, a honeycomb of black and gold, lay between them and the wooded banks toward which, as the gorgeous tints39 now faded on earth and sky, Norman directed his attention.
Rocks, decayed trees and branches covered with moss40 and lichen41, were faithfully mirrored in the waters, giving a kaleidescopic effect to every object. Norman saw, simultaneously42 with his mother, exquisitely43 tinted44 butterflies, insects of green and gray, stone altars, rustic45 letters, and many other objects. Exclamations46 of wonder and admiration47 were echoed 133from one to the other at some of these marvelous combinations; and it was with reluctance48 they turned, as the twilight49 deepened, from the margin50 of the woodland to the clear outline of the trees against the western sky. There was still room for fancy to sketch51 her pictures, and call up birds and beasts in that varied52 outline.
“This is the pleasantest afternoon of all,” cried Norman; “it is so nice for us to be by ourselves.”
“And yet you forsook53 me first, Norman, and, absorbed in your play, lost the first views of the Mississippi. You said there was a want with children which children alone could supply—a demand of the social nature.”
“I know it, mother; I know that I said so, and I enjoyed those merry games very much; but after all this has been the happiest time.”
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1
windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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3
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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5
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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reposing
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的现在分词 ) | |
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bluffs
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| 恐吓( bluff的名词复数 )； 悬崖； 峭壁 | |
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8
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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9
steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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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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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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16
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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17
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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tardy
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| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
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memorable
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| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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23
solitudes
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| n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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26
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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27
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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30
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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31
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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32
drizzling
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| 下蒙蒙细雨，下毛毛雨( drizzle的现在分词 ) | |
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33
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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36
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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38
ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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39
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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40
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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41
lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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42
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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43
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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44
tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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45
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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46
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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47
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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48
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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49
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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50
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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51
sketch
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| n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述 | |
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52
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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53
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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