Westward1 by the Big-Sea Water.
? ? ? ?*? ? ? ?*? ? ? ?*? ? ? ?*? ? ? ?*
Can it be the sun descending2,
Sinking down into the water?
All the sky is stain’d with purple,
All the water flush’d with crimson3!”
Lake Superior, the mighty4 lake, fed by two hundred rivers and streams, plunging5 down falls and rapids to mingle6 their waters with those of this inland ocean; with its stern rocky walls, and overhanging crags; with its rich mines of copper7, silver, and iron; with its abundant fisheries of trout8, pickerel, pike, carp, black fish, and white fish; and with its grand pictured rocks, presenting columns, towers, arches, and ruins, and hollowed out into vast caverns9, echoing with tremendous roar to the dash of the waves. An excursion 209proposed to this lake offered great attractions, and Mrs. Lester was tempted10 to go on the fine steamer that was to take a party thither11.
Norman supplied himself with trolling-hook and fishing tackle, as the steamer was to stop frequently to allow the passengers to fish in those cold, clear, transparent12 waters. Charley Percy and his friend, Alfred Scarborough, somewhat older than himself, were going in the steamer to Collingwood, on their way to Niagara; so in the evening they went to the boat, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Percy, and Alfred’s father and mother. The saloon was gayly lighted up, the band playing; the state-rooms were very comfortable, and the beginning of the voyage at least was very promising13.
Good-by was said to their kind friends, and the steamer moved slowly down the river, past the warehouses14, and through the bridges, in the darkness, amid the 210gleaming lights here and there, and to the sound of music, and it all seemed very dream-like. At length they reached the lake, and the regular lines of light on Michigan Avenue sparkled as they sailed away. It was very late, near eleven o’clock, and the travelers soon sought the repose15 of their berths17. Mrs. Lester only wakened in the morning in time to see the graceful18 spires19 of Racine, sleeping in the early morning light.
About ten o’clock they sailed into the harbor of Milwaukee, built on both sides of the Milwaukee River, on a high bluff20 overlooking the lake. Most of the town is built of the Milwaukee brick, which is of a light straw-color; and though this brick is a very fine building material, yet it harmonizes too much with the color of the sandy streets and sandy bluff to give a fine effect to the town. A stronger contrast would be better. There are some very fine buildings; a hotel of beautiful 211and elaborate design, and a custom-house of fine architecture, built of white stone.
Until one o’clock “The Planet” remained at Milwaukee, awaiting the arrival of a party who wished to go on the excursion, and who had telegraphed them from Chicago, and this delay enabled the passengers to ride and walk about the town.
A sad sight met the eyes of those who remained on the boat. The steamboat Traveler was just passing them, on its way out of the harbor, when the mate, who had given some orders not followed to his satisfaction, let himself down from the upper deck, by catching21 hold of the middle rail of the balustrade. The rail broke, and the man was thrown into the water, probably receiving some mortal blow on the way, as he never rose. Truly there is but a step between us and death. In that calm water, on that still, sunny day, the hardy22 seaman23 who had braved 212death in the darkness and tempest, found a grave.
It was very warm, and all were glad when the steamer was once more in motion, and the fresh breezes of the lake came with their cooling for heated brows. It was rather too fresh after a while, and there was more motion than was consistent with the enjoyment24 of some of the passengers. There was a shower, too, dimpling the lake, and driving most of the people into the saloon.
Norman had his first experience of seasickness25, and retiring to his berth16 at five o’clock, he slept there till the morning. His mother was very sorry to have him miss that magnificent sunset on Lake Michigan. The rain had passed away, and a light breeze crisped the waters. The boat had made its last landing, and the little town they were leaving was glorified26 by its back ground of amber27, deepening into a brilliant orange. Every house 213and tree came out with marvelous distinctness, as the sun dipped behind the western horizon, and painted, after he had passed from view, a gorgeous picture as his parting gift—a gift not to be lost with the fleeting28 hour, or to be confounded with other gifts from the same source. It was marvelous in its beauty. Clouds of rich crimson, fading into brown, were festooned on the serene29 radiance of the clear sky. A wealth of celestial30 drapery seemed drawn31 aside to reveal the far-off glory. As these kindling32 hues33 faded away, a cloud nearer the horizon assumed the aspect of a woodland scene receding34 from the shore of the lake. There were the headlands jutting35 into the water, the nodding groves36, the bays running into the land. It was difficult to make all this extensive country only cloud-land, and the little company at the stern of the boat gazed upon it till the gathering37 darkness hid it from view.
214It was a night of glorious shows; about ten o’clock the northern lights threw up their quivering brilliant scintillations far up into the heavens, glorifying38 the north with a bow of flickering39 beauty, even as the west had been glorified with masses of magnificent clouds. The lake, however, was almost too rough to allow many spectators to enjoy this glimpse of northern splendors40, and most of the passengers sought the safe security of their berths.
Early in the morning Norman was called by his mother to come out on deck and see the Manitou Islands, with their sandy bluffs41 and crown of green trees. Norman looked at them a long time in silence by himself. When he came to his mother he said: “I feel almost as if I had been looking at the Holy Land; those islands were the holy land to the Indians, the dwelling-place of the Great Spirit, not to be approached by mortals.”
215“It made me very fanciful to look at them,” continued Norman. “The great cloud of smoke that our steamer is sending toward the island, and that now hovers42 over it, seemed to me an oblation43 to the great Manitou of the Indians.”
There was a visitor from those islands; a pretty little bird that lighted on the ropes, and jumped about the deck till frightened away.
They passed Beaver44 Island, once inhabited by the Mormons, who, the captain said, seemed a very quiet, inoffensive people when they lived there. He said they had been very kind in assisting him once when he ran ashore45 near their island.
After breakfast Norman, his mother, and Alfred Scarborough went to the hurricane deck. Soon a gentleman came up, and walked vigorously up and down, giving at each turn some good advice to Norman. He was an English clergyman, 216hale and fresh complexioned46, with a bright eye, and firm, quick step, though he was seventy years of age. “I have come out,” he said, “to get some fresh air before breakfast. There are not many young men that can run up a mountain like me. Many young men only smoke, and sleep, and eat; they never think of taking vigorous exercise. They will never be able to walk as I do at my age.
“Walk, my boy,” said he, putting his hand on Norman’s shoulder “run, leap, and you will grow strong. Those are the Fox Islands, are they? Well, I must go down to my breakfast, they will not make much on me; I can eat a pound more than I could have when I came up.” And thus ending his walk and sentences together, he went down stairs.
It was a lovely morning; the cool breeze was exhilarating, and the morning passed quickly away as they glided47 217through the straits that connect Lake Michigan and Lake Huron; the straits so long known under the formidable name of the Straits of Michilimackinac, now abridged48 to Mackinaw.
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1
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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3
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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4
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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mingle
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| vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往 | |
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7
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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11
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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12
transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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13
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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14
warehouses
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| 仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 ) | |
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15
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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16
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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berths
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| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
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18
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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20
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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21
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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hardy
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| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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24
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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25
seasickness
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| n.晕船 | |
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26
glorified
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| 美其名的，变荣耀的 | |
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27
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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31
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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32
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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33
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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34
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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35
jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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36
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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37
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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38
glorifying
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| 赞美( glorify的现在分词 )； 颂扬； 美化； 使光荣 | |
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39
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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40
splendors
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| n.华丽( splendor的名词复数 )；壮丽；光辉；显赫 | |
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41
bluffs
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| 恐吓( bluff的名词复数 )； 悬崖； 峭壁 | |
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42
hovers
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| 鸟( hover的第三人称单数 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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43
oblation
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| n.圣餐式；祭品 | |
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44
beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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45
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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46
complexioned
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| 脸色…的 | |
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47
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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48
abridged
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| 削减的，删节的 | |
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