Seven adventurous2 sea-gulls4, floating to and fro;
Diving for the bounty5 of the bread we threw,
Dipping, curving, swerving—fishing as they flew.
Mackay.
Just after dinner they reached Mackinaw, where a number of the excursionists were to remain until the boat returned from Collingwood. The captain said they would remain at Mackinaw time enough to visit the fort.
Ready at the gangway as the boat touched the shore, Mrs. Lester, Norman, with a number of others, rushed on shore, scarcely pausing to look through the clear, transparent6 water at the white pebbles7 of the beach. Up the hill to the fort, the sun shining down on them with fervent8 219heat, while his rays were reflected from the white walls. It was, however, a short, direct road, and the lovely view fully9 repaid them for the momentary10 heat. A peaceful scene lay beneath them; the quiet little village of Mackinaw, with its humble11 dwellings12; the beach, sweeping14 round in the form of a crescent, and the placid15 waters of Lake Huron beyond, made a pretty picture; the sentinel walking to and fro on his post; the heavy pieces of artillery16, and piles of shot and shell. Soldiers, grouped here and there, greatly interested Norman. The descent was very steep, and Norman in one minute found himself at the foot of the walled-in road which they had ascended17. On arriving at the boat they found the men engaged in putting on shore sheep and cattle for the support of the soldiers, whose provision is thus brought to them. Taking advantage of the delay, Norman rushed on shore to buy 220some birch bark boxes, filled with maple18 sugar, and embroidered19 in porcupine20 quills21. As he showed them to his mother on his return, she ventured up the street to buy some Indian work, emboldened22 by the sight of the captain walking before her.
A group of Indian women, in their own dress, with blue cloth blankets and leggings, attracted their attention as they entered the shop. They were Ottawas, and one of them had a face of great beauty. It was oval: her features were fine, and there was a pensive23 expression, a look of sadness on her face, that made her very interesting. Mrs. Lester wanted to look at that face of sorrowful meaning, and learn something of her history; but the sight of the captain, on his return to the boat, hastened her movements, and hastily selecting some fans and boxes of maple sugar, with an embroidered canoe of birch bark, she hurried away.
221Nine more sheep to land; there would have been a few moments to spare for a longer perusal24 of the face of that Ottawa maiden25, but it was safe to come when they did, and not run the risk of being left. And so they were once more in motion, with hastily gathered memories of Mackinaw, its town and fort.
“Norman,” said Mrs. Lester, “did you ever hear of a famous game of ball at Mackinaw?”
“No, mother; please tell me about it.”
“It was in June. A number of Indians had arrived near the fort, apparently26 to trade, and a day was appointed for a game of ball, of which they are very fond. Stakes were planted, and the game, in playing which the great object is to keep the ball beyond the adversary’s goal, began. The Indians uttered loud cries in the wild excitement of the game, and the commandant of the fort and his lieutenant27 stood outside of the gate to watch 222them. The ball was tossed nearer and nearer the fort, and the excited crowd of Indians ran and leaped after it, when suddenly they rushed upon the two officers at the gate, and imprisoned28 them. At once they joined some Indians who had come into the fort under pretense29 of trading, and imprisoned the whole garrison30, seventeen of whom they put to death.
“This was the beginning of Pontiac’s war.”
“I never heard of this game of ball,” said Norman; “but I can tell as good a story of a pair of moccasins. May I?”
“Certainly,” said his mother. “I would like to hear it.”
“Well, mother, I believe this was at the beginning of Pontiac’s war too. An Indian woman had made some moccasins for Major Gladstone, who commanded the fort at Detroit. They were made of a curious elk-skin that he valued very much. He paid her for them, and gave her the 223rest of the skin, asking her to make another pair for a friend of his. The squaw seemed unwilling31 to go home, and the major sent for her, and asked her what she was waiting for. She said she did not like to take the elk-skin that he thought so much of, as she could not make another pair of moccasins. He asked her why she could not make them. At first she would not tell; but then she said he had been very good to her, and she would tell him the secret, that she might save his life.
“The Indians, who had asked permission to visit the fort the next day, that they might present the calumet to Major Gladstone, were coming with their guns cut off, that they might hide them under their blankets; then, when Pontiac presented the calumet in some peculiar32 way, they were to fire upon the officers.
“The soldiers were stationed outside of the room where the council was to be held; the officers were armed, and when 224Pontiac was about to present the calumet, the officers partially33 drew their swords from their scabbards, and the clank of the soldiers’ arms was heard outside. Pontiac turned pale, and presented the calumet without the preconcerted signal.
“Major Gladstone then stepped up to one of the Indians, pulled aside his blanket, and revealed the gun cut short, just as the squaw had said. He accused Pontiac of treachery, but said that as he had promised them a safe audience, they might go out of the town unharmed.”
“Perhaps if he had kept them prisoners,” said Mrs. Lester, “he might have prevented the war that ensued.”
How beautiful the island looked in its commanding position! The high land in the center, with its lofty forests rising like a curve. How much they would have enjoyed the day that had been promised them at Mackinaw to visit the old fort on its central heights, the arched rock, and 225the wild solitudes35 of this picturesque36 region. The bold rock known as the Lover’s Leap stood out finely from the greenwood behind, and Norman listened to its story told him by Mr. Bard34. An Indian maiden, who had refused to marry a brave who loved her very much, was one day seated on this lofty rock, looking out on the grand view beneath her, when she heard a stealthy step, and her rejected lover stood by her side. The hour, the scene were propitious37 to his suit, and again it was urged with all the warmth of earnest affection. The maiden listened, hesitated, and at length told him that if he would leap off that cliff she would marry him. The Indian raised his tall form to its utmost height, looked at the sea, the sky, and then at the beautiful face for which he periled38 the sight of both, and leaped from the giddy verge39. Strange to say, without loss of life or limb, with the agility40 and skill of a well-trained Indian, 226he took the fearful leap, which was broken by the branches of trees and shrubbery beneath. And thus he won his Indian bride.
Mr. Bard, who had come to the country when there were but two houses in Chicago out of the fort, had been familiar with it when the Indian tribes roved at will over the vast prairies of Illinois. He spoke41 four of their languages, and could sing their songs. He had been twice cast away on the shores of Lake Michigan, and he could tell many a tale of wild adventure. More wonderful than any fairy tale was the aspect of the cultivated farms, the neat farm-houses, the numerous villages and towns, with their spires42 pointing skyward, the great city that had all grown up in a few years beneath his eye. And those red men, with whom he had been so familiarly associated, where had they gone? How rapidly those western regions are losing the element of the picturesque 227that the Indian with his bark canoe and his wigwam give to their lakes and rivers, with their wooded shores.
He told Norman of a most curious scene he had once witnessed. An Indian had a very handsome pony43, which another Indian was anxious to purchase, but which he resolutely44 refused to sell. They were both drinking, when the owner of the pony, finding his stock of whisky exhausted45, asked the other to give or sell him a mouthful from his remaining bottle. He at first declined, but, on being entreated46, said that he would give him a mouthful of whisky for the pony. The Indian at once consented to give up his favorite horse for the momentary gratification, and putting his lips to those which had recently imbibed47 the whisky, he received the stipulated48 mouthful.
It was a repetition, in these western wilds, of the old Hebrew story, the sacrifice of a birthright by the hungry hunter 228for the mess of pottage given him by the plain man dwelling13 in tents. Well, were this the solitary49 repetition! but, alas50! Esaus are found in all our borders, giving up, for the indulgence of present clamorous51 desires, an inheritance more glorious than any to which the first-born of earth could ever lay claim.
The captain asked Norman if he had seen the northern lights the evening before. Norman said that he was asleep, and asked the captain if he frequently saw them.
“O yes,” he replied, “they are very brilliant in these high latitudes52. The Indians think they are the dance of the dead. One evening I came on deck, and looking up at that pole I saw a bird just resting on the gilt53 ball that surmounts54 it. I seemed to hear the soft flutter of her wings. I watched it for some time, and then went in and called the engineer to look at it. He too saw it, and when I 229turned to look at the boat every line and point seemed luminous55. He was showing it to some ladies, and pointing toward it a light blue flame streamed from his finger. Everything was highly charged with electricity, which produced the semblance56 of the bird on the flagstaff on the bow. I never saw anything like it.”
“How long did it last?” asked Norman.
“About two hours.”
Norman then asked him about Lake Superior, and he told him of the wonderful beauty of the pictured rocks, of the castles and temples jutting57 out of their bold front, of their arched caverns58; that those majestic59 rocks, three hundred feet high, extend ten miles, and the Indians passed them with awful reverence60, thinking that they were the dwelling-place of the great Manitou.
The captain spoke of the sudden storms so violent in this “Big Sea Water” in the 230autumn, and showed Norman a very beautiful gold watch that had been presented to him by the citizens of Superior City, in honor of his courage, skill, and fidelity61 when his vessel62 was exposed to a severe storm, and he brought her safely through the snow, and ice, and tempest. On the case was engraved63 a picture of the “Lady Elgin,” and on the heavy gold chain, secured by an anchor to his buttonhole, were his initials, in massive gold letters.
The captain showed Norman the straits that led up into Lake Superior, and he regretted his mother had given up the excursion around the lake. She concluded that as they had been gone two months from home, it would not be well to set out on an excursion that would detain them ten or twelve days longer, and expose them, moreover, to traveling on the Sabbath. The home prospect64 looked so bright, however, that they did not regret very much 231the loss of the sight of the prairies and rocks, and all the desolate65 glories of this great lake.
“Norman,” said his mother, “just think of the courage it must have required when, more than two hundred years ago, two French missionaries66 sailed over these lonely lakes. They were seventeen days in a light bark canoe. They sailed past the pretty islands we shall soon see in Georgian Bay, and over the clear waters upon which we are now sailing, up the river St. Mary, which the captain showed you, which leads to Lake Superior, and there, at the Sault St. Marie, they told the Indians about Jesus:
“‘A birch canoe with, paddles,
Rising, sinking on the water,
Dripping, flashing in the sunshine,
And within it came a people
From the distant land of Wabrun,
From the farthest realms of morning
Came the black-robe chief, the prophet,
He the priest of prayer; the pale-face
With his guides and his companions.’”
232A lady showed Norman a picture of the rapids at the Sault St. Marie, with a number of Indians in their canoes; and the captain said they would paddle their canoes up the rapids, and then throwing their nets in the water as they came down, would catch the fish going up the stream.
After tea they seated themselves in the stern of the vessel, and looked at her track far over the lake. The air was cool and exhilarating, and it was with devout67 gratitude68 to God for the wonderful display of his mighty69 works, and for his abundant blessings70, that some of the company gazed upon the serene71 glory of the sunsetting. It was not gorgeous, as was the sunset on Lake Michigan, with clouds of purple and crimson72, but slowly, slowly the shining orb73 dipped behind the waters. The evening star hung trembling in the sky, faintly shining out from that region of pale gold; while the moon, high in the western 233heavens, promised for many hours her silvery light.
Norman brought out his trolling-hook, that he might have the pleasure of throwing it into Lake Huron, as he was denied that of fishing in Lake Superior. He let it out at the end of a long and strong fishing line, and amused himself watching it bounce out of the water, and feeling the twitches74 it gave his hand as the boat moved rapidly onward75. A lady, who sat near, was very much amused at the stout76 resistance of the waves. At length Norman drew in his line, and lo! and behold77 the hook was gone. The action of the waves had worn away the stout cord, made still stronger by being wound around with thread.
“There,” said Norman, “I have lost the hook which cost me twenty-five cents.”
“I think it has given us twenty-five cents’ worth of pleasure,” said the lady, who had been watching the dancing line.
234“And you have the honor of having lost your hook in the clear waters of Lake Huron,” added his mother. Norman was meanwhile tying to the end of his line the little board on which the line had been wound, and he threw that in the water in place of the hook. This was a more stirring pastime. The board offered so much stronger resistance to the waves, that Norman had to wind the line several times around his hand to retain his hold. At one moment the jerk was so violent, that the cord drew the boy toward the low balustrade, over which he might have easily gone, but for the interposing arms of the lady and his mother, at once thrown round him. There was a start among the little company as they perceived the boy’s danger, and Mrs. Lester told Norman he had now better draw in his line.
A new entertainment succeeded. Norman had been watching a sea-gull3 that 235had been following directly in the track of their vessel for many miles long before sunset; those untiring wings of snowy white had borne the graceful78 bird onward, and ever and anon she made a circling sweep, and rested a while on the bosom79 of the water.
“Norman,” said Mrs. Bard, “you go to the pantry, and ask for some pieces of bread, and throw them in the water, and you will soon have a flock of sea-gulls following you.”
Norman waited not a second bidding, and soon came back with some rolls and pieces of bread. He threw some in, and the gull did not see them. He then waited till the bird came quite near the vessel, and threw it up toward her. Then he had the satisfaction of seeing the gull slowly circle round and round, till it picked up the morsel80 of bread. In a few minutes another gull came, and then another, and then another, till six white birds, on rapid 236wing, were hovering81 over the vessel’s track, and picking up the bread cast upon the waters.
Norman’s delight knew no bounds. It is pleasant to feed chickens in a barn-yard; but what is that compared to feeding gulls on Lake Huron, and seeing them wing their flight at your call through the trackless solitudes of air. He was sorry when the darkness prevented the sea-gulls from seeing the pieces of bread, and they
“Wing’d their way to far-off islands,
To their nests among the rushes.”
The evening star soon set, and the moon was left pale empress of the sky. How glorious was the path of silvery light she threw across the water. Sweet strains of music sounded from the band, and the eye, following that radiant pathway, would see in it now a silvery cascade82, and now a shining road to a niche83, in which hung the moon, the crescent lamp of night. It was a sweet conclusion to a day rich in enjoyment84. Sea, sky, and air had brought their tribute; and the heart of man had rejoiced, as the eye took in this wealth of beauty. What suitable expression those feelings found in the language of the nineteenth Psalm85!
237
No. 666.
COMMON GULL.
239“The heavens declare the glory of God,
And the firmament86 showeth his handy work.
Day unto day uttereth speech,
And night unto night showeth knowledge.
There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
Their line is gone out through all the earth,
And their words to the end of the world.”
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收听单词发音
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1
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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gull
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| n.鸥；受骗的人；v.欺诈 | |
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gulls
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| n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bounty
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| n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与 | |
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transparent
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| adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的 | |
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7
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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8
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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9
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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10
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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11
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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12
dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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13
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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14
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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15
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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16
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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17
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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19
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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20
porcupine
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| n.豪猪， 箭猪 | |
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21
quills
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| n.（刺猬或豪猪的）刺( quill的名词复数 )；羽毛管；翮；纡管 | |
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22
emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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24
perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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25
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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26
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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27
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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28
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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30
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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31
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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32
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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34
bard
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| n.吟游诗人 | |
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35
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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36
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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37
propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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38
periled
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| 置…于危险中（peril的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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39
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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40
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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41
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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42
spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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43
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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44
resolutely
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| adj.坚决地，果断地 | |
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45
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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46
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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48
stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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49
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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50
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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51
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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52
latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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53
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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54
surmounts
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| 战胜( surmount的第三人称单数 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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55
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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56
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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57
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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58
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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59
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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60
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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61
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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62
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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63
engraved
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| v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中） | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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missionaries
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| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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73
orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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twitches
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| n.（使）抽动， （使）颤动， （使）抽搐( twitch的名词复数 ) | |
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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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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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cascade
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| n.小瀑布，喷流；层叠；vi.成瀑布落下 | |
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niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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85
psalm
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| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
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firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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