"Possibly it might be done," I admitted slowly. "'Tis scarce farther than I swam just now, and he is neither weary nor wounded."
We all realized it was a useless peril13 to remain there longer, and I sat at the helm and watched, while Burns, who developed considerable knowledge in such matters, fitted the heavy sail in place. With the North Star over the water for our guidance, I headed the blunt nose of the boat due eastward14 into the untracked waters.
I confess that my memory was still lingering upon De Croix, and my eyes turned often enough along our foam-flecked wake in vague wonderment at his fate. It was Mademoiselle who laid hand softly on my knee at last, and aroused my attention to her.
"Why did you tell Sister Celeste that you came to Dearborn seeking Elsa Matherson?" she questioned, her clear eyes intently reading my face.
"I had even forgotten that I mentioned it," I answered, surprised at this query15 at such a time. "But it is strictly16 true. While upon his death-bed Elsa ? 380 ? Matherson's father wrote to mine,—they were old comrades in the great war,—and I was sent hither to bring the orphan17 girl eastward. I sought her as a brother might seek a sister he had never seen, Mademoiselle; yet have failed most miserably18 in my mission."
"How failed?"
"In that I have found no trace of the girl, and beyond doubt she perished in the massacre19. I know not how, but I have been strangely baffled and misled from the first in my search for her, and it was all to no purpose."
For the first time since I had fallen dripping into the boat, a slight smile was visible in the dark eyes fronting me.
"Why hid you from me with such care the object of your search?"
"Ay, indeed you told me you sought a young girl, and your words led me to think at first it must be Josette, and later still the Indian missionary21. But not once did you breathe the name of the girl in my ears. The dwellers22 at Dearborn were neither so many nor so strange to me that I could not have aided you in your search."
"You knew this Elsa Matherson?"
"I am not so sure of that, Master Wayland," she ? 381 ? returned gravely, her eyes wandering into the night. "Once I thought I did, but she has changed so greatly in the last few days that I am hardly sure. A young girl's life is often filled with mystery, and there are happenings that turn girlhood to womanhood in a single hour. Love has power to change the nature as by magic, and sorrow also has a like rare gift. Do you still greatly wish to find this Elsa Matherson?"
"To find her?" and I gazed about me incredulously into those flitting shadows where the waves raced by. "Ay, for I have dreamed of her as of a lost sister, and it will sadly grieve those at home to have me return thus empty-handed. Yet the thought is foolishness, Mademoiselle, and I understand not why you should mock me so."
She drew closer, in the gentle caressing23 way she had, and found my disengaged hand, her sweet face held upward so that I could mark every changing expression.
"Never in my useless life was I farther removed from any spirit of mockery," she insisted, soberly; "for never before have I seen the presence of God so clearly manifest in His mysterious guidance of men. You, who sought after poor Elsa Matherson in this wilderness, looking perchance for a helpless orphan child, have been led to pluck me in safety out from savage7 hands, and yet never once dreamed that in doing so you only fulfilled your earlier mission." ? 382 ? I stared at her, grasping with difficulty the full significance of her speech.
"Your words puzzle me."
"Nay24, they need not," and I caught the sudden glitter of tears on her lashes25; "for I am Elsa Matherson."
"You? you?" and I crushed her soft hand within my fingers, as I peered forward at the quickly lowered face. "Why, you are French, Mademoiselle, and of a different name!"
She glanced up now into my puzzled face, a bit shyly, yet with some of the old roguishness visible in her eyes.
"My mother was indeed French, but my father was an American soldier," she said rapidly, as if eager to have the explanation ended. "You never asked my name, save that one night when we first met amid the sand, and then I gave you only that by which I have been most widely known. None except my father ever called me Elsa; to all others I was always Toinette. But I am Roger Matherson's only child."
It was clear enough now, and the deception26 had been entirely27 my own, rendered possible by strange chances of omission28, by rare negligence29 of speech—aided by my earlier impression that she whom I sought was a mere30 child.
"And 'twas Sister Celeste who told you whom I sought?" I asked, for lack of courage to say more.
? 383 ?
"Yes, to-night, while we waited for you beside the ruins of the old factory. Oh, how far away it all seems now!" and she pointed31 backward across the waters. "Poor, poor girl! Poor Captain de Croix! Oh, it is all so sad, so unutterably sad to me! I knew them both so well, Monsieur," and she rested her bowed head upon one hand, staring out into the night, and speaking almost as if to herself alone; "yet I never dreamed that he was a nobleman of France, or that he had married Marie Faneuf. She was so sweet a girl then,—and now to be buried alive in that wilderness! Think you that he truly loved her?"
"I almost have faith that he did, Mademoiselle," I answered gravely. "He was greatly changed from his first sight of her face, though he was a difficult man to gauge32 in such matters. There was a time when I believed him in love with you."
She tossed her head.
"Nay," she answered, "he merely thought he was, because he found me hard to understand and difficult of conquest; but 'twas little more than his own vanity that drew him hither. I trust it may be the deeper feeling that has taken him back now in face of death to Marie."
"You have indeed proved hard to understand by more than one," I ventured, for in spite of her graciousness the old wound rankled33. "It has puzzled me much to understand how you so gaily34 sent me forth35 to a ? 384 ? mission that might mean death, to save this Captain de Croix."
It was a foolish speech, and she met it bravely, with heightened color and a flash of dark eyes.
"'Twas no more than the sudden whim36 of a girl," she answered quickly, "and regretted before you were out of sight. Nor did I dream you would meet my conditions by such a sacrifice."
"You mean when Captain de Croix and I leaned above the eastern palisades?"
"Ay, not once did your eyes wander to mark our progress."
Her eyes were smiling now, and her face archly uplifted.
"Indeed, Master Wayland, little you know of the struggles of my heart during that hour. Nor will I tell you; for the secrets of a girl must be her own. But I marked each step you took onward38 toward the Indian camp, until the night hid you,—the night, or else the gathering39 tears in my eyes."
The sudden yawing of the boat before a gust40 of wind drew my thought elsewhere, and kept back the words ready upon my tongue. When once more I had my bearings and had turned back the plunging41 bow, she sat silent, deep in thought that I hesitated to disturb. Soon I noted42 her head droop43 slightly to the increased movement of the boat.
? 385 ?
"You are worn out!" I said tenderly. "Lean here against me, and sleep."
How clear remains45 the memory of those hours, while I sat watchful46 of the helm, her head resting peacefully on my lap, and all about us those lonely tossing waters! What a mere chip was our boat in the midst of that desolate47 sea; how dark and dreary the changeless night-shadows! Over and over again I pictured the details of each scene I have here set forth so poorly, to dream at the end of a final home coming which should not be alone. It was with heart thankful to God, that I watched the slow stealing upward of the gray dawn as the early rays of light crept toward us across the heaving of the waters. It was typical of all I had hoped,—this, and the black shadows fleeing away into the west. Brighter and brighter grew the crimsoning49 sky over the boat's bow, where Burns lay sleeping, until my eyes could distinguish a far-off shore-line heavily crowned with trees. I thought to rouse her to the glorious sight; but even as I glanced downward into the fair young face, her dark eyes opened in instant smile of greeting.
"'Tis the morning," she said gladly, "and that dark, dark night has passed away."
"For ever, Mademoiselle; and there is even a land of promise to be seen out yonder!"
? 386 ?
She sat up quickly, shading her eyes with her hand as she gazed with eagerness toward where I pointed.
"Think you we shall find shelter and friends there?"
"The half-breed chief said there were yet white settlers upon the Saint Joseph, Mademoiselle; and the mouth of that river should be easily found."
She turned toward me, a slight frown darkening her face.
"I wish you would not call me Mademoiselle," she said slowly. "It is as if we were still mere strangers; and you said Elsa Matherson was to be as your sister."
"Toinette!" I whispered passionately51, "I would call you by a dearer name than that,—by the dearest of all dear names if I might, for you have won my heart in the wilderness."
For a single instant she glanced shyly up into my face, her own crimson48 at my sudden ardor52. Her eyes drooped53 and hid themselves behind their long lashes.
"Those who sent you forth seeking a sister might not thus wish to welcome Elsa Matherson," she said softly.
"'Tis a venture I most gladly make," I insisted, "and would seal it with a kiss."
? 387 ?
Her eyes flashed up at me, full of sudden merriment.
The soft haze56 of Indian summer rested over the valley of the Maumee. We rode slowly along the narrow winding57 trail that hugged the river bank; for our journey had been a long one, and the horses were wearied. Burns was riding just in advance of Toinette and me, his cap pulled low over his eyes, his new growth of hair standing58 out stiff and black beneath its covering. Once he twisted his seamed face about in time to catch us smiling at his odd figure, and growled59 to himself as he kicked at his horse's flanks.
It was thus we rounded the bend and saw before us the little clearing with the cabin in the centre of its green heart. At sight of it my eyes grew moist and I rested my fingers gently upon the white hand that lay against her saddle-pommel.
"Fear not, dear heart!" I whispered tenderly. "It is home for both alike, and the welcome of love awaits you as well as me."
She glanced up at me, half shyly as in the old way, and there was a mist of tears clinging to the long lashes.
"Those who love you, John, I will love," she said solemnly.
? 388 ?
It was Rover who saw us first, and came charging forth with savage growl60 and ruffled61 fur, until he scented62 me, and changed his fierceness into barks of frantic63 welcome. Then it was I saw them, even as when I last rode forth, my father seated in his great splint chair, my mother with her arm along the carved back, one hand shading her eyes as she watched our coming.
This is not a memory to be written about for stranger eyes to read, but as I turned from them after that first greeting, their glances were upon her who stood waiting beside me, so sweet and pure in her young womanhood.
"And this, my son?" questioned my father kindly64. "We would bid her welcome also; yet surely she cannot be that little child for whose sake we sent you forth?"
I took her by the hand as we faced them.
"You sent me in search of one whom you would receive even as your own child," I answered simply. "This is Roger Matherson's daughter, and the dear wife of your son."
What need have I to dwell upon the love that bade her welcome? And so it was that out of all the suffering and danger, forth from the valley of the shadow of death, Toinette and I came home.
THE END
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
merged
|
|
| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
dreary
|
|
| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
tragic
|
|
| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
nemesis
|
|
| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
chambers
|
|
| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
swirling
|
|
| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
westward
|
|
| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
redeemed
|
|
| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
eastward
|
|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
query
|
|
| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
orphan
|
|
| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
miserably
|
|
| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
massacre
|
|
| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
missionary
|
|
| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
dwellers
|
|
| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
caressing
|
|
| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
lashes
|
|
| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
deception
|
|
| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
omission
|
|
| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
negligence
|
|
| n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
gauge
|
|
| v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
rankled
|
|
| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
whim
|
|
| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
stockade
|
|
| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
onward
|
|
| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
gust
|
|
| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
plunging
|
|
| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
droop
|
|
| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
drowsy
|
|
| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
watchful
|
|
| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
desolate
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
crimson
|
|
| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
crimsoning
|
|
| 变为深红色（crimson的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
50
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
passionately
|
|
| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
ardor
|
|
| n.热情，狂热 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
drooped
|
|
| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
unpaid
|
|
| adj.未付款的，无报酬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
wager
|
|
| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
haze
|
|
| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
winding
|
|
| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
growl
|
|
| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
ruffled
|
|
| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
scented
|
|
| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
frantic
|
|
| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |