It was a fine sight to see the boats depart for the north. It was a thrilling, heart-stirring sight to behold1 these picturesque2, athletic3 men, on receiving the word of command from their guides, spring lightly into the long, heavy boats; to see them let the oars4 fall into the water with a loud splash, and then, taking their seats, give way with a will, knowing that the eyes of friends and sweethearts and rivals were bent5 earnestly upon them. It was a splendid sight to see boat after boat shoot out from the landing-place, and cut through the calm bosom6 of the river, as the men bent their sturdy backs, until the thick oars creaked and groaned7 on the gunwales and flashed in the stream, more and more vigorously at each successive stroke, until their friends on the bank, who were anxious to see the last of them, had to run faster and faster in order to keep up with them, as the rowers warmed at their work, and made the water gurgle at the bows—their bright blue and scarlet8 and white trappings reflected in the dark waters in broken masses of colour, streaked9 with long lines of shining ripples10, as if they floated on a lake of liquid rainbows. And it was a glorious thing to hear the wild, plaintive12 song, led by one clear, sonorous13 voice, that rang out full and strong in the still air, while at the close of every two lines the whole brigade burst into a loud, enthusiastic chorus, that rolled far and wide over the smooth waters—telling of their approach to settlers beyond the reach of vision in advance, and floating faintly back, a last farewell, to the listening ears of fathers, mothers, wives, and sisters left behind. And it was interesting to observe how, as the rushing boats sped onwards past the cottages on shore, groups of men and women and children stood before the open doors and waved adieu, while ever and anon a solitary15 voice rang louder than the others in the chorus, and a pair of dark eyes grew brighter as a voyageur swept past his home, and recognised his little ones screaming farewell, and seeking to attract their sire’s attention by tossing their chubby16 arms or flourishing round their heads the bright vermilion blades of canoe paddles. It was interesting, too, to hear the men shout as they ran a small rapid which occurs about the lower part of the settlement, and dashed in full career up to the Lower Fort—which stands about twenty miles down the river from Fort Garry—and then sped onward14 again with unabated energy, until they passed the Indian settlement, with its scattered17 wooden buildings and its small church; passed the last cottage on the bank; passed the low swampy18 land at the river’s mouth; and emerged at last, as evening closed, upon the wide, calm, sea-like bosom of Lake Winnipeg.
Charley saw and heard all this during the whole of that long, exciting afternoon, and as he heard and saw it his heart swelled19 as if it would burst its prison-bars, his voice rang out wildly in the choruses, regardless alike of tune20 and time, and his spirit boiled within him as he quaffed21 the first sweet draught22 of a rover’s life—a life in the woods, the wild, free, enchanting23 woods, where all appeared in his eyes bright, and sunny, and green, and beautiful!
As the sun’s last rays sank in the west, and the clouds, losing their crimson24 hue25, began gradually to fade into grey, the boats’ heads were turned landward. In a few seconds they grounded on a low point covered with small trees and bushes which stretched out into the lake. Here Louis Peltier had resolved to bivouac for the night. “Now then, mes garçons,” he exclaimed, leaping ashore26, and helping27 to drag the boat a little way on to the beach, “vite, vite! à terre, à terre!—Take the kettle, Pierre, and let’s have supper.”
Pierre needed no second bidding. He grasped a large tin kettle and an axe28, with which he hurried into a clump29 of trees. Laying down the kettle, which he had previously30 filled with water from the lake, he singled out a dead tree, and with three powerful blows of his axe brought it to the ground. A few additional strokes cut it up into logs, varying from three to five feet in length, which he piled together, first placing a small bundle of dry grass and twigs31 beneath them, and a few splinters of wood which he cut from off one of the logs. Having accomplished32 this, Pierre took a flint and steel out of a gaily33 ornamented34 pouch35 which depended from his waist, and which went by the name of a fire-bag in consequence of its containing the implements36 for procuring37 that element. It might have been as appropriately named tobacco-bag or smoking-bag, however, seeing that such things had more to do with it, if possible, than fire. Having struck a spark, which he took captive by means of a piece of tinder, he placed it in the centre of a very dry handful of soft grass, and whirled it rapidly round his head, thereby38 producing a current of air, which blew the spark into a flame; which, when applied39, lighted the grass and twigs; and so, in a few minutes, a blazing fire roared up among the trees—spouted volumes of sparks into the air, like a gigantic squib, which made it quite a marvel40 that all the bushes in the neighbourhood were not burnt up at once—glared out red and fierce upon the rippling41 water, until it became, as it were, red hot in the neighbourhood of the boats, and caused the night to become suddenly darker by contrast; the night reciprocating42 the compliment, as it grew later, by causing the space around the fire to glow brighter and brighter, until it became a brilliant chamber43, surrounded by walls of the blackest ebony.
While Pierre was thus engaged there were at least ten voyageurs similarly occupied. Ten steels were made instrumental in creating ten sparks, which were severally captured by ten pieces of tinder, and whirled round by ten lusty arms, until ten flames were produced, and ten fires sprang up and flared45 wildly on the busy scene that had a few hours before been so calm, so solitary, and so peaceful, bathed in the soft beams of the setting sun.
In less than half an hour the several camps were completed, the kettles boiling over the fires, the men smoking in every variety of attitude, and talking loudly. It was a cheerful scene; and so Charley thought as he reclined in his canvas tent, the opening of which faced the fire, and enabled him to see all that was going on.
Pierre was standing47 over the great kettle, dancing round it, and making sudden plunges48 with a stick into it, in the desperate effort to stir its boiling contents—desperate, because the fire was very fierce and large, and the flames seemed to take a fiendish pleasure in leaping up suddenly just under Pierre’s nose, thereby endangering his beard, or shooting out between his legs and licking round them at most unexpected moments, when the light wind ought to have been blowing them quite in the opposite direction; and then, as he danced round to the other side to avoid them, wheeling about and roaring viciously in his face, until it seemed as if the poor man would be roasted long before the supper was boiled. Indeed, what between the ever-changing and violent flames, the rolling smoke, the steam from the kettle, the showering sparks, and the man’s own wild grimaces49 and violent antics, Pierre seemed to Charley like a raging demon50, who danced not only round, but above, and on, and through, and in the flames, as if they were his natural element, in which he took special delight.
Quite close to the tent the massive form of Louis the guide lay extended, his back supported by the stump51 of a tree, his eyes blinking sleepily at the blaze, and his beloved pipe hanging from his lips, while wreaths of smoke encircled his head. Louis’s day’s work was done. Few could do a better; and when his work was over, Louis always acted on the belief that his position and his years entitled him to rest, and took things very easy in consequence.
Six of the boat’s crew sat in a semicircle beside the guide and fronting the fire, each paying particular attention to his pipe, and talking between the puffs52 to any one who chose to listen.
Suddenly Pierre vanished into the smoke and flames altogether, whence in another moment he issued, bearing in his hand the large tin kettle, which he deposited triumphantly53 at the feet of his comrades.
“Now, then,” cried Pierre.
It was unnecessary to have said even that much by way of invitation. Voyageurs do not require to have their food pressed upon them after a hard day’s work. Indeed, it was as much as they could do to refrain from laying violent hands on the kettle long before their worthy54 cook considered its contents sufficiently55 done.
Charley sat in company with Mr Park—a chief factor, on his way to Norway House. Gibault, one of the men who acted as their servant, had placed a kettle of hot tea before them, which, with several slices of buffalo56 tongue, a lump of pemmican, and some hard biscuit and butter, formed their evening meal. Indeed, we may add that these viands57, during a great part of the voyage, constituted their every meal. In fact, they had no variety in their fare, except a wild duck or two now and then, and a goose when they chanced to shoot one.
Charley sipped58 a pannikin of tea as he reclined on his blanket, and being somewhat fatigued60 in consequence of his exertions61 and excitement during the day, said nothing. Mr Park for the same reasons, besides being naturally taciturn, was equally mute; so they both enjoyed in silence the spectacle of the men eating their supper. And it was a sight worth seeing.
Their food consisted of robbiboo, a compound of flour, pemmican, and water, boiled to the consistency62 of very thick soup. Though not a species of food that would satisfy the fastidious taste of an epicure63, robbiboo is, nevertheless, very wholesome64, exceedingly nutritious65, and withal palatable66. Pemmican, its principal component67, is made of buffalo flesh, which fully68 equals (some think greatly excels) beef. The recipe for making it is as follows:— First kill your buffalo—a matter of considerable difficulty, by the way, as doing so requires you to travel to the buffalo-grounds, to arm yourself with a gun, and mount a horse, on which you have to gallop69, perhaps, several miles over rough ground and among badger-holes, at the imminent70 risk of breaking your neck. Then you have to run up alongside of a buffalo and put a ball through his heart, which, apart from the murderous nature of the action, is a difficult thing to do. But we will suppose that you have killed your buffalo. Then you must skin him; then cut him up, and slice the flesh into layers, which must be dried in the sun. At this stage of the process you have produced a substance which in the fur countries goes by the name of dried meat, and is largely used as an article of food. As its name implies, it is very dry, and it is also very tough, and very undesirable71 if one can manage to procure72 anything better. But to proceed. Having thus prepared dried meat, lay a quantity of it on a flat stone, and take another stone, with which pound it into shreds73. You must then take the animal’s hide, while it is yet new, and make bags of it about two feet and a half long by a foot and a half broad. Into this put the pounded meat loosely. Melt the fat of your buffalo over a fire, and when quite liquid pour it into the bag until full; mix the contents well together; sew the whole up before it cools, and you have a bag of pemmican of about ninety pounds weight. This forms the chief food of the voyageur, in consequence of its being the largest possible quantity of sustenance74 compressed into the smallest possible space, and in an extremely convenient, portable shape. It will keep fresh for years, and has been much used, in consequence, by the heroes of arctic discovery, in their perilous75 journeys along the shores of the frozen sea.
The voyageurs used no plates. Men who travel in these countries become independent of many things that are supposed to be necessary here. They sat in a circle round the kettle, each man armed with a large wooden or pewter spoon, with which he ladled the robbiboo down his capacious throat, in a style that not only caused Charley to laugh, but afterwards threw him into a deep reverie on the powers of appetite in general, and the strength of voyageur stomachs in particular.
At first the keen edge of appetite induced the men to eat in silence; but as the contents of the kettle began to get low, their tongues loosened, and at last, when the kettles were emptied and the pipes filled, fresh logs thrown on the fires, and their limbs stretched out around them, the babel of English, French, and Indian that arose was quite overwhelming. The middle-aged44 men told long stories of what they had done; the young men boasted of what they meant to do; while the more aged smiled, nodded, smoked their pipes, put in a word or two as occasion offered, and listened. While they conversed77 the quick ears of one of the men of Charley’s camp detected some unusual sound.
“Hist!” said he, turning his head aside slightly, in a listening attitude, while his comrades suddenly ceased their noisy laugh.
“Do ducks travel in canoes hereabouts?” said the man, after a moment’s silence; “for, if not, there’s some one about to pay us a visit. I would wager78 my best gun that I hear the stroke of paddles.”
“If your ears had been sharper, François, you might have heard them some time ago,” said the guide, shaking the ashes out of his pipe and refilling it for the third time.
“Ah, Louis, I do not pretend to such sharp ears as you possess, nor to such sharp wit either. But who do you think can be en route so late?”
“That my wit does not enable me to divine,” said Louis; “but if you have any faith in the sharpness of your eyes, I would recommend you to go to the beach and see, as the best and shortest way of finding out.”
By this time the men had risen, and were peering out into the gloom in the direction whence the sound came, while one or two sauntered down to the margin79 of the lake to meet the newcomers.
“Who can it be, I wonder?” said Charley, who had left the tent, and was now standing beside the guide.
“Difficult to say, monsieur. Perhaps Injins, though I thought there were none here just now. But I’m not surprised that we’ve attracted something to us. Livin’ creeturs always come nat’rally to the light, and there’s plenty fire on the point to-night.”
“Rather more than enough,” replied Charley, abruptly80, as a slight motion of wind sent the flames curling round his head and singed81 off his eyelashes. “Why, Louis, it’s my firm belief that if I ever get to the end of this journey, I’ll not have a hair left on my head.”
Louis smiled.
“O monsieur, you will learn to observe things before you have been long in the wilderness82. If you will edge round to leeward83 of the fire, you can’t expect it to respect you.”
Just at this moment a loud hurrah84 rang through the copse, and Harry85 Somerville sprang over the fire into the arms of Charley, who received him with a hug and a look of unutterable amazement86.
“Charley, my boy!”
“Harry Somerville, I declare!”
For at least five minutes Charley could not recover his composure sufficiently to declare anything else, but stood with open mouth and eyes, and elevated eyebrows87, looking at his young friend, who capered88 and danced round the fire in a manner that threw the cook’s performances in that line quite into the shade, while he continued all the time to shout fragments of sentences that were quite unintelligible90 to any one. It was evident that Harry was in a state of immense delight at something unknown save to himself, but which, in the course of a few minutes, was revealed to his wondering friends.
“Charley, I’m going! hurrah!” and he leaped about in a manner that induced Charley to say he would not only be going, but very soon gone, if he did not keep further away from the fire.
“Yes, Charley, I’m going with you! I upset the stool, tilted91 the ink-bottle over the invoice-book, sent the poker92 almost through the back of the fireplace, and smashed Tom Whyte’s best whip on the back of the ‘noo ’oss,’ as I galloped93 him over the plains for the last time—all for joy, because I’m going with you, Charley, my darling!”
Here Harry suddenly threw his arms round his friend’s neck, meditating94 an embrace. As both boys were rather fond of using their muscles violently, the embrace degenerated95 into a wrestle96, which caused them to threaten complete destruction to the fire as they staggered in front of it, and ended in their tumbling against the tent, and nearly breaking its poles and fastenings, to the horror and indignation of Mr Park, who was smoking his pipe within, quietly waiting till Harry’s superabundant glee was over, that he might get an explanation of his unexpected arrival among them.
“Ah, they will be good voyageurs!” cried one of the men, as he looked on at this scene.
“Oui, oui! good boys, active lads,” replied the others, laughing. The two boys rose hastily.
“Yes,” cried Harry, breathless, but still excited, “I’m going all the way, and a great deal farther. I’m going to hunt buffaloes97 in the Saskatchewan, and grizzly98 bears in the—the—in fact everywhere! I’m going down the Mackenzie River—I’m going mad, I believe;” and Harry gave another caper89 and another shout, and tossed his cap high into the air. Having been recklessly tossed, it came down into the fire. When it went in, it was dark blue; but when Harry dashed into the flames in consternation99 to save it, it came out of a rich brown colour.
“Now, youngster,” said Mr Park, “when you’ve done capering100 I should like to ask you one or two questions. What brought you here?”
“A canoe,” said Harry, inclined to be impudent101.
“Oh! and pray for what purpose have you come here?”
“These are my credentials,” handing him a letter.
Mr Park opened the note and read.
“Ah! oh! Saskatchewan—hum—yes—outpost—wild boy—just so—keep him at it—ay, fit for nothing else. So,” said Mr Park, folding the paper, “I find that Mr Grant has sent you to take the place of a young gentleman we expected to pick up at Norway House, but who is required elsewhere; and that he wishes you to see a good deal of rough life—to be made a trader of, in fact. Is that your desire?”
“That’s the very ticket!” replied Harry, scarcely able to restrain his delight at the prospect102.
“Well, then, you had better get supper and turn in, for you’ll have to begin your new life by rising at three o’clock to-morrow morning. Have you got a tent?”
“Yes,” said Harry, pointing to his canoe, which had been brought to the fire and turned bottom up by the two Indians to whom it belonged, and who were reclining under its shelter enjoying their pipes, and watching with looks of great gravity the doings of Harry and his friend.
“That will return whence it came to-morrow. Have you no other?”
“Oh yes,” said Harry, pointing to the overhanging branches of a willow103 close at hand, “lots more.”
Mr Park smiled grimly, and turning on his heel re-entered the tent and continued his pipe, while Harry flung himself down beside Charley under the bark canoe.
This species of “tent” is, however, by no means a perfect one. An Indian canoe is seldom three feet broad—frequently much narrower—so that it only affords shelter for the body as far down as the waist, leaving the extremities104 exposed. True, one may double up as nearly as possible into half one’s length, but this is not a desirable position to maintain throughout an entire night. Sometimes, when the weather is very bad, an additional protection is procured105 by leaning several poles against the bottom of the canoe, on the weather side, in such a way as to slope considerably106 over the front; and over these are spread pieces of birch bark or branches and moss107, so as to form a screen, which is an admirable shelter. But this involves too much time and labour to be adopted during a voyage, and is only done when the travellers are under the necessity of remaining for some time in one place.
The canoe in which Harry arrived was a pretty large one, and looked so comfortable when arranged for the night that Charley resolved to abandon his own tent and Mr Park’s society, and sleep with his friend.
“I’ll sleep with you, Harry, my boy,” said he, after Harry had explained to him in detail the cause of his being sent away from Red River; which was no other than that a young gentleman, as Mr Park said, who was to have gone, had been ordered elsewhere.
“That’s right, Charley; spread out our blankets, while I get some supper, like a good fellow.” Harry went in search of the kettle while his friend prepared their bed. First, he examined the ground on which the canoe lay, and found that the two Indians had already taken possession of the only level places under it. “Humph!” he ejaculated, half inclined to rouse them up, but immediately dismissed the idea as unworthy of a voyageur. Besides, Charley was an amiable108, unselfish fellow, and would rather have lain on the top of a dozen stumps109 than have made himself comfortable at the expense of any one else.
He paused a moment to consider. On one side was a hollow “that” (as he soliloquised to himself) “would break the back of a buffalo.” On the other side were a dozen little stumps surrounding three very prominent ones, that threatened destruction to the ribs110 of any one who should venture to lie there. But Charley did not pause to consider long. Seizing his axe, he laid about him vigorously with the head of it, and in a few seconds destroyed all the stumps, which he carefully collected, and, along with some loose moss and twigs, put into the hollow, and so filled it up. Having improved things thus far, he rose and strode out of the circle of light into the wood. In a few minutes he reappeared, bearing a young spruce fir tree on his shoulder, which with the axe he stripped of its branches. These branches were flat in form, and elastic—admirably adapted for making a bed on; and when Charley spread them out under the canoe in a pile of about four inches in depth by four feet broad and six feet long, the stumps and the hollow were overwhelmed altogether. He then ran to Mr Park’s tent, and fetched thence a small flat bundle covered with oilcloth and tied with a rope. Opening this, he tossed out its contents, which were two large and very thick blankets—one green, the other white; a particularly minute feather pillow, a pair of moccasins, a broken comb, and a bit of soap. Then he opened a similar bundle containing Harry’s bed, which he likewise tossed out; and then kneeling down, he spread the two white blankets on the top of the branches, the two green blankets above these, and the two pillows at the top, as far under the shelter of the canoe as he could push them. Having completed the whole in a manner that would have done credit to a chambermaid, he continued to sit on his knees, with his hands in his pockets, smiling complacently111, and saying, “Capital—first-rate!”
“Here we are, Charley. Have a second supper—do!”
Harry placed the smoking kettle by the head of the bed, and squatting112 down beside it, began to eat as only a boy can eat who has had nothing since breakfast.
Charley attacked the kettle too—as he said, “out of sympathy,” although he “wasn’t hungry a bit.” And really, for a man who was not hungry, and had supped half an hour before, the appetite of sympathy was wonderfully strong.
But Harry’s powers of endurance were now exhausted113. He had spent a long day of excessive fatigue59 and excitement, and having wound it up with a heavy supper, sleep began to assail114 him with a fell ferocity that nothing could resist. He yawned once or twice, and sat on the bed blinking unmeaningly at the fire, as if he had something to say to it which he could not recollect115 just then. He nodded violently, much to his own surprise, once or twice, and began to address remarks to the kettle instead of to his friend. “I say, Charley, this won’t do. I’m off to bed!” and suiting the action to the word, he took off his coat and placed it on his pillow. He then removed his moccasins, which were wet, and put on a dry pair; and this being all that is ever done in the way of preparation before going to bed in the woods, he lay down and pulled the green blankets over him.
Before doing so, however, Harry leaned his head on his hands and prayed. This was the one link left of the chain of habit with which he had left home. Until the period of his departure for the wild scenes of the North-west, Harry had lived in a quiet, happy home in the West Highlands of Scotland, where he had been surrounded by the benign116 influences of a family the members of which were united by the sweet bonds of Christian117 love—bonds which were strengthened by the additional tie of amiability118 of disposition119. From childhood he had been accustomed to the routine of a pious120 and well-regulated household, where the Bible was perused121 and spoken of with an interest that indicated a genuine hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and where the name of Jesus sounded often and sweetly on the ear. Under such training Harry, though naturally of a wild, volatile122 disposition, was deeply and irresistibly123 impressed with a reverence124 for sacred things, which, now that he was thousands of miles away from his peaceful home, clung to him with the force of old habit and association, despite the jeers125 of comrades and the evil influences and ungodliness by which he was surrounded. It is true that he was not altogether unhurt by the withering126 indifference127 to God that he beheld128 on all sides. Deep impression is not renewal129 of heart. But early training in the path of Christian love saved him many a deadly fall. It guarded him from many of the grosser sins into which other boys, who had merely broken away from the restraints of home, too easily fell. It twined round him—as the ivy130 encircles the oak—with a soft, tender, but powerful grasp, that held him back when he was tempted131 to dash aside all restraint; and held him up when, in the weakness of his human nature, he was about to fall. It exerted its benign sway over him in the silence of night, when his thoughts reverted132 to home, and during his waking hours, when he wandered from scene to scene in the wide wilderness; and in after years, when sin prevailed, and intercourse133 with rough men had worn off much of at least the superficial amiability of his character, and to some extent blunted the finer feelings of his nature, it clung faintly to him still, in the memory of his mother’s gentle look and tender voice, and never forsook134 him altogether. Home had a blessed and powerful influence on Harry. May God bless such homes, where the ruling power is love! God bless and multiply such homes in the earth! Were there more of them there would be fewer heart-broken mothers to weep over the memory of the blooming, manly135 boys they sent away to foreign climes—with trembling hearts but high hopes—and never saw them more. They were vessels136 launched upon the troubled sea of time, with stout138 timbers, firm masts, and gallant139 sails—with all that was necessary above and below, from stem to stern, for battling with the billows of adverse140 fortune, for stemming the tide of opposition141, for riding the storms of persecution142, or bounding with a press of canvas before the gales143 of prosperity; but without the rudder—without the guiding principle that renders the great power of plank144 and sail and mast available; with which the vessel137 moves obedient to the owner’s will, without which it drifts about with every current, and sails along with every shifting wind that blows. Yes, may the best blessings145 of prosperity and peace rest on such families, whose bread, cast continually on the waters, returns to them after many days.
After Harry had lain down, Charley, who did not feel inclined for repose146, sauntered to the margin of the lake, and sat down upon a rock.
It was a beautiful calm evening. The moon shone faintly through a mass of heavy clouds, casting a pale light on the waters of Lake Winnipeg, which stretched, without a ripple11, out to the distant horizon. The great fresh-water lakes of America bear a strong resemblance to the sea. In storms the waves rise mountains high, and break with heavy, sullen147 roar upon a beach composed in many places of sand and pebbles148; while they are so large that one not only looks out to a straight horizon, but may even sail out of sight of land altogether.
As Charley sat resting his head on his hand, and listening to the soft hiss149 that the ripples made upon the beach, he felt all the solemnising influence that steals irresistibly over the mind as we sit on a still night gazing out upon the moonlit sea. His thoughts were sad; for he thought of Kate, and his mother and father, and the home he was now leaving. He remembered all that he had ever done to injure or annoy the dear ones he was leaving; and it is strange how much alive our consciences become when we are unexpectedly or suddenly removed from those with whom we have lived and held daily intercourse. How bitterly we reproach ourselves for harsh words, unkind actions; and how intensely we long for one word more with them, one fervent150 embrace, to prove at once that all we have ever said or done was not meant ill, and, at any rate, is deeply, sincerely repented151 of now! As Charley looked up into the starry152 sky, his mind recurred153 to the parting words of Mr Addison. With uplifted hands and a full heart, he prayed that God would bless, for Jesus’ sake, the beloved ones in Red River, but especially Kate; for whether he prayed or meditated154, Charley’s thoughts always ended with Kate.
A black cloud passed across the moon, and reminded him that but a few hours of the night remained; so hastening up to the camp again, he lay gently down beside his friend, and drew the green blanket over him.
In the camp all was silent. The men had chosen their several beds according to fancy, under the shadow of a bush or tree. The fires had burned low—so low that it was with difficulty Charley, as he lay, could discern the recumbent forms of the men, whose presence was indicated by the deep, soft, regular breathing of tired but healthy constitutions. Sometimes a stray moonbeam shot through the leaves and branches, and cast a ghostlike flickering155 light over the scene, which ever and anon was rendered more mysterious by a red flare46 of the fire as an ember fell, blazed up for an instant, and left all shrouded156 in greater darkness than before.
At first Charley continued his sad thoughts, staring all the while at the red embers of the expiring fire; but soon his eyes began to blink, and the stumps of trees began to assume the form of voyageurs, and voyageurs to look like stumps of trees. Then a moonbeam darted157 in, and Mr Addison stood on the other side of the fire. At this sight Charley started, and Mr Addison disappeared, while the boy smiled to think how he had been dreaming while only half asleep. Then Kate appeared, and seemed to smile on him; but another ember fell, and another red flame sprang up, and put her to flight too. Then a low sigh of wind rustled158 through the branches, and Charley felt sure that he saw Kate again coming through the woods, singing the low, soft tune that she was so fond of singing, because it was his own favourite air. But soon the air ceased; the fire faded away; so did the trees, and the sleeping voyageurs; Kate last of all dissolved, and Charley sank into a deep, untroubled slumber159.
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1
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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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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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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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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7
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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11
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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12
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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13
sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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14
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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15
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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16
chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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17
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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18
swampy
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| adj.沼泽的，湿地的 | |
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19
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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20
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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21
quaffed
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| v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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22
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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23
enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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24
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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25
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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26
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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27
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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28
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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29
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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30
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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31
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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32
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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33
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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34
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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36
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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37
procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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38
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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39
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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40
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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41
rippling
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| 起涟漪的，潺潺流水般声音的 | |
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42
reciprocating
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| adj.往复的；来回的；交替的；摆动的v.报答，酬答( reciprocate的现在分词 )；（机器的部件）直线往复运动 | |
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43
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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44
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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45
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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46
flare
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| v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发 | |
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47
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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48
plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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49
grimaces
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| n.（表蔑视、厌恶等）面部扭曲，鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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51
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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52
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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53
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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54
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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55
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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56
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
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57
viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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58
sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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60
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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61
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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62
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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63
epicure
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| n.行家，美食家 | |
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64
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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65
nutritious
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| adj.有营养的，营养价值高的 | |
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66
palatable
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| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
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67
component
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| n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的 | |
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68
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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69
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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70
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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71
undesirable
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| adj.不受欢迎的，不良的，不合意的，讨厌的；n.不受欢迎的人，不良分子 | |
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72
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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73
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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74
sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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75
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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76
middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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77
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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78
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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79
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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80
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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81
singed
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
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82
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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83
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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84
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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85
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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86
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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87
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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88
capered
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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90
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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91
tilted
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| v. 倾斜的 | |
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92
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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93
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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94
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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95
degenerated
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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97
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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98
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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99
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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100
capering
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| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的现在分词 )；蹦蹦跳跳 | |
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101
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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102
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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103
willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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104
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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105
procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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106
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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107
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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108
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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109
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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110
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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111
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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112
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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113
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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114
assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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115
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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116
benign
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| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
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117
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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118
amiability
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| n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的 | |
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119
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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120
pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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121
perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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122
volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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123
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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124
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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125
jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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126
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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127
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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128
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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129
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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130
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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131
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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132
reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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133
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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134
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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135
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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136
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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137
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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139
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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140
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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141
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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142
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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143
gales
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| 龙猫 | |
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144
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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145
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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146
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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147
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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148
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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149
hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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150
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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151
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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152
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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153
recurred
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| 再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈 | |
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154
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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155
flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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156
shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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157
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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158
rustled
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| v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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159
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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