Autumn at length gradually drew to a close, and we began to make preparations for the long winter that lay before us.
Our saw-mill, having been repaired and improved, had worked so well that we had cut a considerable quantity of planks2, as well for the boats which we intended to build as for the houses. It was fortunate that this had been accomplished3 before the occurrence of an event which put an effectual stop to that branch of our industries. It happened thus:
One afternoon the fine weather which we had been enjoying so long gave place to boisterous4 winds and deluges6 of rain, confining us all to the fort and making us feel slightly miserable7.
“But we mustn’t grumble8, Max,” said Lumley to me, as we looked out of our small windows. “We must take the evil with the good as it comes, and be thankful.”
“No? I thought you were.”
“No, I was not. It must have been internal grumbling by yourself that you heard,” I retorted, sauntering back to the fire, which by that time we had begun to light daily.
“I daresay you’re right, Max; it has often struck me as a curious fact that, when one is cross or grumpy, he is apt to think all the rest of the world is also cross or grumpy. By the way, that reminds me—though I don’t see why it should remind me, seeing that the two things have no connection—that Coppet came to me last night saying he had discovered a slight leak in the dam. We’d better look to it now, as the rain seems to have moderated a little.”
We went out forthwith, and found Coppet already on the spot, gazing at a small rill of water which bubbled up from behind a mass of rock that jutted11 out from the cliff and formed a support for the beams of our dam.
“Something wrong there, Coppet,” said Lumley, inspecting the place carefully.
“Oui, monsieur—it is true.”
“Can you guess where it comes through?” I asked.
“Vraiment, monsieur, I know not, but surely the dam it is quite strong.”
“Strong!—of course it is, unnecessarily strong,” said I, looking up at its edge, over which the water, rendered muddy by the rains, flowed in a considerable volume. “What think you, Lumley?”
I asked my friend’s opinion somewhat anxiously, because I observed that he seemed to examine the place with unusually grave looks.
“Max,” he said at last, “your engineering is defective13. It is true that the beams and stuffs of which the dam is composed could resist all the weight or force of water that can be brought to bear on them—even an untrained eye like mine can see that—but you had not observed that this mass of rock, against which the whole affair rests, has got a crack in it, so that it is partially14, if not altogether, detached from the cliff. No doubt it is a large heavy mass, but the strain upon it must be very severe, and its stability depends on its foundations.”
“The foundations seem secure enough,” said I, looking down.
“True, but natural foundations are sometimes deceptive15, and that bubbling spring may be quietly washing these away. We must use a little art here. Go, Coppet,” he added, turning to the carpenter, “fetch all the men, and your tools, and as many heavy timbers as you can readily lay hands on. Come, Max, help me to lift this one.”
The decision of Lumley’s manner and the energetic way in which he threw off his coat and set to work, convinced me that he thought danger of some sort was impending16. I therefore followed his example, and set to with a will.
We fixed17 a heavy log in front of the suspected mass of rock, placing its end against the centre of the mass, and sinking the other end into the ground—having previously18, however, sunk a strong crossbeam into the ground to bear the pressure of that end.
“This of itself,” said my chief, “will go far to avert19 evil, but we will adopt your tactics, Max, and, by giving it superabundance of strength, make assurance doubly sure.”
In pursuance of this plan, he ordered the men to plant several ponderous20 logs in the same position as the first beam, over which other logs were thrown crosswise, and the whole was weighted with heavy stones.
During our operations, which occupied us all till evening, the rain increased tenfold, and at last came down in absolute sheets, flooding our dam to such an extent that it overflowed21 nearly all round the brim in pretty solid cataracts22 of dirty water, which brought down branches and leaves and other débris from the higher parts of the stream.
I was gratified to see, however, that our embankment showed no symptoms of weakness, and felt assured that the powerful structure we had just set up was more than sufficient to prevent any rupture23 in the rock itself. Comforted by these thoughts, Lumley and I returned to the hall in a burst of thunder, lightning, and rain—thoroughly saturated24, and in a condition to do ample justice to the sea-biscuit, fried salt-pork, hung whitefish and tea, which Salamander had prepared for supper.
Blondin, being a polite, intelligent fellow as well as our foreman, was privileged to take his meals with us, besides occupying one of our four rooms. In consequence of this we conversed25 chiefly in the patois26 French of the country, for the worthy27 man was not deeply learned in English. Salamander messed with the men in their own house, after preparing and spreading our meals.
“What say you to a game of chess?” said Lumley to me, after the tea-things had been carried away by Blondin.
“By all means,” I replied, going to a corner cupboard, in which we kept miscellaneous articles, and bringing out the chess-board.
This board and its men, by the way, merit passing remark, for they were fashioned by our chief entirely28, and very neatly29, out of the pith of a bush, the name of which I forget; and, on the voyage, many an hour that might otherwise have been tedious we whiled away with this interesting game. I knew nothing of it when we began, but Lumley taught me the moves, and I soon picked up enough of the game to enable me to fight a fairish battle before being beaten. At first Lumley always won, and was wont30 to signalise his victory by the expression of a modest hope that the tables would be turned ere long. That hope—whether genuine or pretended—was not long of being gratified, for as my mind by degrees began to grasp the mysteries of chess, I succeeded in winning a game now and then.
On this particular night, however, the tables were turned literally31, and in a way that we little expected.
Blondin, being left to himself, had sought the companionship of his pipe, and was dozing32 over the fire, more than half asleep—at least not more awake than was consistent with the keeping of his pipe between his lips. Ever and anon he was startled into a more wakeful condition by the tremendous blasts which frequently shook the house; but these did not disturb him much, for he had helped to build the house, and knew that it was strong.
We were all indeed pretty well tired by our recent exertions33, and rather sleepy, so that the game languished34 a little. Salamander, having obtained permission to retire, was in bed in his own corner-room, entertaining us with a duet through the nose—if I may call that a duet in which both nostrils35 played the same air.
“Check!” said Lumley, rousing himself a little, and placing a knight36 in such a position as to endanger my king.
“Mate!” I exclaimed ruefully.
“Hallo!” cried Blondin, waking up at the familiar word.
“No—not that sort of mate,” said I, with a laugh, “but the—”
I stopped abruptly37, for at that moment we heard a sound that sent a thrill to our hearts. It was something between a rend12 and a crash. We looked at each other in consternation38.
“The dam’s going,” exclaimed Lumley.
Another crash, that there was no misunderstanding, proved that it was gone.
We ran towards the back door, but before reaching it, we had an additional proof that was even more convincing than the last. A rush of tumultuous water was heard outside. Next moment the back door was burst inward, and a deluge5 of water met us. Lumley, who was nearest the door, was swept off his legs, and came against me with such violence that I fell over him. Blondin, who was furthest off, tried to stop us, but also went down, and all three were swept into the lower side of the hall amid a jumble39 of tables, chairs, billets of wood, stray garments, and chessmen.
The fire had been put out; so had the candle, and we were thus in nearly pitch darkness, when we heard a yell from Salamander. It was followed by a great splash, and we dimly perceived something like a half-naked ghost floundering towards us.
It was Salamander!
“Hold on!” shouted Lumley.
“Dere’s noting to hold on to, monsieur,” cried the interpreter in desperation, as he tripped over something and rose again—gasping.
The rush was over in half a minute, but the great weight of water that had entered held the front door, which opened inwards, so tight, that our hall was converted into a water-tank about three feet deep, while a huge mass of logs and débris outside blocked the opening of the back door.
“Stay, don’t move till I get a light,” cried Lumley, wading40 to the corner cupboard, where, on an upper shelf, we kept our candles, with flint, steel, and tinder.
While he was striking a light we all stood silent and shivering, but when a candle was with difficulty lighted, I burst into an irresistible41 fit of laughter for the scene we presented was ludicrous in the extreme. It was not our woe-begone looks which tickled42 me, so much as the helpless, drowned-rat-like aspect we had all assumed—all except our chief, whose tall, strong figure holding a candle over his dishevelled head looked like the spirit of destruction presiding over a scene of desolation.
A rapping at the front door was the first thing that recalled us to the necessity for action.
It was the voice of Donald Bane.
“Not quite,” cried Lumley, with a laugh and a shiver. “Come in, Donald.”
“Ay, ay, sur, I would come in if I could, but the door won’t open.”
“Shove hard, Donald.”
“I wull, sur. Here, Shames, lend a hand.”
We heard both the Highlanders put their broad backs against the door and groan45 in Gaelic as they heaved, but they might as well have tried to lift the house. They caused the door to crack, however.
“Wheesht! What’s that Shames?”
“We’ve splut the toor, Tonald.”
“Never mind; heave again, boys,” cried Lumley.
At that moment poor Salamander, who was groping about with nothing but his shirt on, stumbled over something, and, in trying to recover himself, pitched head first against the door with considerable violence.
This was a climax46. The door, although it had withstood the pressure from without, could not resist this additional pressure within. It collapsed47 and burst outwards48 suddenly. The great mass of water went forth10 with the gushing49 hilarity50 of a prisoner set free, and, with something like a roar of triumph, carried Salamander like a chip on its crest51. He was launched into the bosom52 of the amazed James Dougall, who incontinently went with the stream, laying hold of and carrying off Donald Bane as he passed.
After a few turns over on the lawn, the three men regained53 their footing, and made their way back to the house, while the stream, subsiding54 almost immediately, left us in peace to make the best of what James Dougall called a paad chob!
What had actually occurred was this: the rock that held the main supports of our dam, being detached from the cliff as Lumley had surmised55, had been undermined by the unusual floods of the previous week. Even in that condition it might have remained fast, so strong was our artificial buttress56, but as the foundation wore away the rock heeled over to one side a little; this deranged57 the direct action of the buttresses59, and in an instant they flew aside. The rock was hurled60 over, and the whole of our dam was dashed in dire58 confusion into the bed of the stream. It was this choking of the natural channel which sent the great flood over our lawn, and, as we have seen, created such a hubbub61 in the hall.
Of course all danger was now past. The roaring torrent62 soon forced its way into its own bed again, and all we had to do was to repair damages as well as we could, and make ourselves as comfortable for the night as circumstances would admit of.
Fortunately the next day was fine and warm, with brilliant sunshine. Being Sunday we let everything remain just as it was, for Lumley and I were of the same mind in regard to the Sabbath-day, and, from the commencement of our expedition, had as far as possible rested from all week-day labour on that day. Both of us had been trained to do so from infancy63.
Well do I remember my dear old father’s last advice to me on this subject. “Punch,” said he, “wherever you go, my boy, ‘remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy.’ You’ll be tempted64 to do ordinary work, and to go in for ordinary amusement on that day, but don’t do it, my boy—don’t do it. Depend upon it, a blessing65 always attends the respecter of the Sabbath.”
“But, father,” said I, venturing for the first time in my life to echo what I had often heard said, “is it true, as some people assert, that the Sabbath is a Jewish institution, and no longer binding66 on Christians67? Pardon my venturing to repeat this objection—”
“Objection!” interrupted my father, “why, dear boy, there’s nothing I like better than to hear fair, honest objections, because then I can meet them. How can the Sabbath be a Jewish institution when the commandment begins with ‘remember’? The day to be remembered was instituted at Creation, given to man as a blessed day of rest from toil68, and recognised as binding by our Saviour69, when He sanctioned works of necessity and mercy on that day.”
I never forgot my father’s advice on this subject, and have experienced mental, physical, and spiritual benefit as the result.
Owing to our belief in the Sabbath, then, we invariably, while travelling, remained in camp on that clay, and found that we not only did not lose, but actually had gained in speed at the end of each week—comparing our rate of progress with that of those who did not rest on Sundays. And I now recall to mind a certain bishop70 of the Church of England who, while travelling in the great Nor’-west between two well-known stations, made the fastest journey on record, although he regularly remained in camp on the Sabbath-day. On that day, also, after our arrival at Lake Wichikagan, and all through the winter, Lumley made a regular practice of assembling the men and reading a sermon from a book which he had brought for the purpose. And he did not neglect instruction of another kind, to which I shall refer as well as to our winter amusements, in the proper place.
During all this time our larder71 had been well supplied by Blondin with fresh fish from the lake, and by the Indians with haunches of reindeer72 and moose, or elk73, venison. They also brought us beaver-meat, the tails of which were considered the best portions. Bear’s-meat was offered us, but we did not relish74 it much, possibly from prejudice; but we would have been glad of it, doubtless, if reduced to short allowance. Of course wild-fowl of all kinds were plentiful75, and many of these were shot by Lumley and myself, as well as by our men.
Some of the geese we had at first salted, but, the frost having come, we were by that time able to preserve fish and meat quite fresh for winter use—so that both net and gun were in constant occupation.
One day, while Lumley and I were sitting at dinner—which we usually took about noon—we were agreeably surprised by the appearance of a strange Indian, and still more agreeably surprised by his entering the hall and holding out a packet to Lumley. Having delivered it, the man, who looked wayworn, strode to the fire, sat quietly down and began to smoke a pipe which I had handed to him ready charged.
“Why, what’s this?” exclaimed Lumley, unwrapping the covering of the packet, “not a letter, surely!—yes, I declare it is—and from Macnab too. Come, this is an unlooked-for treat.”
I was quite excited—indeed we both were—for a letter in those regions was about as rare as snow in July.
Lumley opened it hastily and read as follows:—
“My dear Lumley, you will be surprised to get a letter from me, and dated, too, from an unknown post. Yes, my boy, like yourself, I have been transferred from my old home, to this region, which is not more than two hundred miles from your present residence. The governor sent me to establish it soon after you left. I have named it the Mountain House, because there’s a thing the shape and size of a sugar-loaf behind it. So, I’ll hope to look you up during the winter. Before going further let me give you a piece of news—I’ve got my sister out here to stay with me! Just think of that!”
At this point Lumley laid down the letter and stared at me.
“Why, Max, such a thing was never heard of before! If he had got a wife, now, I could have understood it, but a sister!”
“Well, whatever she is to him, she’s a civilised white woman, and that’s a sight worth seeing in those regions. I wonder what she’s like?” said I.
“Like himself, of course. Tall, raw-boned, square-shouldered, red-haired (you know he told us she was red-haired), square-jawed, Roman-nosed—a Macnab female could be nothing else.”
Lumley obeyed, but the letter contained little more of interest. We cared not for that, however. We had now a subject capable of keeping us in speculative76 talk for a week—the mere77 fact that there was actually a civilised woman—a lady perhaps—at all events a Macnab—within two hundred miles of us!
“No doubt she’s a rugged78 specimen79 of the sex,” said Lumley, as we sat beside the fire that night, “no other kind of white female would venture to face this wilderness80 for the sake of a brother; but she is a white woman, and she is only two hundred miles off—unless our friend is joking—and she’s Macnab’s sister—Jessie, if I remember rightly—
“‘Stalwart young Jessie,
The flower of—’”
“Come, Lumley, that will do—good-night!”
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1
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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deluges
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| v.使淹没( deluge的第三人称单数 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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grumble
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| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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rend
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| vt.把…撕开，割裂；把…揪下来，强行夺取 | |
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13
defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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cataracts
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| n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障 | |
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rupture
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| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
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saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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patois
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| n.方言；混合语 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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32
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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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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languished
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| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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jumble
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| vt.使混乱，混杂；n.混乱；杂乱的一堆 | |
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wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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41
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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43
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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44
highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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45
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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46
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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47
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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48
outwards
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| adj.外面的，公开的，向外的；adv.向外；n.外形 | |
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49
gushing
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| adj.迸出的；涌出的；喷出的；过分热情的v.喷，涌( gush的现在分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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50
hilarity
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| n.欢乐；热闹 | |
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51
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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52
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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53
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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subsiding
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的现在分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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55
surmised
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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56
buttress
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| n.支撑物；v.支持 | |
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57
deranged
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| adj.疯狂的 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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buttresses
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| n.扶壁，扶垛( buttress的名词复数 )v.用扶壁支撑，加固( buttress的第三人称单数 ) | |
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60
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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62
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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64
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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65
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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Christians
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| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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68
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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71
larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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reindeer
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| n.驯鹿 | |
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elk
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| n.麋鹿 | |
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74
relish
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| n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味 | |
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75
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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