Dick smiled.
"Sorry, but you'll have to wait a little, Al, old man," he said. "You're not strong enough yet to carry stores over the big range, though you will be very soon, and we can't leave our precious things here unguarded. So you'll have to stay and act as quartermaster while I make myself pack mule3. When we have all the things over there, we can fasten them up in our house, where bears, panthers, and wolves can't get at them."
Albert made a wry4 face, but he knew that he must yield to necessity. Dick began the task the next morning, and it was long, tedious, and most wearing. More than once he felt like abandoning some of their goods, but he hardened his resolution with the reflection that all were precious, and not a single thing was abandoned.
It was more than a week before it was all done, and it was not until the last trip that Albert went with him, carrying besides his gun a small pack. The weather was still propitious5. Once there had been a light shower in the night, but Albert was protected from it by the tarpaulin6 which they had made of the wagon7 cover, and nothing occurred to check his progress. He ate with an appetite that he had never known before, and he breathed by night as well as by day the crisp air of the mountains tingling8 with the balsam of the pines. It occurred to Dick that to be marooned9 in these mountains was perhaps the best of all things that could have happened to Albert.
They went slowly over the range toward the enchanted valley, stopping now and then because Albert, despite his improvement, was not yet equal to the task of strenuous10 climbing, but all things continued auspicious11. There was a touch of autumn on the foliage12, and the shades of red and yellow were appearing on the leaves of all the trees except the evergreens13, but everything told of vigorous life. As they passed the crest14 of the range and began the descent of the slope toward the enchanted valley, a mule deer crashed from the covert15 and fled away with great bounds. Flocks of birds rose with whirrings from the bushes. From some point far away came the long, whistling sound that made Albert cry out in wonder. But Dick laughed.
"It's the elk16," he said. "I saw one when I first came into the valley. I think they are thick hereabout, and I suspect that they will furnish us with some good winter food."
Albert found the valley all that Dick had represented it to be, and more. He watched the regular eruptions17 of the geysers with amazement18 and delight; he insisted on sampling the mineral springs, and intended to learn in time their various properties. The lake, in all its shimmering19 aspects, appealed to his love of the grand and beautiful, and he promptly20 named it "The Howard Sea, after its discoverer, you know," he said to Dick. Finally, the cabin itself filled him with delight, because he foresaw even more thoroughly21 than Dick how suitable it would be for a home in the long winter months. He installed himself as housekeeper22 and set to work at once.
The little cabin was almost choked with their supplies, which Dick had been afraid to leave outside for fear that the provisions would be eaten and the other things injured by the wild animals, and now they began the task of assorting and putting them into place.
The full equipment of the wagon that Dick had found in the gully, particularly the tools, proved to be a godsend. They made more racks on the walls—boring holes with the augers and then driving in pegs24—on which they laid their axes and extra rifles. In the same manner they made high shelves, on which their food would be safe from prowling wild beasts, even should they succeed in breaking in the door. But Dick soon made the latter impossible by putting the door on strong hinges of leather which he made from the gear that he had cut from the horses. He also split a new bar from one of the young ash trees and strengthened the hasps on the inside. He felt now that when the bar was in place not even the heaviest grizzly25 could force the door.
The task of mending the roof was more difficult. He knew how to split rude boards with his ax, but he had only a few nails with which to hold them in place. He solved the problem by boring auger23 holes, into which he drove pegs made from strong twigs26. The roof looked water-tight, and he intended to reenforce it later on with the skins of wild animals that he expected to kill—there had been no time yet for hunting.
Throughout these operations, which took about a week, they slept in the open in a rude tent which they made of the wagon cover and set beside the cabin, for two reasons: because Dick believed the open air at all times to be good for Albert, and because he was averse27 to using the cabin as a dormitory until it was thoroughly cleansed28 and aired.
Albert made himself extremely useful in the task of refurbishing the cabin. He brushed out all the dust, brought water from the brook29 and scrubbed the floor, and to dry the latter built their first fire on the hearth30 with pine cones31 and other fallen wood. As he touched the match to it, he did not conceal32 his anxiety.
"The big thing to us," he said, "is whether or not this chimney will draw. That's vital, I tell you, Dick, to a housekeeper. If it puffs33 out smoke and fills the cabin with it, we're to have a hard time and be miserable34. If it draws like a porous35 plaster and takes all the smoke up it, then we're to have an easy time of it and be happy."
Both watched anxiously as Albert touched the match to some pine shavings which were to form the kindling36 wood. The shavings caught, a light blaze leaped up, there came a warning crackle, and smoke, too, arose. Which way would it go? The little column wavered a moment and then shot straight up the chimney. It grew larger, but still shot straight up the chimney. The flames roared and were drawn37 in the same direction.
Albert laughed and clapped his hands.
"It's to be an easy time and a happy life!" he exclaimed. "Those old beaver38 hunters knew what they were about when they built this chimney!"
"You can cook in here, Al," said Dick; "but I suggest that we sleep in the tent until the weather grows bad."
Dick had more than one thing in mind in making this suggestion about the tent and sleeping. The air of the cabin could be close at night even with the window open, but in the tent with the flap thrown back—they never closed it—they breathed only a fresh balsamic odor, crisp with the coolness of autumn. He had watched Albert all the time. Now and then when he had exerted himself more than usual, the younger boy would cough, and at times he was very tired, but Dick, however sharply he watched, did not see again the crimson39 stain on the lips that he had noticed the night of the flight from the massacre40.
But the older brother, two years older only, in fact, but ten years older, at least, in feeling, did notice a great change in Albert, mental as well as physical. The younger boy ceased to have periods of despondency. While he could not do the things that Dick did, he was improving, and he never lamented41 his lack of strength. It seemed to him a matter of course, so far as Dick could judge, that in due time he should be the equal of the older and bigger boy in muscle and skill.
Albert, moreover, had no regrets for the world without. Their life with the wagon train had been far from pleasant, and he had only Dick, and Dick had only him. Now the life in the enchanted valley, which was a real valley of enchantments42, was sufficient for him. Each day brought forth43 some new wonder, some fresh and interesting detail. He was a capable fisherman, and he caught trout44 in both the brook and the river, while the lake yielded to his line other and larger fish, the names of which neither boy knew, but which proved to be of delicate flavor when broiled45 over the coals. Just above them was a boiling hot spring, and Albert used the water from this for cooking purposes. "Hot and cold water whenever you please," he said to Dick. "Nothing to do but to turn the tap."
Dick smiled; he, too, was happy. He enjoyed life in the enchanted valley, where everything seemed to have conspired46 in their favor. When they had been there about a week, and their home was ready for any emergency, Dick took his gun and went forth, the hunting spirit strong within him. They had heard the elk whistling on the mountain side nearly every day, and he believed that elk meat would prove tender and good. Anyway he would see.
Dick did not feel much concern about their food supply. He believed that vast quantities of big game would come into this valley in the winter to seek protection from the mighty47 snows of the northern Rockies, but it was just as well to begin the task of filling the larder48.
He came out into the main valley and turned toward the lake. Autumn was now well advanced, but in the cool sunshine the lake seemed more beautiful than ever. Its waters were golden to-day, but with a silver tint49 at the edges where the pine-clad banks overhung it. Dick did not linger, however. He turned away toward the slopes, whence the whistling call had come the oftenest, and was soon among the pines and cedars50. He searched here an hour or more, and at last he found two feeding, a male and a female.
Dick had the instinct of the hunter, and already he had acquired great skill. Creeping through the undergrowth, he came within easy shot of the animals, and he looked at them a little before shooting. The bull was magnificent, and he, if any, seemed a fit subject for the bullet, but Dick chose the cow, knowing that she would be the tenderer. Only a single shot was needed, and then he had a great task to carry the hide and the body in sections to the cabin. They ate elk steaks and then hung the rest in the trees for drying and jerking. Dick, according to his previous plan, used the skin to cover the newly mended places in the roof, fastening it down tightly with small wooden pegs. His forethought was vindicated51 two days later when a great storm came. Both he and Albert had noticed throughout the afternoon an unusual warmth in the air. It affected52 Albert particularly, as it made his respiration53 difficult. Over the mountains in the west they saw small dark clouds which soon began to grow and unite. Dick thought he knew what it portended54, and he and his brother quickly taking down the tent, carried it and all its equipment inside the cabin. Then making fast the door and leaving the window open, they waited.
The heat endured, but all the clouds became one that overspread the entire heavens. Despite the lateness of the season, the thunder, inexpressibly solemn and majestic55, rumbled56 among the gorges57, and there was a quiver of lightening. It was as dark as twilight58.
The rain came, roaring down the clefts59 and driving against the cabin with such force that they were compelled to close the window. How thankful Dick was now for Albert's sake that they had such a secure shelter! Nor did he despise it for his own.
The rain, driven by a west wind, poured heavily, and the air rapidly grew colder. Albert piled dry firewood on the hearth and lighted it. The flames leaped up, and warmth, dryness, and cheer filled all the little cabin. Dick had been anxiously regarding the roof, but the new boards and the elk skin were water-tight. Not a drop came through. Higher leaped the flames and the rosy60 shadows fell upon the floor.
"It's well we took the tent down and came in here," said Albert.
"Listen to that!"
The steady, driving sweep changed to a rattle61 and a crackle. The rain had turned to hail, and it was like the patter of rifle fire on the stout62 little cabin.
"It may rain or hail or snow, or do whatever it pleases, but it can't get at us," said Albert exultingly63.
"No, it can't," said Dick. "I wonder, Al, what Bright Sun is doing now?"
"A peculiar64 Indian," said Albert thoughtfully, "but it's safe to say that wherever he is he's planning and acting66."
"At any rate," said Dick, "we're not likely to know it, whatever it is, for a long time, and we won't bother trying to guess about it."
It hailed for an hour and then changed to rain again, pouring down in great steadiness and volume. Dick opened the window a little way once, but the night was far advanced, and it was pitchy black outside. They let the coals die down to a glowing bed, and then, wrapping themselves in their blankets, they slept soundly all through the night and the driving rain, their little cabin as precious to them as any palace was ever to a king.
Albert, contrary to custom, was the first to awake the next morning. A few coals from the fire were yet alive on the hearth, and the atmosphere of the room, breathed over and over again throughout the night, was close and heavy. He threw back the window shutter67, and the great rush of pure cold air into the opening made his body thrill with delight. This was a physical pleasure, but the sight outside gave him a mental rapture68 even greater. Nothing was falling now, but the rain had turned back to hail before it ceased, and all the earth was in glittering white. The trees in the valley, clothed in ice, were like lace work, and above them towered the shining white mountains.
Albert looked back at Dick. His brother, wrapped in his blanket, still slept, with his arm under his head and his face toward the hearth. He looked so strong, so enduring, as he lay there sleeping soundly, and Albert knew that he was both. But a curious feeling was in the younger boy's mind that morning. He was glad that he had awakened69 first. Hitherto he had always opened his eyes to find Dick up and doing. It was Dick who had done everything. It was Dick who had saved him from the Sioux; it was Dick who had practically carried him over the first range; Dick had found their shelter in the pine alcove70; Dick had labored71 day and night, day after day, and night after night, bringing the stores over the mountain from the lost train, then he had found their new home in the enchanted valley, which Albert persisted in calling it, and he had done nearly all the hard work of repairing and furnishing the cabin.
It should not always be so. Albert's heart was full of gratitude72 to this brother of his who was so brave and resourceful, but he wanted to do his share. The feeling was based partly on pride and partly on a new increase of physical strength. He took a deep inhalation of the cold mountain air and held it long in his lungs. Then he emitted it slowly. There was no pain, no feeling of soreness, and it was the first time he could remember that it had been so. A new thrill of pleasure, keener and more powerful than any other, shook him for a moment. It was a belief, nay73, a certainty, or at least a conviction, that he was going to be whole and sound. The mountains were doing their kindly74 healing. He could have shouted aloud with pleasure, but instead he restrained himself and went outside, softly shutting the door behind him.
Autumn had gone and winter had come in a night. The trees were stripped of every leaf and in their place was the sheathing75 of ice. The brook roared past, swollen76 for the time to a little river. The air, though very cold, was dry despite the heavy rain of the night before. Albert shivered more than once, but it was not the shiver of weakness. It did not bite to the very marrow77 of him. Instead, when he exercised legs and arms vigorously, warmth came back. He was not a crushed and shriveled thing. Now he laughed aloud in sheer delight. He had subjected himself to another test, and he had passed it in triumph.
"Why, what's this, Al?" exclaimed the big youth, rubbing his eyes.
"Oh, I've been up pretty near an hour," replied Albert airily. "Saw that you were having a fine sleep, so I thought I wouldn't disturb you."
Dick looked inquiringly at him. He thought he detected a new note in his brother's voice, a note, too, that he liked.
Albert turned and faced his brother squarely.
"I've been thinking a lot, and feeling a lot more this morning," he replied. "I've been trying myself out, as they say, and if I'm not well I'm traveling fast in that direction. Hereafter I share the work as well as the rewards."
Albert spoke79 almost defiantly80, but Dick liked his tone and manner better than ever. He would not, on any account, have said anything in opposition81 at this moment.
"All right, Al, old fellow. That's agreed," he said.
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1
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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wry
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| adj.讽刺的；扭曲的 | |
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propitious
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| adj.吉利的；顺利的 | |
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tarpaulin
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| n.涂油防水布，防水衣，防水帽 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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marooned
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| adj.被围困的；孤立无援的；无法脱身的 | |
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strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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evergreens
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| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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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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covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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elk
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| n.麋鹿 | |
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eruptions
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| n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 ) | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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auger
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| n.螺丝钻，钻孔机 | |
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pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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cleansed
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| 弄干净，清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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cones
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| n.（人眼）圆锥细胞；圆锥体( cone的名词复数 )；球果；圆锥形东西；（盛冰淇淋的）锥形蛋卷筒 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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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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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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porous
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| adj.可渗透的，多孔的 | |
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kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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broiled
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| a.烤过的 | |
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conspired
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| 密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 )； 搞阴谋； （事件等）巧合； 共同导致 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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larder
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| n.食物贮藏室，食品橱 | |
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49
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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50
cedars
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| 雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 ) | |
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51
vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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portended
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| v.预示( portend的过去式和过去分词 )；预兆；给…以警告；预告 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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clefts
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| n.裂缝( cleft的名词复数 )；裂口；cleave的过去式和过去分词；进退维谷 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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exultingly
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| 兴高采烈地，得意地 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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66
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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67
shutter
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| n.百叶窗；(照相机)快门；关闭装置 | |
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68
rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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69
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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70
alcove
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| n.凹室 | |
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71
labored
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| adj.吃力的，谨慎的v.努力争取(for)( labor的过去式和过去分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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72
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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73
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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74
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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75
sheathing
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| n.覆盖物，罩子v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的现在分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
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76
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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77
marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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78
aroma
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| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
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79
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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80
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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81
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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