CHAPTER IX

 Just at sunset the two children stood on the cliff.

 

All about them was beautiful red sandstone.

 

So red were the rocks that the setting sun made them glow like fire.

 

Every little bush in the valley was covered with gleaming¹ red sand.

 

The few white rocks looked like silver in the fiery² light.

 

“Oh, Teni,” said homesick little Mavo, “let us go in and ask Demino to take us to our mother and father.”

 

But Demino was already climbing down the cliff to get his pony³.

 

The brother and sister jumped with joy when they saw him.

 

“Oh, Demino!” they said, “are we going home now?”

 

“Yes,” said Demino.

 

“May we ride on the pony?” said little Mavo. “I am not afraid.”

 

Demino lifted Mavo on the pony and told Teni to jump up behind her.

 

“You must not let Mavo fall, Teni,” said Demino. “I will walk beside you, and lead the pony to your home.”

 

The people had gathered on the cliff as Teni and Mavo started off.

 

The children shouted “Good-by!” and “Thank you!” and Demino’s little boy waved his hand as long as he could see them.

 

“See, there is the tower, Mavo,” said Teni.

 

“We must be very far from home, for I never had seen the tower before this morning.”

 

“Your father has been there,” said Demino. “He can tell you all about it.”

 

They rode a long while, and Mavo grew very tired.

 

Teni put his arms about her, and said: “We will soon be home, Mavo.”

 

As they rode on, Mother Moon and the baby stars seemed to smile and say, “We are glad, too, that you will soon be home.”

1 gleaming   

n. 微弱的闪光, 瞬息的一现 v. 闪烁, 隐约地闪现

参考例句：

• His teeth were a gleaming flash of white against his tan. 他的牙齿在他棕褐色皮肤的映衬下白得发亮。
• Cabs and carriages, their lamps gleaming like yellow eyes, pattered by. 公共马车和私人马车嗒嗒地驶过，车灯像一双双黄色的眼睛闪闪发亮。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

2 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

3 pony   

adj.小型的；n.小马

参考例句：

• His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
• They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。