“’Tis a loon4. You should know that, I think, and that they’re always cryin’ fit to scare the dead. Come. The supper’s waited this long time.”
[Pg 28]
With a smile that disarmed5 offense6 Margot caught the woman’s shoulder and lightly swung her aside out of the way.
“Eat then, hungry one! I, too, am hungry, but—— Hark!”
The cry came again, prolonged, entreating7, not to be confounded with that of any forest wilding.
“It’s from the north end of our own island!”
The master’s ear was not less keen than the girl’s, and both had the acuteness of an Indian’s, but his judgment8 was better.
“From the mainland, across the narrows.”
“Thoughtless child, have you no sense? With the master just out of a faint that was nigh death itself! With nothin’ in his poor stomach since the mornin’ and your own as empty. Wait. Eat. Then chase loons, if you will.”
[Pg 29]
Mr. Dutton laughed, though he also frowned and cast a swift, anxious glance toward Margot. But she was intent upon nothing save answering that far-off cry.
“Which canoe, uncle?”
“Mine.”
The devoted10 servant made a last protest, and caught the girl’s arm as it pushed the light craft downward into the water.
“My child, he is not fit. Believe me. Best leave others to their fate than he should over-tax himself again, so soon.”
Margot was astonished. In all her life she had never before associated thought of physical weakness with her stalwart guardian11, and a sharp fear of some unknown trouble shot through her heart.
“What do you mean?”
The master had reached them and now laid his own hand upon Angelique’s detaining one.
“There, woman, that’s enough. The storm has shaken your nerves. If you’re afraid to [Pg 30]stay alone, Margot shall stop with you. But let’s have no more nonsense.”
Mother Ricord stepped back, away. She had done her best. Let come what might, her conscience was clear.
A few seconds later the canoe pushed off over the now darkening water and its inmates12 made all speed toward that point from which the cry had been heard, but was heard no more. However, the steersman followed a perfectly13 direct course and, if he were still weak from his seizure14, his movement showed no signs of it, so that Margot’s fear for him was lost in the interest of their present adventure. She rhymed her own stroke to her uncle’s and when he rested her paddle instantly stopped.
“Halloo! Hal-l-oo!” he shouted, but as no answer came, said: “Now—both together!”
The girl’s shriller treble may have had further carrying power than the man’s voice, for there was promptly15 returned to them an [Pg 31]echoing halloo, coming apparently16 from a great distance. But it was repeated at close intervals17 and each time with more distinctness.
“We’ll beach the boat just yonder, under that tamarack. Whoever it is has heard and is coming back.”
Margot’s impatience18 broke bounds and she darted19 forward among the trees, shouting: “This way! this way! here we are—here!” Her peculiar20 life and training had made her absolutely fearless, and she would have been surprised by her guardian’s command to “Wait!” had she heard it, which she did not. Also, she knew the forest as other girls know their city streets, and the dimness was no hindrance21 to her nimble feet. In a brief time she caught the crashing of boughs22 as some person, less familiar than she, blundered through the underbrush and finally came into view where a break in the timber gave a faint light.
“Here! Here! This way!”
[Pg 32]
He staggered and held out his hands, as if for aid, and Margot clasped them firmly. They were cold and tremulous. They were, also, slender and smooth, not at all like the hands of any men whom she was used to seeing. At the relief of her touch, his strength left him, but she caught his murmured:
“Thank God. I—had—given up——”
His voice, too, was different from any she knew, save her own uncle’s. This was somebody, then, from that outside world of which she dreamed so much and knew so little. It was like a fairy tale come true.
“Are you ill? There. Lean on me. Don’t fear. Oh! I’m strong, very strong, and uncle is just yonder, coming this way. Uncle—uncle!”
The stranger was almost past speech. Mr. Dutton recognized that at once and added his support to Margot’s. Between them they half-led, half-carried the wanderer to the canoe and lifted him into it, where he sank [Pg 33]exhausted. Then they dipped their paddles and the boat shot homeward, racing23 with death. Angelique was still on the beach and still complaining of their foolhardiness, but one word from her master silenced that. “Lend a hand, woman! Here’s something real to worry about. Margot, go ahead and get the lights.”
As the girl sprang from it, the housekeeper24 pulled the boat to a spot above the water and, stooping, lifted a generous share of the burden it contained.
It had not been a loon, then. No. Well, she had known that from the beginnin’, just as she had known that her beloved master was in no fit condition to go man-huntin’. This one he had found was, probably, dead anyway. Of course. Somebody had to die—beyond chickens and such—had not the broken glass so said?
Even in the twilight25 Mr. Dutton could detect the grim satisfaction of her face and smiled, foreseeing her change of expression [Pg 34]when this seemingly lifeless guest should revive.
They laid him on the lounge that had been spread with blankets for Margot, and she was already beside it, waiting to administer the herb tea which had, also, been prepared for herself, and which she had marveled to find so opportunely26 brewed27.
Mr. Dutton smiled again. In her simplicity28 the girl did not dream that the now bitter decoction was not a common restorative outside their primitive29 life, and in all good faith forced a spoonful of it between the closed lips.
“After all, it doesn’t matter. The poor fellow is doubtless used to richer cordials, but it’s hot and strong and will do the work. You, Angelique, make us a pot of your best coffee, and swing round that dinner-pot. The man is almost starved, and I’m on the road to follow him. How about you, Margot?”
“Poh! I guess I’m hungry—I will be—see! He’s swallowing it. Fast. Give me that bigger spoon! Quick!”
[Pg 35]
“What would you? Scald the creature’s throat? So he isn’t dead, after all. Well, he needn’t have made a body think so, he needn’t. There, Margot! You’ve messed him with the black stuff!”
Indignantly brushing her child aside the woman seized the cup and deftly30 administered its entire contents. The stranger had not yet opened his eyes, but accepted the warm liquid mechanically, and his nurse hurried to fill a bowl with the broth31 of the stew32 in the kettle. This, in turn, was taken from her by Margot, who jealously exclaimed:
“He’s mine. I heard him first, I found him first, let me be the first he sees. Dish up the supper, please, and set my uncle’s place.”
So when, a moment later, having been nearly choked by the more substantial food forced into his mouth, the guest opened his eyes, they beheld33 the eager face of a brown skinned, fair haired girl very close to his and heard her joyous34 cry:
[Pg 36]
“He sees me! he sees everything! He’s getting well already!”
He had never seen anybody like her. Her hair was as abundant as a mantle35 and rippled36 over her shoulders like spun37 silver. So it looked in the lamplight. In fact, it had never been bound nor covered, and what in a different social condition might have been much darker, had in this outdoor life become bleached38 almost white. The weather which had whitened the hair had tanned the skin to bronze, making the blue eyes more vivid by contrast and the red lips redder. These were smiling now, over well kept teeth, and there was about the whole bearing of the maid something suggestive of the woodland in which she had been reared.
Purity, honesty, freedom, all spoke39 in every motion and tone, and to this observer, at least, seemed better than any beauty. Presently, he was able to push her too willing hand gently away and to say:
“Not quite so fast, please.”
[Pg 37]
“Oh! uncle! Hear him? He talks just as you do! Not a bit like Pierre, or Joe, or the rest.”
Mr. Dutton came forward, smiling and remonstrating40.
“My dear, our new friend will think you quite rude, if you discuss him before his face, so frankly41. But, sir, I assure you she means nothing but delight at your recovery. We are all most thankful that you are here and safe. There, Margot. Let the gentleman rest a few minutes. Then a cup of coffee may be better than the stew. Were you long without food, friend?”
The stranger tried to answer but the effort tired him, and with a beckoning42 nod to the young nurse, the woodlander led the way back to the table and their own delayed supper. Both needed it and both ate it rather hastily, much to the disgust of Angelique who felt that her skill was wasted; but one was anxious to be off out of doors, to learn the damage left by the storm, and the other to be back [Pg 38]on her stool beside the lounge. When Mr. Dutton rose, the housekeeper left her own seat.
“I’ll fetch the lantern, master. But that’s the last of Snowfoot’s good milk you’ll ever drink,” she sighed, touching43 the pitcher44 sadly.
“What? Is anything wrong with her?”
“The cow-house is in ruins. So are the poultry45 coops. What with falling ill yourself just at the worst time and fetchin’ home other sick folks we might all go to wrack46 and nobody the better.”
The familiar grumbling47 provoked only a smile from the master, who would readily have staked his life on the woman’s devotion to “her people” and knew that the apparent crossness was not that in reality.
“Fie, good Angelique! Never so happy as when you’re miserable48. Come on. Nothing must suffer if we can prevent. Take care of our guest, Margot, but give him his nourishment49 slowly, at intervals. I’ll get some tools, and join you at the shed, Angelique.”
[Pg 39]
He went out and the housekeeper followed with the lantern, not needed in the moonlight, but possibly of use at the fallen cow-house.
They were long gone. The stranger dozed50, waked, ate, and dozed again. Margot, accustomed to early hours, also slept and soundly, till a fearful shriek51 roused her. Her patient was wildly kicking and striking at some hideous52 monster which had settled on his chest and would not be displaced.
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收听单词发音
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1
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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2
screeches
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| n.尖锐的声音( screech的名词复数 )v.发出尖叫声( screech的第三人称单数 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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3
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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loon
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| n.狂人 | |
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disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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6
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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7
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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8
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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13
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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14
seizure
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| n.没收；占有；抵押 | |
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promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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17
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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18
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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19
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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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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22
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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23
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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24
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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25
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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opportunely
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| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
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27
brewed
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| 调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡） | |
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28
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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31
broth
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| n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等) | |
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stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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33
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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34
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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35
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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36
rippled
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| 使泛起涟漪（ripple的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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37
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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38
bleached
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| 漂白的，晒白的，颜色变浅的 | |
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39
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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40
remonstrating
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的现在分词 )；告诫 | |
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41
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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42
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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43
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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44
pitcher
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| n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手 | |
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45
poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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46
wrack
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| v.折磨；n.海草 | |
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47
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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48
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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49
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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50
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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52
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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53
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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