The Virginian

第56章

Attheheadheplacedtheneatsackofherbelongings。Forhisownhemadeashelterwithcrossedpolesandasheetofcanvasbeyondthefirstpines。Hebuiltthefirewhereitssmokewouldfloatoutwardfromthetreesandthetent,andnearithestoodthecookingthingsandhisprovisions,andmadethisfirstsupperreadyinthetwilight。Hehadbroughtmuchwithhim;butfortenminuteshefished,catchingtroutenough。Whenatlengthshecameridingoverthestreamathiscall,therewasnothingforhertodobutsitandeatatthetablehehadlaid。Theysattogether,watchingthelastofthetwilightandthegentleoncomingofthedusk。Thefinalafter-glowofdayleftthesky,andthroughthepurplewhichfolloweditcameslowlythefirststars,brightandwideapart。Theywatchedthespacesbetweenthemfinwithmorestars,whilenearthemtheflamesandembersoftheirfiregrewbrighter。Thenhesenthertothetentwhilehecleanedthedishesandvisitedthehorsestoseethattheydidnotstrayfromthepasture。Somewhileafterthedarknesswasfullycome,herejoinedher。Allhadbeenashehadseenitinhisthoughtsbeforehand:thepineswiththesettingsunuponthem,thesinkingcamp-fire,andnowthesoundofthewaterasitflowedmurmuringbytheshoresoftheisland。

Thetentopenedtotheeast,andfromittheywatchedtogethertheirfirstsunrise。Inhisthoughtshehadseenthismorningbeforehandalso:thewaking,thegentlesoundofthewatermurmuringceaselessly,thegrowingday,thevisionofthestream,thesensethattheworldwasshutawayfarfromthem。Sodiditallhappen,exceptthathewhisperedtoheragain:-“Betterthanmydreams。“

Theysawthesunlightbeginuponahilltop;andpresentlycamethesunitself,andlakesofwarmthflowedintotheair,slowlyfillingthegreensolitude。Alongtheislandshorestheripplescaughtflashesfromthesun。

“Iamgoingintothestream,“hesaidtoher;andrising,heleftherinthetent。Thiswashissideoftheisland,hehadtoldherlastnight;theotherwashers,wherehehadmadeaplaceforhertobathe。Whenhewasgone,shefoundit,walkingthroughthetreesandrockstothewater’sedge。Andso,withtheislandbetweenthem,thetwobathedinthecoldstream。Whenhecameback,hefoundheralreadybusyattheircamp。Thebluesmokeofthefirewasfloatingoutfromthetrees,loiteringundispersedinthequietair,andshewasgettingtheirbreakfast。Shehadbeenabletoforestallhimbecausehehaddelayedlongathisdressing,notwillingtoreturntoherunshaven。Shelookedathiseyesthatwereclearasthewaterhehadleapedinto,andathissoftsilkneckerchief,knottedwithcare。

“Donotletusevergoawayfromhere!“shecried,andrantohimashecame。Theysatlongtogetheratbreakfast,breathingthemorningbreathoftheearththatwasfragrantwithwoodlandmoistureandwiththepines。Afterthemealhecouldnotpreventherhelpinghimmakeeverythingclean。Then,byallcustomsofmountainjourneys,itwastimetheyshouldbreakcampandbemovingbeforetheheatoftheday。Butfirst,theydelayedfornoreason,savethatinthesehourstheysolovedtodonothing。Andnext,whenwithsomeenergyhegotuponhisfeetanddeclaredhemustgoanddrivethehorsesin,sheasked,Why?Woulditnotbewellforhimtofishhere,thattheymightbesureoftroutattheirnooning?Andthoughheknewthatwheretheyshouldstopfornoon,troutwouldbeassureashere,hetookthischanceformoredelay。

Shewentwithhimtohisfishingrock,andsatwatchinghim。Therockwastall,higherthanhisheadwhenhestood。Itjuttedouthalfwayacrossthestream,andthewaterflowedrounditinquickfoam,andfellintoapool。Hecaughtseveralfish;butthesunwasgettinghigh,andafteratimeitwasplainthefishhadceasedtorise。

Yetstillhestoodcastinginsilence,whileshesatbyandwatchedhim。Acrossthestream,thehorseswanderedorlaydownintheirpasture。Atlengthhesaidwithhalfasighthatperhapstheyoughttogo。

“Ought?“sherepeatedsoftly。

“Ifwearetogetanywhereto-day,“heanswered。

“Needwegetanywhere?“sheasked。

Herquestionsentdelightthroughhimlikeaflood。“Thenyoudonotwanttomovecampto-day?“saidhe。

Sheshookherhead。

Atthishelaiddownhisrodandcameandsatbyher。“Iamverygladweshallnotgotilltomorrow,“hemurmured。

“Notto-morrow,“shesaid。“Nornextday。Noranydayunti

这是VIP章节,可购买本章或开通会员后阅读
开通会员
字体大小
背景颜色