按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
on the floor before the fire and in the chimney corner for her only
son； baptized under that historic title。 〃He was here a minit
ago；〃 she said doubtfully。 〃I really can't think where he's gone。
But；〃 assuringly； 〃it ain't far。〃
〃He's skipped with one o' those story…books he's borrowed；〃 said
Phemie。 〃He's always doin' it。 Like as not he's reading with a
candle in the wood…shed。 We'll all be burnt up some night。〃
〃But he's got through his chores；〃 interposed Mrs。 Harkutt
deprecatingly。
〃Yes；〃 continued Harkutt； aggrievedly； 〃but instead of goin' to
bed； or addin' up bills； or takin' count o' stock； or even doin'
sums or suthin' useful； he's ruinin' his eyes and wastin' his time
over trash。〃 He rose and walked slowly into the sitting…room；
followed by his daughter and a murmur of commiseration from his
wife。 But Mrs。 Harkutt's ministration for the present did not pass
beyond her domain； the kitchen。
〃I reckon ye ain't expectin' anybody tonight； Phemie？〃 said Mr。
Harkutt； sinking into a chair； and placing his slippered feet
against the wall。
〃No；〃 said Phemie； 〃unless something possesses that sappy little
Parmlee to make one of his visitations。 John Milton says that out
on the road it blows so you can't stand up。 It's just like that
idiot Parmlee to be blown in here； and not have strength of mind
enough to get away again。〃
Mr。 Harkutt smiled。 It was that arch yet approving； severe yet
satisfied smile with which the deceived male parent usually
receives any depreciation of the ordinary young man by his
daughters。 Euphemia was no giddy thing to be carried away by young
men's attentions；not she！ Sitting back comfortably in his
rocking…chair； he said； 〃Play something。〃
The young girl went to the closet and took from the top shelf an
excessively ornamented accordion；the opulent gift of a reckless
admirer。 It was so inordinately decorated； so gorgeous in the
blaze of papier mache； mother…of…pearl； and tortoise…shell on keys
and keyboard； and so ostentatiously radiant in the pink silk of its
bellows that it seemed to overawe the plainly furnished room with
its splendors。 〃You ought to keep it on the table in a glass vase；
Phemie；〃 said her father admiringly。
〃And have HIM think I worshiped it！ Not me； indeed！ He's conceited
enough already；〃 she returned； saucily。
Mr。 Harkutt again smiled his approbation； then deliberately closed
his eyes and threw his head back in comfortable anticipation of the
coming strains。
It is to be regretted that in brilliancy； finish； and even
cheerfulness of quality they were not up to the suggestions of the
keys and keyboard。 The most discreet and cautious effort on the
part of the young performer seemed only to produce startlingly
unexpected； but instantly suppressed complaints from the
instrument； accompanied by impatient interjections of 〃No； no；〃
from the girl herself。 Nevertheless； with her pretty eyebrows
knitted in some charming distress of memory； her little mouth half
open between an apologetic smile and the exertion of working the
bellows； with her white； rounded arms partly lifted up and waving
before her； she was pleasantly distracting to the eye。 Gradually；
as the scattered strains were marshaled into something like an air；
she began to sing also； glossing over the instrumental weaknesses；
filling in certain dropped notes and omissions； and otherwise
assisting the ineffectual accordion with a youthful but not
unmusical voice。 The song was a lugubrious religious chant； under
its influence the house seemed to sink into greater quiet；
permitting in the intervals the murmur of the swollen creek to
appear more distinct； and even the far moaning of the wind on the
plain to become faintly audible。 At last； having fairly mastered
the instrument； Phemie got into the full swing of the chant。
Unconstrained by any criticism； carried away by the sound of her
own voice； and perhaps a youthful love for mere uproar； or possibly
desirous to drown her father's voice； which had unexpectedly joined
in with a discomposing bass； the conjoined utterances seemed to
threaten the frail structure of their dwelling； even as the gale
had distended the store behind them。 When they ceased at last it
was in an accession of dripping from the apparently stirred leaves
outside。 And then a voice； evidently from the moist depths of the
abyss below； called out；
〃Hullo； there！〃
Phemie put down the accordion； said； 〃Who's that now？〃 went to the
window； lazily leaned her elbows on the sill； and peered into the
darkness。 Nothing was to be seen； the open space of dimly outlined
landscape had that blank； uncommunicative impenetrability with
which Nature always confronts and surprises us at such moments。 It
seemed to Phemie that she was the only human being present。 Yet
after the feeling had passed she fancied she heard the wash of the
current against some object in the stream； half stationary and half
resisting。
〃Is any one down there？ Is that you； Mr。 Parmlee？〃 she called。
There was a pause。 Some invisible auditor said to another； 〃It's a
young lady。〃 Then the first voice rose again in a more deferential
tone： 〃Are we anywhere near Sidon？〃
〃This is Sidon；〃 answered Harkutt； who had risen； and was now quite
obliterating his daughter's outline at the window。
〃Thank you；〃 said the voice。 〃Can we land anywhere here； on this
bank？〃
〃Run down； pop； they're strangers；〃 said the girl； with excited；
almost childish eagerness。
〃Hold on；〃 called out Harkutt； 〃I'll be thar in a moment！〃 He
hastily thrust his feet into a pair of huge boots； clapped on an
oilskin hat and waterproof； and disappeared through a door that led
to a lower staircase。 Phemie； still at the window； albeit with a
newly added sense of self…consciousness； hung out breathlessly。
Presently a beam of light from the lower depths of the house shot
out into the darkness。 It was her father with a bull's…eye
lantern。 As he held it up and clambered cautiously down the bank；
its rays fell upon the turbid rushing stream； and what appeared to
be a rough raft of logs held with difficulty against the bank by
two men with long poles。 In its centre was a roll of blankets； a
valise and saddle…bags； and the shining brasses of some odd…looking
instruments。
As Mr。 Harkutt； supporting himself by a willow branch that overhung
the current； held up the lantern； the two men rapidly transferred
their freight from the raft to the bank； and leaped ashore。 The
action gave an impulse to the raft； which； no longer held in
position by the poles； swung broadside to the current and was
instantly swept into the darkness。
Not a word had been spoken； but now the voices of the men rose
freely together。 Phemie listened with intense expectation。 The
explanation was simple。 They were surveyors who had been caught by
the overflow on Tasajara plain； had abandoned their horses on the
bank of Tasajara Creek； and with a hastily constructed raft had
intrusted themselves and their instruments to the current。 〃But；〃
said Harkutt quickly； 〃there is no connection between Tasajara
Creek and this stream。〃
The two men laughed。 〃There is NOW；〃 said one of them。
〃But Tasajara Creek is a part of the bay；〃 said the astonished
Harkutt； 〃and this stream rises inland and only runs into the bay
four miles lower down。 And I don't see how
〃You're almost twelve feet lower here than Tasajara Creek；〃 said
the first man； with a certain professional authority； 〃and that's
WHY。 There's more water than Tasajara Creek can carry； and it's
seeking the bay this way。 Look；〃 he continued； taking the lantern
from Harkutt's hand and casting its rays on the stream； 〃that's
salt drift from the upper bay； and part of Tasajara Creek's running
by your house now！ Don't be alarmed；〃 he added reassuringly；
glancing at the staring storekeeper。 〃You're all right here； this
is only the overflow and will find its level soon。〃
But Mr。 Harkutt remained gazing abstractedly at the smiling
speaker。 From the window above the impatient Phemie was wondering
why he kept the strangers waiting in the rain while he talked about
things that were perfectly plain。 It was so like a man！
〃Then there's a waterway straight to Tasajara Creek？〃 he said
slowly。
〃There is； as long as this flood lasts；〃 returned the first speaker
promptly； 〃and a cutting through the bank of two or three hundred
yards would make it permanent。 Well； what's the matter with that？〃
〃Nothin'；〃 said Harkutt hurriedly。 〃I am only considerin'！ But
come in； dry yourselves； and take suthin'。〃
The light over the rushing water was withdrawn； and the whole
prospect sank back into profound darkness。 Mr。 Harkutt had
disappeared with his guests。 Then there was the familiar shuffle
of his feet on the staircase； followed by other more cautious