Part 4 (1/2)

Kit-ze knew the stream so well that he could keep near to the bank. Thus for much of the way they had the shade from the trees and from the overhanging bluffs. They found their curtains too, much protection.

Their little sitting room was very cozy and comfortable. Helen had brought some oilcloth matting for the floor of the sampan, and a little oil stove that they could light when the air was damp and disagreeable.

Here too were cus.h.i.+ons, one or two folding chairs, and the bedding which the girls were to use at night, together with the oilskin cases in which they kept their clothing, a small supply of books, writing materials, etc. In the next compartment forward Mr. Reid and Mr. Wilburn had stored their effects, as they were to occupy it jointly at night. Here all would dine when they were afloat; here too, the service of morning and evening prayer would be held. The three boys slept and kept their effects in the compartment just behind that of the girls. The straw roof along the ridgepole extended over all, even for a part of the way over the small, boxlike quarters of the two boatmen. In addition our party was provided with oilcloths for the better protection of the stores, and with mosquito netting.

”This is fine, even finer than sailing on the Hudson at home!” declared Dorothy, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

”Or the n.o.ble Mississippi, down in our Southland,” added Helen. ”How pleasant this is! Oh, I had no idea it could be so delightful!”

”You just wait, my sister, until you strike some of the rapids,”

admonished Clarence, his face taking on a very solemn expression, ”and begin to roll about like loose apples in a cart, or find your feet hanging where your head ought to be. Then I'm no prophet if you don't completely change your form of expression.”

”Oh, for shame!” cried both girls in a breath.

”I think it is real mean of you,” declared Helen, ”to try to spoil our enjoyment of the present by introducing into it the suggestion of those terrible things that await us. As for myself, I believe in enjoying what is sweet and good while we have it, without borrowing trouble with reference to what is in the future.”

”A philosophy in which I heartily agree,” said Dorothy.

There was indeed much to make the trip delightful, for the beauties of the spring were all around them, in the sky, in the water, in the green knolls overhanging the river. The stream continued to be quite shallow.

At some places it gurgled over the rocks only a foot or so below the sampan. They came now and then to where the cattle waded knee deep in the lush gra.s.ses. These turned to view them in mild-eyed astonishment as they pa.s.sed by chatting and laughing, then went on with their grazing.

Flocks of mandarin ducks and wild geese flew by; some of the latter even swam close to the sampan. There were too, numbers of the imperial crane, and once in a while a pink ibis wading along the edge of a rice field.

Clarence took his gun to shoot one of these, but Helen and Dorothy began to beg for its life. ”We don't want to eat it, so why destroy it?” asked Helen.

”Oh, wouldn't you girls like a wing each for your hats?” asked Clarence a little mischievously.

”Oh, no indeed,” declared Dorothy. ”No bird wing for me! You know that well enough, Master Clarence,” and she looked at him reprovingly.

”Well, the truth is,” confessed Clarence, ”I want it for my cabinet. I know a young j.a.panese in Seoul who has promised to show me how to stuff all I bring back. In the meantime he has taught me how to preserve them while on the trip.”

”If you must do it then in--in the cause of science,” and here Helen looked at him quizzingly, ”wait until we can't see you commit the murder, won't you?”

”All right,” a.s.sented Clarence cheerfully. ”But see here, sister,” with earnest protest, ”don't call it murder.”

”Well, the cruelty of sport then,” corrected Helen.

At that moment a shout from Joyce attracted their attention. ”Oh, look at the pheasants!” he cried. ”Quick! Clarence, I know you can shoot one or more of them if you try.”

Sure enough, there were the pheasants right along the edge of the rice field, fine, fat fellows, and many of them.

”Be careful,” warned Mr. Reid. ”Examine the surroundings well before you fire. There might be some one near.”

a.s.sured that there was not, Clarence raised his gun. ”Beg pardon, girls,” he said slyly, as he adjusted it to his shoulder. ”Pheasants are _so_ good to eat.”

They gave a little exclamation, then quickly covered both eyes and ears.

The next moment a report rang out, followed instantly by another. When the smoke cleared away five of the birds were seen in their last flutterings.

”Now, how are we to get them?” asked Mallard.