Part 40 (1/2)

”Look at this stump; why, it must be twenty or thirty feet round. And look at 'em, hundreds and thousands of 'em, all standing as close together as they can. Oh, look! look! look! Can't help it, I must shout. I don't care about the trouble or the work, or the long voyage.

I'd go through it all again to come to such a place as this. Oh, I do wish mother was here to see.”

I did not give vent to my feelings in the same way, but I felt as much; and all the time, as my heart seemed to swell with joy, there were tears rising to my eyes, and dimming the glorious view of river, mountain, and forest, while I kept on saying to myself, ”Thank G.o.d for making such a lovely world.”

The first excitement over, and the feeling of wonder that we had not seen all this last night pa.s.sed away, we went on along the clearing to the bank of the river, overlooking the shallows where we were to have our bathe.

The sun was s.h.i.+ning down through the opening formed by the stream, and its waters were sparkling and flas.h.i.+ng in the light, as we reached the spot Gunson evidently meant, and just then I caught hold of Esau's arm, and stood pointing away toward the middle.

”I see 'em,” cried Esau, ”just over those shallows. Just like shoals of roach in the Lea or the New River. They must be gudgeon.”

”Gudgeon!--nonsense! You forget how big everything is here. They're salmon.”

”Go along with you,” he cried. ”Think I don't know better than that?

Well, I am--”

This last was on seeing a bar of silver about three feet long shoot out of the water, describe a curve, and fall with a tremendous splash not half a stone's throw from where we stood.

”Why, it is!” cried Esau, excitedly. ”That was a salmon, and I can see 'em now--they are big--hundreds of 'em, and oh! not a bit o'

fis.h.i.+ng-tackle of any sort, not so much as a line.”

”Are you coming to bathe?” I cried, laughing.

”Who's to bathe when there's everything to look at like this? Here, don't let's go any further; let's write to mother and the others to come over here.”

”There, I shan't wait for you, Esau,” I cried, slipping off my clothes; while he began more slowly, gazing about him all the while.

”Can't help it,” he said. ”I never thought there could be such places as this. I say, ain't it too beautiful a'most?”

_Splash_!

That was my answer as I plunged in, only to shout as I rose to the top again, for the water was so cold it sent quite a thrill through me, and the next minute I was swimming about in the full enjoyment of the dip, after having to be content for months with a miserable allowance of water for was.h.i.+ng purposes.

”Here I come: look out!” cried Esau; and the next moment he too sprang in, sending the water up sparkling in the morning suns.h.i.+ne. ”Oh!” he cried; ”oh! ice! Isn't it cold?”

”You'll soon feel warm,” I shouted; and a minute later he was up close beside me, swimming easily, and every now and then dipping his head under water like a duck.

”I shan't go away from here,” panted Esau. ”It's too lovely to leave.

I shall build a cottage down by the river side and live there, and then we can fish for salmon. What more does a fellow want?”

”Let's wait a bit, and see what the rest of the country is like. We may find a better place.”

”Couldn't,” cried Esau. ”I say, one don't feel the water so cold now.

I don't want a place to be any better than this. It's just right.”

”Well, let's swim back now, and dress. I want my breakfast, and I dare say Gunson's ready.”

”Bother old Gunson!” puffed Esau. ”He's a regular nuisance. Is he going to-day?”