Butinthesummertime，especiallyafteryou’vebeeninMariposaforamonthortwo，andhavepaddledalongsideofherinacanoe，shegetslargerandtaller，andwithagreatsweepofblacksides，tillyouseenodifferencebetweentheMariposaBelleandtheLusitania。

Eachoneisabigsteamerandthat’sallyoucansay。

Nordohermeasurementshelpyoumuch。Shedrawsabouteighteeninchesforward，andmorethanthat，——atleasthalfaninchmore，astern，andwhenshe’sloadeddownwithanexcursioncrowdshedrawsagoodtwoinchesmore。Andabovethewater，——why，lookatallthedecksonher！There’sthedeckyouwalkonto，fromthewharf，allshutin，withwindowsalongit，andtheaftercabinwiththelongtable，andabovethatthedeckwithallthechairspileduponit，andthedeckinfrontwherethebandstandroundinacircle，andthepilothouseishigherthanthat，andabovethepilothouseistheboardwiththegoldnameandtheflagpoleandthesteelropesandtheflags;andfixedinsomewhereonthedifferentlevelsisthelunchcounterwheretheysellthesandwiches，andtheengineroom，anddownbelowthedecklevel，beneaththewaterline，istheplacewherethecrewsleep。Whatwithstepsandstairsandpassagesandpilesofcordwoodfortheengine，——ohno，IguessHarlandandWolffdidn’tbuildher。Theycouldn’thave。

YetevenwithahugeboatliketheMariposaBelle，itwouldbeimpossibleforhertocarryallofthecrowdthatyouseeintheboatandonthewharf。Inreality，thecrowdismadeupoftwoclasses，——allofthepeopleinMariposawhoaregoingontheexcursionandallthosewhoarenot。Somecomefortheonereasonandsomefortheother。

ThetwotellersoftheExchangeBankareboththerestandingsidebyside。Butoneofthem，——theonewiththecameopinandthelongfacelikeahorse，——isgoing，andtheother，——withtheothercameopinandthefacelikeanotherhorse，——isnot。Inthesameway，HusselloftheNewspacketisgoing，buthisbrother，besidehim，isn’t。LilianDroneisgoing，buthersistercan’t;andsoonallthroughthecrowd。

Andtothinkthatthingsshouldlooklikethatonthemorningofasteamboataccident。

Howstrangelifeis！

Tothinkofallthesepeoplesoeagerandanxioustocatchthesteamer，andsomeofthemrunningtocatchit，andsofearfulthattheymightmissit，——themorningofasteamboataccident。Andthecaptainblowinghiswhistle，andwarningthemsoseverelythathewouldleavethembehind，——leavethemoutoftheaccident！Andeverybodycrowdingsoeagerlytobeintheaccident。

Perhapslifeislikethatallthrough。

Strangestofalltothink，inacaselikethis，ofthepeoplewhowereleftbehind，orinsomewayorotherpreventedfromgoing，andalwaysafterwardstoldofhowtheyhadescapedbeingonboardtheMariposaBellethatday！

Someoftheinstanceswerecertainlyextraordinary。Nivens，thelawyer，escapedfrombeingtheremerelybythefactthathewasawayinthecity。

Towers，thetailor，onlyescapedowingtothefactthat，notintendingtogoontheexcursionhehadstayedinbedtilleighto’clockandsohadnotgone。Henarratedafterwardsthatwakingupthatmorningathalf—pastfive，hehadthoughtoftheexcursionandforsomeunaccountablereasonhadfeltgladthathewasnotgoing。

ThecaseofYodel，theauctioneer，wasevenmoreinscrutable。HehadbeentotheOddfellows’excursiononthetraintheweekbeforeandtotheConservativepicnictheweekbeforethat，andhaddecidednottogoonthistrip。Infact，hehadnottheleastintentionofgoing。

HenarratedafterwardshowthenightbeforesomeonehadstoppedhimonthecornerofNippewaandTecumsehStreets（heindicatedtheveryspot）andasked："Areyougoingtotakeintheexcursionto—morrow？"

andhehadsaid，justassimplyashewastalkingwhennarratingit：

"No。"Andtenminutesafterthat，atthecornerofDalhousieandBrockStreets（heofferedtoleadapartyofverificationtothepreciseplace）somebodyelsehadstoppedhimandasked："Well，areyougoingonthesteamertripto—morrow？"Againhehadanswered：

"No，"apparentlyalmostinthesametoneasbefore。

HesaidafterwardsthatwhenheheardtherumouroftheaccidentitseemedlikethefingerofProvidence，andfellonhiskneesinthankfulness。

TherewasthesimilarcaseofMorison（ImeantheoneinGlover’shardwarestorethatmarriedoneoftheThompsons）。Hesaidafterwardsthathehadreadsomuchinthepapersaboutaccidentslately，——miningaccidents，andaeroplanesandgasoline，——thathehadgrownnervous。Thenightbeforehiswifehadaskedhimatsupper：

"Areyougoingontheexcursion？"Hehadanswered："No，Idon’tthinkIfeellikeit，"andhadadded："Perhapsyourmothermightliketogo。"Andthenexteveningjustatdusk，whenthenewsranthroughthetown，hesaidthefirstthoughtthatflashedthroughhisheadwas：

"Mrs。Thompson’sonthatboat。"

HetoldthisrightasIsayit——withouttheleastdoubtorconfusion。

HeneverforamomentimaginedshewasontheLusitaniaortheOlympicoranyotherboat。Heknewshewasonthisone。Hesaidyoucouldhaveknockedhimdownwherehestood。Butnoonehad。Notevenwhenhegothalfwaydown，——onhisknees，anditwouldhavebeeneasierstilltoknockhimdownorkickhim。Peopledomissalotofchances。

Still，asIsay，neitherYodelnorMorisonnoranyonethoughtabouttherebeinganaccidentuntiljustaftersundownwhenthey——

Well，haveyoueverheardthelongboomingwhistleofasteamboattwomilesoutonthelakeinthedusk，andwhileyoulistenandcountandwonder，seenthecrimsonrocketsgoingupagainsttheskyandthenheardthefirebellringingrighttherebesideyouinthetown，andseenthepeoplerunningtothetownwharf？

That’swhatthepeopleofMariposasawandfeltthatsummereveningastheywatchedtheMackinawlife—boatgoplungingoutintothelakewithsevensweepstoasideandthefoamcleartothegunwalewiththeliftingstrokeoffourteenmen！

But，dearme，Iamafraidthatthisisnowaytotellastory。I

supposethetrueartwouldhavebeentohavesaidnothingabouttheaccidenttillithappened。ButwhenyouwriteaboutMariposa，orhearofit，ifyouknowtheplace，it’sallsovividandrealthatathinglikethecontrastbetweentheexcursioncrowdinthemorningandthesceneatnightleapsintoyourmindandyoumustthinkofit。

Butnevermindabouttheaccident，——letusturnbackagaintothemorning。

Theboatwasduetoleaveatseven。Therewasnodoubtaboutthehour，——notonlyseven，butsevensharp。ThenoticeintheNewspacketsaid："Theboatwillleavesharpatseven;"andtheadvertisingpostersonthetelegraphpolesonMissinabaStreetthatbegan"Ho，forIndian’sIsland！"endedupwiththewords："Boatleavesatsevensharp。"Therewasabignoticeonthewharfthatsaid："Boatleavessharpontime。"

Soatseven，rightonthehour，thewhistleblewloudandlong，andthenatsevenfifteenthreeshortperemptoryblasts，andatseventhirtyonequickangrycall，——justone，——andverysoonafterthattheycastoffthelastoftheropesandtheMariposaBellesailedoffinhercloudofflags，andthebandoftheKnightsofPythias，timingittoanicety，brokeintothe"MapleLeafforEver！"

Isupposethatallexcursionswhentheystartaremuchthesame。

Anyway，ontheMariposaBelleeverybodywentrunningupanddownallovertheboatwithdeckchairsandcampstoolsandbaskets，andfoundplaces，splendidplacestosit，andthengotscaredthattheremightbebetteronesandchasedoffagain。Peoplehuntedforplacesoutofthesunandwhentheygotthemsworethattheyweren’tgoingtofreezetopleaseanybody;andthepeopleinthesunsaidthattheyhadn’tpaidfiftycentstoberoasted。Otherssaidthattheyhadn’tpaidfiftycentstogetcoveredwithcinders，andtherewerestillotherswhohadn’tpaidfiftycentstogetshakentodeathwiththepropeller。

Still，itwasallrightpresently。Thepeopleseemedtogetsortedoutintotheplacesontheboatwheretheybelonged。Thewomen，theolderones，allgravitatedintothecabinonthelowerdeckandbygettingroundthetablewithneedlework，andwithallthewindowsshut，theysoonhadit，astheysaidthemselves，justlikebeingathome。

Alltheyoungboysandthetoughsandthemeninthebandgotdownonthelowerdeckforward，wheretheboatwasdirtiestandwheretheanchorwasandthecoilsofrope。

AndupstairsontheafterdecktherewereLilianDroneandMissLawson，thehighschoolteacher，withabookofGermanpoetry，——GotheyIthinkitwas，——andthebanktellerandtheyoungermen。

Inthecentre，standingbesidetherail，wereDeanDroneandDr。

Gallagher，lookingthroughbinocularglassesattheshore。

Upinfrontonthelittledeckforwardofthepilothousewasagroupoftheoldermen，MullinsandDuffandMr。Smithinadeckchair，andbesidehimMr。GolgothaGingham，theundertakerofMariposa，onastool。ItwaspartofMr。Gingham’sprinciplestotakeinanoutingofthissort，abusinessmatter，moreorless，——foryouneverknowwhatmayhappenatthesewaterparties。Atanyrate，hewasthereinaneatsuitofblack，not，ofcourse，hisheavierorprofessionalsuit，butasoftclingingeffectasofburntpaperthatcombinedgaietyanddecorumtoanicety。

"Yes，"saidMr。Gingham，wavinghisblackgloveinageneralwaytowardstheshore，"Iknowthelakewell，verywell。I’vebeenprettymuchalloveritinmytime。"

"Canoeing？"askedsomebody。

"No，"saidMr。Gingham，"notinacanoe。"Thereseemedapeculiarandquietmeaninginhistone。

"Sailing，Isuppose，"saidsomebodyelse。

"No，"saidMr。Gingham。"Idon’tunderstandit。"

"Ineverknowedthatyouwentontothewateratall，Gol，"saidMr。

Smith，breakingin。

"Ah，notnow，"explainedMr。Gingham;"itwasyearsago，thefirstsummerIcametoMariposa。Iwasonthewaterpracticallyallday。

Nothinglikeittogiveamananappetiteandkeephiminshape。"

"Wasyoucamping？"askedMr。Smith。

"Wecampedatnight，"assentedtheundertaker，"butweputinpracticallythewholedayonthewater。Youseewewereafterapartythathadcomeupherefromthecityonhisvacationandgoneoutinasailingcanoe。Weweredragging。Wewereupeverymorningatsunrise，litafireonthebeachandcookedbreakfast，andthenwe’dlightourpipesandbeoffwiththenetforawholeday。It’sagreatlife，"

concludedMr。Ginghamwistfully。

"Didyougethim？"askedtwoorthreetogether。

TherewasapausebeforeMr。Ginghamanswered。

"Wedid，"hesaid，——"downinthereedspastHorseshoePoint。Butitwasnouse。Heturnedblueonmerightaway。"

AfterwhichMr。Ginghamfellintosuchadeepreveriethattheboathadsteamedanotherhalfmiledownthelakebeforeanybodybrokethesilenceagain。

Talkofthissort，——andafterallwhatmoresuitableforadayonthewater？——beguiledtheway。

Downthelake，milebymileoverthecalmwater，steamedtheMariposaBelle。TheypassedPoplarPointwherethehighsand—banksarewithalltheswallows’nestsinthem，andDeanDroneandDr。Gallagherlookedatthemalternatelythroughthebinocularglasses，anditwaswonderfulhowplainlyonecouldseetheswallowsandthebanksandtheshrubs，——justasplainlyaswiththenakedeye。

AndalittlefurtherdowntheypassedtheShingleBeach，andDr。

Gallagher，whoknewCanadianhistory，saidtoDeanDronethatitwasstrangetothinkthatChamplainhadlandedtherewithhisFrenchexplorersthreehundredyearsago;andDeanDrone，whodidn’tknowCanadianhistory，saiditwasstrangerstilltothinkthatthehandoftheAlmightyhadpiledupthehillsandrockslongbeforethat;

andDr。GallaghersaiditwaswonderfulhowtheFrenchhadfoundtheirwaythroughsuchapathlesswilderness;andDeanDronesaidthatitwaswonderfulalsotothinkthattheAlmightyhadplacedeventhesmallestshrubinitsappointedplace。Dr。Gallaghersaiditfilledhimwithadmiration。DeanDronesaiditfilledhimwithawe。

Dr。Gallaghersaidhe’dbeenfullofiteversincehewasaboy;andDeanDronesaidsohadhe。

Thenalittlefurther，astheMariposaBellesteamedondownthelake，theypassedtheOldIndianPortagewherethegreatgreyrocksare;andDr。GallagherdrewDeanDrone’sattentiontotheplacewherethenarrowcanoetrackwoundupfromtheshoretothewoods，andDeanDronesaidhecouldseeitperfectlywellwithouttheglasses。

Dr。GallaghersaidthatitwasjustherethatapartyoffivehundredFrenchhadmadetheirwaywithalltheirbaggageandaccoutrementsacrosstherocksofthedivideanddowntotheGreatBay。AndDeanDronesaidthatitremindedhimofXenophonleadinghistenthousandGreeksoverthehillpassesofArmeniadowntothesea。Dr。

GallaghersaidthehehadoftenwishedhecouldhaveseenandspokentoChamplain，andDeanDronesaidhowmuchheregrettedtohaveneverknownXenophon。

Andthenafterthattheyfelltotalkingofrelicsandtracesofthepast，andDr。GallaghersaidthatifDeanDronewouldcomeroundtohishousesomenighthewouldshowhimsomeIndianarrowheadsthathehaddugupinhisgarden。AndDeanDronesaidthatifDr。

GallagherwouldcomeroundtotherectoryanyafternoonhewouldshowhimamapofXerxes’invasionofGreece。OnlyhemustcomesometimebetweentheInfantClassandtheMothers’Auxiliary。

Sopresentlytheybothknewthattheywereblockedoutofoneanother’shousesforsometimetocome，andDr。GallagherwalkedforwardandtoldMr。Smith，whohadneverstudiedGreek，aboutChamplaincrossingtherockdivide。

Mr。SmithturnedhisheadandlookedatthedivideforhalfasecondandthensaidhehadcrossedaworseoneupnorthbackoftheWahnipitaeandthattheflieswereHades，——andthenwentonplayingfreezeoutpokerwiththetwojuniorsinDuff’sbank。

SoDr。Gallagherrealizedthatthat’salwaysthewaywhenyoutrytotellpeoplethings，andthatasfarasgratitudeandappreciationgoesonemightaswellneverreadbooksortravelanywhereordoanything。

Infact，itwasatthisverymomentthathemadeuphismindtogivethearrowstotheMariposaMechanics’Institute，——theyafterwardsbecame，asyouknow，theGallagherCollection。But，forthetimebeing，thedoctorwassickofthemandwanderedoffroundtheboatandwatchedHenryMullinsshowingGeorgeDuffhowtomakeaJohnCollinswithoutlemons，andfinallywentandsatdownamongtheMariposabandandwishedthathehadn’tcome。

Sotheboatsteamedonandthesunrosehigherandhigher，andthefreshnessofthemorningchangedintothefullglareofnoon，andtheywentontowherethelakebegantonarrowinatitsfoot，justwheretheIndian’sIslandis，allgrassandtreesandwithalogwharfrunningintothewater：BelowittheLowerOssawippirunsoutofthelake，andquiteneararetherapids，andyoucanseedownamongthetreestheredbrickofthepowerhouseandheartheroaroftheleapingwater。

TheIndian’sIslanditselfisallcoveredwithtreesandtangledvines，andthewateraboutitissostillthatit’sallreflecteddoubleandlooksthesameeitherwayup。Thenwhenthesteamer’swhistleblowsasitcomesintothewharf，youhearitechoamongthetreesoftheisland，andreverberatebackfromtheshoresofthelake。

Thesceneisallsoquietandstillandunbroken，thatMissCleghorn，——thesallowgirlinthetelephoneexchange，thatIspokeof——saidshe’dliketobeburiedthere。Butallthepeopleweresobusygettingtheirbasketsandgatheringuptheirthingsthatnoonehadtimetoattendtoit。

Imustn’teventrytodescribethelandingandtheboatcrunchingagainstthewoodenwharfandallthepeoplerunningtothesamesideofthedeckandChristieJohnsoncallingouttothecrowdtokeeptothestarboardandnobodybeingabletofindit。EveryonewhohasbeenonaMariposaexcursionknowsallaboutthat。

NorcanIdescribethedayitselfandthepicnicunderthetrees。

’Therewerespeechesafterwards，andJudgePepperleighgavesuchoffencebybringinginConservativepoliticsthatamancalledPatriotusCanadiensiswroteandaskedforsomeoftheinvaluablespaceoftheMariposaTimes—Heraldandexposedit。

Ishouldsaythattherewereracestoo，onthegrassontheopensideoftheisland，gradedmostlyaccordingtoages，racesforboysunderthirteenandgirlsovernineteenandallthatsortofthing。SportsaregenerallyconductedonthatplaninMariposa。Itisrealizedthatawomanofsixtyhasanunfairadvantageoveramerechild。

DeanDronemanagedtheracesanddecidedtheagesandgaveouttheprizes;theWesleyanministerhelped，andheandtheyoungstudent，whowasrelievinginthePresbyterianChurch，heldthestringatthewinningpoint。

Theyhadtogetmostlyclergymenfortheracesbecauseallthemenhadwanderedoff，somehow，towheretheyweredrinkinglagerbeeroutoftwokegsstuckonpinelogsamongthetrees。

Butifyou’veeverbeenonaMariposaexcursionyouknowallaboutthesedetailsanyway。

SothedayworeonandpresentlythesuncamethroughthetreesonaslantandthesteamerwhistleblewwithagreatpuffofwhitesteamandallthepeoplecamestragglingdowntothewharfandprettysoontheMariposaBellehadfloatedoutontothelakeagainandheadedforthetown，twentymilesaway。

Isupposeyouhaveoftennoticedthecontrastthereisbetweenanexcursiononitswayoutinthemorningandwhatitlookslikeonthewayhome。

Inthemorningeverybodyissorestlessandanimatedandmovestoandfroallovertheboatandasksquestions。Butcominghome，astheafternoongetslaterandthesunsinksbeyondthehills，allthepeopleseemtogetsostillandquietanddrowsy。

SoitwaswiththepeopleontheMariposaBelle。Theysatthereonthebenchesandthedeckchairsinlittleclusters，andlistenedtotheregularbeatofthepropellerandalmostdozedoffasleepastheysat。Thenwhenthesunsetandtheduskdrewon，itgrewalmostdarkonthedeckandsostillthatyoucouldhardlytelltherewasanyoneonboard。

Andifyouhadlookedatthesteamerfromtheshoreorfromoneoftheislands，you’dhaveseentherowoflightsfromthecabinwindowsshiningonthewaterandtheredglareoftheburninghemlockfromthefunnel，andyou’dhaveheardthesoftthudofthepropellermilesawayoverthelake。

Nowandthen，too，youcouldhaveheardthemsingingonthesteamer，——thevoicesofthegirlsandthemenblendedintounisonbythedistance，risingandfallinginlong—drawnmelody：

"O——Can—a—da——O——Can—a—da。"

YoumaytalkasyouwillabouttheintoningchoirsofyourEuropeancathedrals，butthesoundof"OCan—a—da，"borneacrossthewatersofasilentlakeateveningisgoodenoughforthoseofuswhoknowMariposa。

Ithinkthatitwasjustastheyweresinginglikethis：

"O——Can—a—da，"thatwordwentroundthattheboatwassinking。

Ifyouhaveeverbeeninanysuddenemergencyonthewater，youwillunderstandthestrangepsychologyofit，——thewayinwhichwhatishappeningseemstobecomeknownallinamomentwithoutawordbeingsaid。Thenewsistransmittedfromonetotheotherbysomemysteriousprocess。

Atanyrate，ontheMariposaBellefirstoneandthentheotherheardthatthesteamerwassinking。AsfarasIcouldeverlearnthefirstofitwasthatGeorgeDuff，thebankmanager，cameveryquietlytoDr。Gallagherandaskedhimifhethoughtthattheboatwassinking。

Thedoctorsaidno，thathehadthoughtsoearlierinthedaybutthathedidn’tnowthinkthatshewas。

AfterthatDuff，accordingtohisownaccount，hadsaidtoMacartney，thelawyer，thattheboatwassinking，andMacartneysaidthathedoubteditverymuch。

ThensomebodycametoJudgePepperleighandwokehimupandsaidthattherewassixinchesofwaterinthesteamerandthatshewassinking。AndPepperleighsaiditwasperfectscandalandpassedthenewsontohiswifeandshesaidthattheyhadnobusinesstoallowitandthatifthesteamersankthatwasthelastexcursionshe’dgoon。

SothenewswentallroundtheboatandeverywherethepeoplegatheredingroupsandtalkedaboutitintheangryandexcitedwaythatpeoplehavewhenasteamerissinkingononeofthelakeslikeLakeWissanotti。

DeanDrone，ofcourse，andsomeotherswerequieteraboutit，andsaidthatonemustmakeallowancesandthatnaturallythereweretwosidestoeverything。Butmostofthemwouldn’tlistentoreasonatall。Ithink，perhaps，thatsomeofthemwerefrightened。Youseethelasttimebutonethatthesteamerhadsunk，therehadbeenamandrownedanditmadethemnervous。

What？Hadn’tIexplainedaboutthedepthofLakeWissanotti？Ihadtakenitforgrantedthatyouknew;andinanycasepartsofitaredeepenough，thoughIdon’tsupposeinthisstretchofitfromthebigreedbedsuptowithinamileofthetownwharf，youcouldfindsixfeetofwaterinitifyoutried。Oh，pshaw！Iwasnottalkingaboutasteamersinkingintheoceanandcarryingdownitsscreamingcrowdsofpeopleintothehideousdepthsofgreenwater。Oh，dearmeno！ThatkindofthingneverhappensonLakeWissanotti。

ButwhatdoeshappenisthattheMariposaBellesinkseverynowandthen，andsticksthereonthebottomtilltheygetthingsstraightenedup。

OnthelakesroundMariposa，ifapersonarriveslateanywhereandexplainsthatthesteamersank，everybodyunderstandsthesituation。

YouseewhenHarlandandWolffbuilttheMariposaBelle，theyleftsomecracksinbetweenthetimbersthatyoufillupwithcottonwasteeverySunday。Ifthisisnotattendedto，theboatsinks。Infact，itispartofthelawoftheprovincethatallthesteamersliketheMariposaBellemustbeproperlycorked，——Ithinkthatistheword，——everyseason。Thereareinspectorswhovisitallthehotelsintheprovincetoseethatitisdone。

SoyoucanimaginenowthatI’veexplaineditalittlestraighter，theindignationofthepeoplewhentheyknewthattheboathadcomeuncorkedandthattheymightbestuckoutthereonashoaloramud—bankhalfthenight。

Idon’tsayeitherthattherewasn’tanydanger;anyway，itdoesn’tfeelverysafewhenyourealizethattheboatissettlingdownwitheveryhundredyardsthatshegoes，andyoulookoverthesideandseeonlytheblackwaterinthegatheringnight。

Safe！I’mnotsurenowthatIcometothinkofitthatitisn’tworsethansinkingintheAtlantic。Afterall，intheAtlanticthereiswirelesstelegraphy，andalotoftrainedsailorsandstewards。ButoutonLakeWissanotti，——farout，sothatyoucanonlyjustseethelightsofthetownawayofftothesouth，——whenthepropellercomestoastop，——andyoucanhearthehissofsteamastheystarttorakeouttheenginefirestopreventanexplosion，——andwhenyouturnfromtheredglarethatcomesfromthefurnacedoorsastheyopenthem，totheblackdarkthatisgatheringoverthelake，——andthere’sanightwindbeginningtorunamongtherushes，——andyouseethemengoingforwardtotheroofofthepilothousetosenduptherocketstorousethetown，safe？Safeyourself，ifyoulike;asforme，letmeoncegetbackintoMariposaagain，underthenightshadowofthemapletrees，andthisshallbethelast，lasttimeI’llgoonLakeWissanotti。

Safe！Ohyes！Isn’titstrangehowsafeotherpeople’sadventuresseemaftertheyhappen？Butyou’dhavebeenscared，too，ifyou’dbeentherejustbeforethesteamersank，andseenthembringingupallthewomenontothetopdeck。

Idon’tseehowsomeofthepeopletookitsocalmly;howMr。Smith，forinstance，couldhavegoneonsmokingandtellinghowhe’dhadasteamer"sinkonhim"onLakeNipissingandastillbiggerone，aside—wheeler，sinkonhiminLakeAbbitibbi。

Then，quitesuddenly，withaquiver，downshewent。Youcouldfeeltheboatsink，sink，——down，down，——woulditnevergettothebottom？

Thewatercameflushuptothelowerdeck，andthen，——thankheaven，——thesinkingstoppedandtherewastheMariposaBellesafeandtightonareedbank。

Really，itmadeonepositivelylaugh！Itseemedsoqueerand，anyway，ifamanhasasortofnaturalcourage，dangermakeshimlaugh。

Danger！pshaw！fiddlesticks！everybodyscoutedtheidea。Why，itisjustthelittlethingslikethisthatgivezesttoadayonthewater。

Withinhalfaminutetheywereallrunningroundlookingforsandwichesandcrackingjokesandtalkingofmakingcoffeeovertheremainsoftheenginefires。

Idon’tneedtotellatlengthhowitallhappenedafterthat。

IsupposethepeopleontheMariposaBellewouldhavehadtosettledownthereallnightortillhelpcamefromthetown，butsomeofthemenwhohadgoneforwardandwerepeeringoutintothedarksaidthatitcouldn’tbemorethanamileacrossthewatertoMiller’sPoint。

Youcouldalmostseeitovertheretotheleft，——someofthem，I

think，said"offontheportbow，"becauseyouknowwhenyougetmixedupinthesemarinedisasters，yousooncatchtheatmosphereofthething。

Soprettysoontheyhadthedavitsswungoutoverthesideandwereloweringtheoldlifeboatfromthetopdeckintothewater。

ThereweremenleaningoutovertherailoftheMariposaBellewithlanternsthatthrewthelightastheyletherdown，andtheglarefellonthewaterandthereeds。Butwhentheygottheboatlowered，itlookedsuchafrail，clumsythingasonesawitfromtherailabove，thatthecrywasraised："Womenandchildrenfirst！"Forwhatwasthesense，ifitshouldturnoutthattheboatwouldn’tevenholdwomenandchildren，oftryingtojamalotofheavymenintoit？

Sotheyputinmostlywomenandchildrenandtheboatpushedoutintothedarknesssofreighteddownitwouldhardlyfloat。

InthebowofitwasthePresbyterianstudentwhowasrelievingtheminister，andhecalledoutthattheywereinthehandsofProvidence。Buthewascrouchedandreadytospringoutofthematthefirstmoment。

Sotheboatwentandwaslostinthedarknessexceptforthelanterninthebowthatyoucouldseebobbingonthewater。Thenpresentlyitcamebackandtheysentanotherload，tillprettysoonthedecksbegantothinoutandeverybodygotimpatienttobegone。

Itwasaboutthetimethatthethirdboat—loadputoffthatMr。SmithtookabetwithMullinsfortwenty—fivedollars，thathe’dbehomeinMariposabeforethepeopleintheboatshadwalkedroundtheshore。

Nooneknewjustwhathemeant，butprettysoontheysawMr。Smithdisappeardownbelowintothelowestpartofthesteamerwithamalletinonehandandabigbundleofmarlineintheother。

Theymighthavewonderedmoreaboutit，butitwasjustatthistimethattheyheardtheshoutsfromtherescueboat——thebigMackinawlifeboat——thathadputoutfromthetownwithfourteenmenatthesweepswhentheysawthefirstrocketsgoup。

Isupposethereisalwayssomethinginspiringaboutarescueatsea，oronthewater。

Afterall，thebraveryofthelifeboatmanisthetruebravery，——expendedtosavelife，nottodestroyit。

CertainlytheytoldformonthsafterofhowtherescueboatcameouttotheMariposaBelle。

IsupposethatwhentheyputherinthewaterthelifeboattoucheditforthefirsttimesincetheoldMacdonaldGovernmentplacedheronLakeWissanotti。

Anyway，thewaterpouredinateveryseam。Butnotforamoment，——evenwithtwomilesofwaterbetweenthemandthesteamer，——didtherowerspauseforthat。

Bythetimetheywerehalf—waytherethewaterwasalmostuptothethwarts，buttheydroveheron。Pantingandexhausted（formindyou，ifyouhaven’tbeeninafoolboatlikethatforyears，rowingtakesitoutofyou），therowersstucktotheirtask。Theythrewtheballastoverandchuckedintothewatertheheavycorkjacketsandlifebeltsthatencumberedtheirmovements。Therewasnothoughtofturningback。Theywerenearertothesteamerthantheshore。

"Hangtoit，boys，"calledthecrowdfromthesteamer’sdeck，andhangtheydid。

Theywerealmostexhaustedwhentheygotthem;menleaningfromthesteamerthrewthemropesandonebyoneeverymanwashauledaboardjustasthelifeboatsankundertheirfeet。

Saved！byHeaven，saved，byoneofthesmartestpiecesofrescueworkeverseenonthelake。

There’snousedescribingit;youneedtoseerescueworkofthiskindbylifeboatstounderstandit。

Norwerethelifeboatcrewtheonlyonesthatdistinguishedthemselves。

BoatafterboatandcanoeaftercanoehadputoutfromMariposatothehelpofthesteamer。Theygotthemall。Pupkin，theotherbankteller，withafacelikeahorse，whohadn’tgoneontheexcursion，——assoonasheknewthattheboatwassignallingforhelpandthatMissLawsonwassendinguprockets，——rushedforarowboat，grabbedanoar（twowouldhavehamperedhim），andpaddledmadlyoutintothelake。Hestruckrightoutintothedarkwiththecrazyskiffalmostsinkingbeneathhisfeet。Buttheygothim。Theyrescuedhim。

Theywatchedhim，almostdeadwithexhaustion，makehiswaytothesteamer，wherehewashauledupwithropes。Saved！Saved！！

Theymighthavegoneonthatwayhalfthenight，pickinguptherescuers，only，attheverymomentwhenthetenthloadofpeopleleftfortheshore，——justassuddenlyandsaucilyasyouplease，upcametheMariposaBellefromthemudbottomandfloated。

FLOATED？

Why，ofcourseshedid。Ifyoutakeahundredandfiftypeopleoffasteamerthathassunk，andifyougetamanasshrewdasMr。Smithtoplugthetimberseamswithmalletandmarline，andifyouturntenbandsmenoftheMariposabandontoyourhandpumponthebowofthelowerdecks——float？why，whatelsecanshedo？

Then，ifyoustuffinhemlockintotheembersofthefirethatyouwererakingout，tillithumsandcracklesundertheboiler，itwon’tbelongbeforeyouhearthepropellerthudthuddingatthesternagain，andbeforethelongroarofthesteamwhistleechoesovertothetown。

AndsotheMariposaBelle，withallsteamupagainandwiththelongtrainofsparkscareeringfromthefunnel，isheadingforthetown。

ButnoChristieJohnsonatthewheelinthepilothousethistime。

"Smith！GetSmith！"isthecry。

Canhetakeherin？Well，now！AskamanwhohashadsteamerssinkonhiminhalfthelakesfromTemiscamingtotheBay，ifhecantakeherin？AskamanwhohasrunaYorkboatdowntherapidsoftheMoosewhentheiceismoving，ifhecangripthesteeringwheeloftheMariposaBelle？Sothereshesteamssafeandsoundtothetownwharf！

Lookatthelightsandthecrowd！Ifonlythefederalcensustakercouldcountusnow！Hearthemcallingandshoutingbackandforwardfromthedecktotheshore！Listen！Thereistherattleoftheshoreropesastheygetthemready，andthere’stheMariposaband，——actuallyforminginacircleontheupperdeckjustasshedocks，andtheleaderwithhisbaton，——one——two——readynow，——

"OCAN—A—DA！"

FOUR

TheMinistrationsoftheRev。Mr。DroneTheChurchofEnglandinMariposaisonasidestreet，wherethemapletreesarethickest，alittleupthehillfromtheheartofthetown。Thetreesabovethechurchandthegrassplotthatwasoncethecemetery，tilltheymadethenewone（theNecropolis，overthebrowofthehill），filloutthewholecorner。Downbehindthechurch，withonlythedrivingshedandalanebetween，istherectory。Itisalittlebrickhousewithoddangles。Thereisahedgeandalittlegate，andaweepingashtreewithredberries。

Atthesideoftherectory，churchward，isalittlegrasslawnwithlowhedgesandatthesideofthattwowildplumtrees，thatarepracticallyalwaysinwhiteblossom。Underneaththemisarustictableandchairs，anditisherethatyoumayseeRuralDeanDrone，theincumbentoftheChurchofEnglandChurch，sitting，inthechequeredlightoftheplumtressthatisneithersunnorshadow。

Generallyyouwillfindhimreading，andwhenItellyouthatattheendofthegrassplotwherethehedgeishighestthereisayellowbeehivewithsevenbeesthatbelongtoDeanDrone，youwillrealizethatitisonlyfittingthattheDeanisreadingintheGreek。Forwhatbettercouldamanbereadingbeneaththeblossomoftheplumtrees，withintheverysoundofthebees，thanthePastoralsofTheocritus？Thelighttrashofmodernromancemightputamantosleepinsuchaspot，butwithsuchfoodforreflectionasTheocritus，amanmaysafelyclosehiseyesandmuseonwhathereadswithoutfearofdroppingintoslumber。

Somemen，Isuppose，terminatetheireducationwhentheyleavetheircollege。NotsoDeanDrone。Ihaveoftenheardhimsaythatifhecouldn’ttakeabookintheGreekoutonthelawninasparehalfhour，hewouldfeellost。It’sacertainactivityofthebrainthatmustbestilledsomehow。TheDean，too，seemedtohaveanativefeelingfortheGreeklanguage。Ihaveoftenheardpeoplewhomightsitwithhimonthelawn，askhimtotranslatesomeofit。Buthealwaysrefused。Onecouldn’ttranslateit，hesaid。Itlostsomuchinthetranslationthatitwasbetternottotry。Itwasfarwisernottoattemptit。Ifyouundertooktotranslateit，therewassomethinggone，somethingmissingimmediately。Ibelievethatmanyclassicalscholarsfeelthisway，andliketoreadtheGreekjustasitis，withoutthehazardoftryingtoputitintosopooramediumasEnglish。SothatwhenDeanDronesaidthathesimplycouldn’ttranslateit，Ibelievehewasperfectlysincere。

Sometimes，indeed，hewouldreaditaloud。Thatwasanothermatter。

Whenever，forexample，Dr。Gallagher——Imean，ofcourse，oldDr。

Gallagher，nottheyoungdoctor（whowasalwaysoutinthecountryintheafternoon）——wouldcomeoverandbringhislatestIndianrelicstoshowtotheDean，thelatteralwaysreadtohimapassageortwo。

Assoonasthedoctorlaidhistomahawkonthetable，theDeanwouldreachforhisTheocritus。IrememberthatonthedaywhenDr。

GallagherbroughtovertheIndianskullthattheyhaddugoutoftherailwayembankment，andplaceditontherustictable，theDeanreadtohimsolongfromTheocritusthatthedoctor，Itrulybelieve，dozedoffinhischair。TheDeanhadtowaitandfoldhishandswiththebookacrosshisknee，andclosehiseyestillthedoctorshouldwakeupagain。Andtheskullwasonthetablebetweenthem，andfromabovetheplumblossomsfluttereddown，tilltheymadeflakesonitaswhiteasDr。Gallagher’shair。

Idon’twantyoutosupposethattheRev。Mr。Dronespentthewholeofhistimeunderthetrees。Notatall。Inpointoffact，therector’slifewasoneroundofactivitywhichliehimselfmightdeplorebutwaspowerlesstoprevent。Hehadhardlysatdownbeneaththetreesofanafternoonafterhismid—daymealwhentherewastheInfantClassatthree，andafterthat，withscarcelyanhourbetween，theMothers’Auxiliaryatfive，andthenextmorningtheBookClub，andthateveningtheBibleStudyClass，andthenextmorningtheEarlyWorkers’Guildateleven—thirty。Thewholeweekwaslikethat，andifonefoundtimetositdownforanhourorsotorecuperateitwasthemostonecoulddo。Afterall，ifabusymanspendsthelittlebitofleisurethathegetsinadvancedclassicalstudy，thereissurelynoharminit。Isuppose，takeitallinall，therewasn’tabusiermanthantheRuralDeanamongtheAnglicanclergyofthediocese。

IftheDeaneverdidsnatchahalf—dayfromhisincessantwork，hespentitinfishing。Butnotalwaysthat，foraslikelyasnot，insteadoftakingarealholidayhewouldputinthewholeafternoonamusingthechildrenandtheboysthatheknew，bymakingkitesandtoysandclockworksteamboatsforthem。

ItwasfortunatefortheDeanthathehadthestrangeinterestandaptitudeformechanicaladviceswhichhepossessed，orotherwisethiskindofthingwouldhavebeentoocruelanimposition。ButtheRev。

Mr。Dronehadacuriouslikingformachinery。IthinkIneverheardhimpreachabettersermonthantheoneonAeroplanes（Lo，whatnowseeyouonhighJeremiahTwo）。

SoitwasthathespenttwowholedaysmakingakitewithChinesewingsforTeddyMoore，thephotographer’sson，andcloseddowntheinfantclassforforty—eighthourssothatTeddyMooreshouldnotmissthepleasureofflyingit，orratherseeingitflown。ItisfoolishtotrustaChinesekitetothehandsofayoungchild。

InthesamewaytheDeanmadeamechanicaltopforlittleMarjorieTrewlaney，thecripple，toseespun：itwouldhavebeenunwisetoallowtheafflictedgirltospinit。TherewasnoendtothethingsthatMr。Dronecouldmake，andalwaysforthechildren。Evenwhenhewasmakingthesand—clockforpoorlittleWillieYodel（whodied，youknow）theDeanwentrightonwithitandgaveittoanotherchildwithjustthesamepleasure。Death，youknow，totheclergyisadifferentthingfromwhatitistous。TheDeanandMr。Ginghamusedoftentospeakofitastheywalkedthroughthelonggrassofthenewcemetery，theNecropolis。AndwhenyourSundaywalkistoyourwife’sgrave，astheDean’swas，perhapsitseemsdifferenttoanybody。

TheChurchofEnglandChurch，Isaid;stoodclosetotherectory，atall，sweepingchurch，andinsideagreatreachofpolishedcedarbeamsthatrantothepointoftheroof。Thereusedtostandonthesamespotthelittlestonechurchthatallthegrown—uppeopleinMariposastillremember，aquaintlittlebuildinginredandgreystone。Aboutitwastheoldcemetery，butthatwasallsmoothedoutlaterintothegrassplotroundthenewchurch，andtheheadstoneslaidoutflat，andnonewgraveshavebeenputthereforeversolong。ButtheMariposachildrenstillwalkroundandreadtheheadstoneslyingflatinthegrassandlookfortheoldones，——

becausesomeofthemareeversoold——fortyorfiftyyearsback。

NorareyoutothinkfromallthisthattheDeanwasnotamanwithseriousperplexities。Youcouldeasilyconvinceyourselfofthecontrary。ForifyouwatchedtheRev。Mr。DroneashesatreadingintheGreek，youwouldnoticethatnoverylongperiodeverypassedwithouthistakingupasheetortwoofpaperthatlaybetweentheleavesoftheTheocritusandthatwerecoveredclosewithfigures。

AndthesetheDeanwouldlayupontherustictable，andhewouldaddthemupforwardsandbackwards，goingfirstupthecolumnandthendownittoseethatnothinghadbeenleftout，andthendownitagaintoseewhatitwasthatmusthavebeenleftout。

Mathematics，youwillunderstand，werenottheDean’sforte。TheyneverweretheforteofthemenwhohadbeentrainedatthelittleAnglicancollegewiththeclippedhedgesandthecricketground，whereRupertDronehadtakenthegoldmedalinGreekfifty—twoyearsago。Youwillseethemedalatanytimelyingthereinitsopenboxontherectorytable，incaseofimmediateneed。AnyoftheDronegirls，Lilian，orJocelyn，orTheodora，wouldshowittoyou。But，asIsay，mathematicswerenottherector’sforte，andheblamedforit（inaChristianspirit，youwillunderstand）thememoryofhismathematicalprofessor，andoftenhespokewithgreatbitterness。I

haveoftenheardhimsaythatinhisopinionthecollegesoughttodismiss，ofcourseinaChristianspirit，alltheprofessorswhoarenot，inthemostreverentialsenseoftheterm，fitfortheirjobs。

NodoubtmanyoftheclergyofthediocesehadsufferedmoreorlessjustastheDeanhadfromlackofmathematicaltraining。ButtheDeanalwaysfeltthathisowncasewasespeciallytobelamented。Foryousee，ifamanistryingtomakeamodelaeroplane——forapoorfamilyinthelowerpartofthetown——andheisbroughttoastopbytheneedofreckoningthecoefficientoftorsionofcast—ironrods，itshowsplainlyenoughthatthecollegesarenottrulyfillingtheirdivinemission。

ButthefiguresthatIspeakofwerenotthoseofthemodelaeroplane。Thesewerefarmoreserious。Nightanddaytheyhadbeenwiththerectornowforthebestpartoftenyears，andtheygrew，ifanything，moreintricate。

If，forexample，youtrytoreckonthedebtofachurch——alargechurchwithagreatsweepofpolishedcedarbeamsinside，forthespecialglorificationoftheAllPowerful，andwithimportedtilesontheroofforthegreatergloryofHeavenandwithstained—glasswindowsfortheexaltationoftheAllSeeing——if，Isay，youtrytoreckonupthedebtonsuchachurchandfigureoutitsinterestanditspresentworth，lessafixedannualpayment，itmakesaprettycomplicatedsum。Thenifyoutrytoaddtothistheannualcostofinsurance，anddeductfromitthree—quartersofastipend，yearbyyear，andthensuddenlyrememberthatthree—quartersistoomuch，becauseyouhaveforgottentheboarding—schoolfeesofthelittlestoftheDrones（includingFrench，asanextra——shemusthaveit，alltheoldergirlsdid），youhavegotasumthatprettywelldefiesordinaryarithmetic。TheprovokingpartofitwasthattheDeanknewperfectlywellthatwiththehelpoflogarithmshecouldhavedonethethinginamoment。ButattheAnglicancollegetheyhadstoppedshortatthatveryplaceinthebook。TheyhadsimplyexplainedthatLogoswasawordandArithmosanumber，whichatthetime，seemedamplysufficient。

SotheDeanwasperpetuallytakingouthissheetsoffigures，andaddingthemupwardsanddownwards，andtheynevercamethesame。VeryoftenMr。Gingham，whowasawarden，wouldcomeandsitbesidetherectorandponderoverthefigures，andMr。Dronewouldexplainthatwithabookoflogarithmsyoucouldworkitoutinamoment。Youwouldsimplyopenthebookandrunyourfingerupthecolumns（heillustratedexactlythewayinwhichthefingerwasmoved），andthereyouwere。Mr。Ginghamsaidthatitwasacaution，andthatlogarithms（Iquotehisexactphrase）mustbeaterror。

Veryoften，too，Nivens，thelawyer，whowasasidesman，andMullins，themanageroftheExchangeBank，whowasthechairmanofthevestry，wouldcomeandtakealook，atthefigures。Buttheynevercouldmakemuchofthem，becausethestipendpartwasnotamatterthatonecoulddiscuss。

Mullinswouldnoticetheitemforahundreddollarsdueonfireinsuranceandwouldsay;asabusinessman，thatsurelythatcouldn’tbefireinsurance，andtheDeanwouldsaysurelynot，andchangeit：

andMullinswouldsaysurelytherecouldn’tbefiftydollarsfortaxes，becausethereweren’tanytaxes，andtheDeanwouldadmitthatofcourseitcouldn’tbeforthetaxes。Infact，thetruthisthattheDean’sfigureswerebadlymixed，andthefaultlayindubitablywiththemathematicalprofessoroftwogenerationsback。

ItwasalwaysMullins’sintentionsomedaytolookintothefinancesofthechurch，themoresoashisfatherhadbeenwithDeanDroneatthelittleAnglicancollegewiththecricketground。Buthewasabusyman。Asheexplainedtotherectorhimself，thebankingbusinessnowadaysisgettingtobesuchthatabankercanhardlycallevenhisSundaymorningshisown。CertainlyHenryMullinscouldnot。TheybelongedlargelytoSmith’sHotel，andduringthefishingseasontheybelongedawaydownthelake，sofarawaythatpracticallynoone，unlessitwasGeorgeDuffoftheCommercialBank，couldseethem。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读