登陆注册
5192200000030

第30章

On Shell-heap IslandSOME TIME AFTER Mrs.Fosdick's visit was over and we had returned to our former quietness, I was out sailing alone with Captain Bowden in his large boat.We were taking the crooked northeasterly channel seaward, and were well out from shore while it was still early in the afternoon.I found myself presently among some unfamiliar islands, and suddenly remembered the story of poor Joanna.There is something in the fact of a hermitage that cannot fail to touch the imagination; the recluses are a sad kindred, but they are never commonplace.Mrs.Todd had truly said that Joanna was like one of the saints in the desert; the loneliness of sorrow will forever keep alive their sad succession.

"Where is Shell-heap Island?" I asked eagerly.

"You see Shell-heap now, layin' 'way out beyond Black Island there," answered the captain, pointing with outstretched arm as he stood, and holding the rudder with his knee.

"I should like very much to go there," said I, and the captain, without comment, changed his course a little more to the eastward and let the reef out of his mainsail.

"I don't know's we can make an easy landin' for ye," he remarked doubtfully."May get your feet wet; bad place to land.

Trouble is I ought to have brought a tag-boat; but they clutch on to the water so, an' I do love to sail free.This gre't boat gets easy bothered with anything trailin'.'Tain't breakin' much on the meetin'-house ledges; guess I can fetch in to Shell-heap.""How long is it since Miss Joanna Todd died?" I asked, partly by way of explanation.

"Twenty-two years come September," answered the captain, after reflection."She died the same year as my oldest boy was born, an'

the town house was burnt over to the Port.I didn't know but you merely wanted to hunt for some o' them Indian relics.Long's you want to see where Joanna lived--No, 'tain't breakin' over the ledges; we'll manage to fetch across the shoals somehow, 'tis such a distance to go 'way round, and tide's a-risin'," he ended hopefully, and we sailed steadily on, the captain speechless with intent watching of a difficult course, until the small island with its low whitish promontory lay in full view before us under the bright afternoon sun.

The month was August, and I had seen the color of the islands change from the fresh green of June to a sunburnt brown that made them look like stone, except where the dark green of the spruces and fir balsam kept the tint that even winter storms might deepen, but not fade.The few wind-bent trees on Shell-heap Island were mostly dead and gray, but there were some low-growing bushes, and a stripe of light green ran along just above the shore, which Iknew to be wild morning-glories.As we came close I could see the high stone walls of a small square field, though there were no sheep left to assail it; and below, there was a little harbor-like cove where Captain Bowden was boldly running the great boat in to seek a landing-place.There was a crooked channel of deep water which led close up against the shore.

同类推荐
  • 元诗别裁集

    元诗别裁集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 少閒

    少閒

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 一字奇特佛顶经

    一字奇特佛顶经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 春明丛说

    春明丛说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 雷公炮制药性解

    雷公炮制药性解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 辅政

    辅政

    以出世之心,做入世之事建不世之功,且全身而退。姚广孝法名道衍,明朝政治家、佛学家。年轻时在苏州出家,精通佛、道、儒、兵诸家之学,后被明太祖挑选,随侍燕王朱棣,主持庆寿寺,成为朱棣的主要谋士。朱棣靖难时,姚广孝留守北平,建议朱棣轻骑挺进,径取南京,使得朱棣顺利夺取南京,登基称帝。成祖继位后,姚广孝担任僧录司左善世,又加太子少师,并担任《永乐大典》总编纂官,世称“黑衣宰相”。永乐十六年病逝庆寿寺,追赠推诚辅国协谋宣力文臣。本书通过一个个鲜活的生活细节,全景展示姚广孝人生发展轨迹,通过姚广孝胸怀中所寓之对人世的深挚情感、对宇宙的知性观照昭显一代谋臣的宏志雄心。
  • 准提焚修悉地忏悔玄文

    准提焚修悉地忏悔玄文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 暗香道

    暗香道

    平南王府被灭,仅六岁的小郡主沦为遗孤…世事更迭…十三岁,她已然在刀尖上舔血…他人眼里她是个没有心的人…十六岁,苏云晓建立自己的秘盗门,成为江湖不可一世的奇香大盗‘苏爷’,此时她的人生里,只有三样东西:以偷为乐,看美男为乐,仇恨生根…他人眼里,她是个没有廉耻的人…十八岁,苏云晓回到上京,第一件事就是动了朝堂之人…却引来皇家组织司门卫的关注,当朝胤王顾淮楚的关注…顾淮楚以为自己是在一步步抓住这个胆大妄为的大盗,不成想,自己似是慢慢的被她引进了圈套…他心中的迷雾似是在慢慢的被拨开,是什么迷雾呢?她为何要将自己引进她的圈套,她又有何目的……?顾淮楚:真是难搞哦~顾淮楚:又要出卖美色,又要经营智商,还要耗体力~苏云晓:太恶!杀了吧!顾淮楚:好!杀!他人:不是一家人,不进一家门!王妃怎么比王爷还要狠毒?
  • 近世社会龌龊史

    近世社会龌龊史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 双重心跳恋爱曲

    双重心跳恋爱曲

    从狮子座来到地球的少王金狮占据了帝辕熙的身体,令帝辕熙的女朋友唐羽纱心生疑惑。她不明白帝辕熙的性格为什么会大变,所以便暗下决心要想办法让从前的帝辕熙回来。可是,当一个叫做萧香的女孩走进他们时,唐羽纱心里所有的血液都奔腾了,她内心不停地呐喊着:“她不认识她!为什么她却认识帝辕熙?为什么她和帝辕熙的感情还那么的好!”
  • 穿书女配的佛系逆袭

    穿书女配的佛系逆袭

    看着浑身肥胖,一动弹就艰难的身材,林菲菲很想死一死!不但老了三岁,成了70年代女知青不说,还成了一个大胖子!什么?竟然是穿书?上辈子,胖子和男主琴瑟和鸣,幸福一生!女主一重生,直接就设计把胖子嫁给了书中那个阴鸷冷漠、多疑狠毒,不符合大众审美不说、还全身有70%烧伤的恶毒男配?林菲菲呵呵,穿书又怎样?她就是不配合,不走剧情!她倒要看看,没有了她这个恶毒女配的配合,女主这辈子还能不能逆袭成功!黑芝麻馅娇气包爱美女主X阴鸷狠毒小奶狗男主(女主美美美,男主又奶又凶)eg:女主金手指:空间交易器拒绝人参公鸡
  • 佛说大乘百福庄严相经

    佛说大乘百福庄严相经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生之欲凌九霄

    重生之欲凌九霄

    他本是九霄之上最为古老的存在,万界中与他并肩之人无几,他欲追求洪荒之前的众神之路,无奈遭人暗算,成为下位面一世家之子,记忆被尘封的他在梦中逐渐觉醒,看他如何重临九霄,踏上众神之路.....
  • 萌宝来袭:林少的冷酷鲜妻

    萌宝来袭:林少的冷酷鲜妻

    听说林家少爷从来不近女色,奉承女人乃身外之物,所以,她面前的这个紧跟她不走的人一定是个假的吧莫(冰山脸):林先生,你是闲的没事做吗?林(抛媚眼):不是啊,我正在做人生大事啊什么?追你啊~
  • 薪商:就业的革命

    薪商:就业的革命

    面对日益激烈的竞争,日趋恶劣的就业环境,作为一名刚刚走出校门的学生或者希望跳槽的职场新人,怎样才能实现找到高薪职位的梦想?著名职业咨询指导曹左先生告诉大家,这个梦想是可以实现的,但是必须要对自己有一个全新的求职规划。合理的规划可以突出自身优势,抓住机遇,使自我价值得到最大体现。即使在就业压力重重的今天,也不要放弃自己的理想和要求,毕竟工作是人生中重要的组成部分。