精校书屋

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第35部分（第1页）

he　lake　with　white…caps　and　beyond；　the　moon　on　the　high　snow　mountains。　Then　the　clouds　came　over　the　moon　again　and　the　mountains　and　the　lake　were　gone；　but　it　was　much　lighter　than　it　had　been　before　and　we　could　see　the　shore。　I　could　see　it　too　clearly　and　pulled　out　where　they　would　not　see　the　boat　if　there　were　custom　guards　along　the　Pallanza　road。　When　the　moon　came　out　again　we　could　see　white　villas　on　the　shore　on　the　slopes　of　the　mountain　and　thewhite　road　where　it　showed　through　the　trees。　All　the　time　I　was　rowing。

The　lake　widened　and　across　it　on　the　shore　at　the　foot　of　the　mountains　on　the　other　side　we　saw　a　few　lights　that　should　be　Luino。　I　saw　a　wedgelike　gap　between　the　mountains　on　the　other　shore　and　I　thought　that　must　be　Luino。　If　it　was　we　were　making　good　time。　I　pulled　in　the　oars　and　lay　back　on　the　seat。　I　was　very；　very　tired　of　rowing。　My　arms　and　shoulders　and　back　ached　and　my　hands　were　sore。

〃I　could　hold　the　umbrella；〃　Catherine　said。　〃We　could　sail　with　that　with　the　wind。〃

〃Can　you　steer？〃

〃I　think　so。〃

〃You　take　this　oar　and　hold　it　under　your　arm　close　to　the　side　of　the　boat　and　steer　and　Ill　hold　the　umbrella。〃　I　went　back　to　the　stern　and　showed　her　how　to　hold　the　oar。　I　took　the　big　umbrella　the　porter　had　given　me　and　sat　facing　the　bow　and　opened　it。　It　opened　with　a　clap。　I　held　it　on　both　sides；　sitting　astride　the　handle　hooked　over　the　seat。　The　wind　was　full　in　it　and　I　felt　the　boat　suck　forward　while　I　held　as　hard　as　I　could　to　the　two　edges。　It　pulled　hard。　The　boat　was　moving　fast。

〃Were　going　beautifully；〃　Catherine　said。　All　I　could　see　was　umbrella　ribs。　The　umbrella　strained　and　pulled　and　I　felt　us　driving　along　with　it。　I　braced　my　feet　and　held　back　on　it；　then　suddenly；　it　buckled；　I　felt　a　rib　snap　on　my　forehead；　I　tried　to　grab　the　top　that　was　bending　with　the　wind　and　the　whole　thing　buckled　and　went　inside　out　and　I　was　astride　the　handle　of　an　inside…out；　ripped　umbrella；　where　I　had　been　holding　a　wind…filled　pulling　sail。　I　unhooked　the　handle　from　the　seat；　laid　the　umbrella　in　the　bow　and　went　back　to　Catherine　for　the　oar。　She　was　laughing。　She　took　my　hand　and　kept　on　laughing。

〃Whats　the　matter？〃　I　took　the　oar。

〃You　looked　so　funny　holding　that　thing。〃

〃I　suppose　so。〃

〃Dont　be　cross；　darling。　It　was　awfully　funny。　You　looked　about　twenty　feet　broad　and　very　affectionate　holding　the　umbrella　by　the　edges……〃　she　choked。

〃Ill　row。〃

〃Take　a　rest　and　a　drink。　Its　a　grand　night　and　weve　e　a　long　way。〃

〃I　have　to　keep　the　boat　out　of　the　trough　of　the　waves。〃

〃Ill　get　you　a　drink。　Then　rest　a　little　while；　darling。〃

I　held　the　oars　up　and　we　sailed　with　them。　Catherine　was　opening　the　bag。　She　handed　me　the　brandy　bottle。　I　pulled　the　cork　with　my　pocket…knife　and　took　a　long　drink。　It　was　smooth　and　hot　and　the　heat　went　all　through　me　and　I　felt　warmed　and　cheerful。　〃Its　lovely　brandy；〃　I　said。　The　moon　was　under　again　but　I　could　see　the　shore。　There　seemed　to　be　another　point　going　out　a　long　way　ahead　into　the　lake。

〃Are　you　warm　enough；　Cat？〃

〃Im　splendid。　Im　a　little　stiff。〃

〃Bail　out　that　water　and　you　can　put　your　feet　down。〃

Then　I　rowed　and　listened　to　the　oarlocks　and　the　dip　and　scrape　of　the　bailing　tin　under　the　stern　seat。

〃Would　you　give　me　the　bailer？〃　I　said。　〃I　want　a　drink。〃

〃Its　awful　dirty。〃

〃Thats　all　right。　Ill　rinse　it。〃

I　heard　Catherine　rinsing　it　over　the　side。　Then　she　handed　it　to　me　dipped　full　of　water。　I　was　thirsty　after　the　brandy　and　the　water　was　icy　cold；　so　cold　it　made　my　teeth　ache。　I　looked　toward　the　shore。　We　were　closer　to　the　long　point。　There　were　lights　in　the　bay　ahead。

〃Thanks；〃　I　said　and　handed　back　the　tin　pail。

〃Youre　ever　so　wele；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Theres　much　more　if　you　want　it。〃

〃Dont　you　want　to　eat　something？〃

〃No。　Ill　be　hungry　in　a　little　while。　Well　save　it　till　then。〃

〃All　right。〃

What　looked　like　a　point　ahead　was　a　long　high　headland。　I　went　further　out　in　the　lake　to　pass　it。　The　lake　was　much　narrower　now。　The　moon　was　out　again　and　the　guardia　di　finanza　could　have　seen　our　boat　black　on　the　water　if　they　had　been　watching。

〃How　are　you；　Cat？〃　I　asked。

〃Im　all　right。　Where　are　we？〃

〃I　dont　think　we　have　more　than　about　eight　miles　more。〃

〃Thats　a　long　way　to　row；　you　poor　sweet。　Arent　you　dead？〃

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