下载辰思小说免费APP
——JAMESW。STEELE
FROMthebeginningofthingsintheWalnutValley，theKickapooCorralhaditsuses。Naturebuiltittothisend。TherivercoursefollowsthepatternoftheletterSfacedwestwardinsteadofeastward。
Theupperhalfoftheletterisproperlyshaped，butthesharpenedcurveatthemiddleleavesonlyanarrowdistanceacrossthelowerspace。
InthisoutlinerunstheWalnut，itsuppercurvealmostsurroundingalittlewoodedpeninsulathatslopesgentlyonitssidetothewater\'sedge。
Butthefartherbankstandsupinastraightlimestonebluffformingahighwallofprotectionabouttheriver-encircledground。
Alessseverebluffcrossestheopenpartofthepeninsula，reachingthehithersideoftheriverbelowthesharpbend。
Thespaceinside，stone-walledandwater-bound，madeanidealshelterforthewildlifethatshouldinhabitit。AndNaturesawthatitwasgoodandwentawayandleftit，notforgettingtolockthedooruponit。
Fortheenemywhowouldenterthisprotectingsheltermustcomethroughthegatewayoftheriver。Therewasonlyonerightplacetodothis。
Deceivinglyneartotheshallowrock-basedfordbeforetheCorral，sonearthatonlythewiseonesknewhowtomissit，Natureplacedthecruelestwhirlpoolthateverswunganevensurfaceupstream，itsgentlemotiontellingnothingofthefatalsuctionunderneaththatlevelstretchofsteady，slowmoving，irresistiblewater。
Whatusetheprimitivetribesmadeofthisspottheriverhasnevertold。
ButinthedayoftheKickapoosupremacyitcametoitschristening。
Herethetribefoundarefugeandharboreditsstolenplunder。
Fromthiswoodedcovertitsentitsdeath-singingarrowsthroughtheheartofitsenemywhodaredtostandinreliefonthatstonebluff。
Hereitlaughedatthedrowningcriesofthosewhowerecaughtinthefatalwhirlpoolbeyondthecurveintheriverwall，andhereitenduredsiegeandslaughterwhenfoeswerevaliantenough，andnumerousenoughtostormintoitsstrongholdoverthedeadbodiesoftheirownvanguard。
WeirdandtragicalarethelegendsoftheKickapooCorral，leftforastrongerracetomarvelover。For，withtheswingoftime，thewhitemancutaroaddownthesteepbluffatthesharpestbendandmadeafordintheshallowplacebetweenthewhirlpoolandtheoldCorral，andtheNature-builtstockadebecameapeacefulspot，speciallyordainedbyProvidence，theSunriseFreshmenclaimed，asapicnicgroundfortheirautumnholiday。AtleasttheyoungfolkforwhomProfessorBurgesswasactingaschaperontookitso，andreveledintheright。
InterestinGreekhadgreatlyincreasedinSunrisewiththeadventofthehandsomeyoungHarvardman，andhisdesiredseclusionforprofoundresearchhadnotyetbeenfullyrealized。
Typesforstudywereplentiful，however，especiallythetypeofthepresumptuousyoungfellowwhodaredtoadmireElinorWream。BydivinerightshewasthemostpopulargirlinSunrise，whichpleasedProfessorBurgessuptoacertainpoint。
ThatpointwasVictorBurleigh。Thesilentantagonismbetweenthesetwodailygrewstronger；why，neitheronecouldhavetolduptothisholiday。
Thedayhadbeenperfect——theweather，thedinner，thecompany，thewoodland——
eventheamberlightintheskysofteningtheglowastheafternoonslippeddowntowardtwilightintheshelteredoldCorral。
"Come，VicBurleigh，helpmetostartthisfireforsupper，"
DennieSaxoncalled。"Wewon\'tgetourcoffeeandhamandeggsreadybeforemidnight。”
"Here，Trench，orsomeofyoufellows，getbusy，"ViccalledbacktothebigrightguardoftheSunrisefootballsquad。"ElinorandIaregoingtoclimbthewestblufftoseewhat\'sthematterwiththesun。Itlookssick。
I\'vebeenhiredmanallday；carriednineteengirlsacrosstheshallows，packedallthelunch-baskets，totedallthewood，builtallthefires，washedallthedishes——"
"Ateallthedinner，drankallthegrapejuice，steppedonallthecustardpies，upsetallthecreambottles。Oh，youpiker，getout!"
Trenchaimedanemptylunch-basketatVic\'sheadwiththewords。
BeingachaperonwasapleasantofficetoProfessorBurgesstodaybutforthetaskofthrowingabarrieraboutElinoreverytimeVicBurleighcamenear。
AndBurleigh，lackingmanyotherthingsmorethaninsight，kepthimbusyatbarrierbuilding。
"MissWream，youcan\'tthinkofclimbingthatroughplace，"
Burgessprotested，withasharpglanceofresentmentatthebigyoungfellowwhodaredtocallherElinor。
Thetiger-lightblazedintheeyesthatflashedbackathim，asViccrieddaringly。
"Oh，comeon，Elinor；beagoodIndian!"
"Don\'tdoit，MissWream，"VincentBurgesspleaded。
Elinorlookedfromtheonetotheother，andtheverymagnetismofpowercalledher。
"Imeantotry，anyhow，"shedeclared。"WillyoupickmeupifIfall，Victor？"
"Well，Iwouldn\'thardlygoawayandleaveyoutoperishmiserably，"
Vicassuredher，andtheywereofftogether。
TheWreammenwereslender，andallofthem，exceptLloydFenneben，thestepbrother，worenoseglassesanddrankhotwateratbreakfast，andatepredigestedfoods，andtalkedofacidsandcarbons，andtookprescribedgesturesforexercise。Thejoyousnessofperfecthealthwasineverymotionofthisyoungman。Hisbrownsweatershowedahardwhitethroat。
Heplantedhisfeetfirmly。Andheleapedupthebluffsideeasily。
IfElinorslipped，thestrengthofhisgriponherarmreassuredher，untilclimbingbesidehimbecameajoy。
ThebluffwaslesssurlythanitappearedtobedownintheCorral，andthebenedictionofautumnwasintheviewfromitscrest。
Theysatdownonthestoneledgecrowningit，andElinorthrewasideherjauntyscarletoutingcap。Thebreezesplayedinherdarkhair，andhercheekswerepinkfromtheexercise。
VictorBurleighlookedatherwithfrank，wide-openeyes。
"What\'sthematter？Ismyhairafright？"shemurmured。
"Afright!"Burleighflungoffhiscapandranhisfingersthroughhisownhair。"NotwhatIcallafright，"heassertedinaneventone。
"What\'sthatscaronyourleftarm？Itlookslikealittleholedugout，"Elinordeclared。
Vic\'sbrownsweatersleevewaspusheduptotheelbow。
"ItisalittleholeIputinwhereIdugoutthefleshwithapocketknife，"
hereplied，carelessly。
"Didyoudothatyourself？"Elinorcried。"Whatmadeyoubesocruel？"
"Iwasn\'tsocruel。`IseenmydutyandIdoneitnoble，\'astheessayruns。
Imadethatvacancytogetaheadofarattlesnakethatgotmethere，avenomousbigonewithninepolicecallsonitstail，andthat\'snosnakestory，either。Icutthefleshouttogetridofthepoison。Iwasn\'tinacollegelaboratoryandIhadtoworkfastandusewhattoolsIhadwithme。
Ikilledthegentlemanthatdidthemischief，though，"Vicaddedcarelessly，deftlyslippingdownhissleeveasiftochangethesubject。
"Oh，tellmeaboutit，do，"Elinorurged。"YouwerekillingasnakethefirsttimeIsawyou。”
Howdaintyandsweetshewassittingthereinherneat-fittingoutingsuitofdarkgraywithscarletpipingsandbuttonsandpocketflaps，andthescarletofherfulllips，andthecoraltintofhercheeks，thewhitehandsandwhitethroatandbrow，thedarkeyesandfinelyshapedheadwithabundantbeautifulhair。
VicBurleighsatlookingstraightatherandthelightinhisowneyestoldnothingoftheglitterthathadflashedinthemwhenheglaredatProfessorBurgessdownintheCorral。
"Iwasn\'tkillingsnakes。Iwaslookingupatagirlontherotundastairsthefirsttime，"hesaid，"andIdon\'twanttotellaboutthisscar，becauseI\'vewishedathousandtimestoforgetit。
Seehowmuchdarkeritisdowntherethanitisuphere。”
TheshadowswerelengtheningintheCorralwherethesupperfiresweregleaming。AcrossthelowblufftheimprisonedsunwassendingadullredglowalongthewatersoftheWalnut。
"Lookatthatstillplaceintheriver，Victor。Theripplesareallonthefartherside，"Elinorsaid，lookingpensivelydownstream。
"Watchitaminute。Doyouseethatbitofdriftcomingupstreaminthestillwater？"Vicasked。
"Why，thewaterdoesmove；towardus，too，insteadofdowntheriver。
I\'dliketoboataroundinthatquietplace。”
Shewasleaningforward，restingherchininherhand。
Inoutlineagainstthemistybackgroundshotthroughwiththecrimsonlightfromthestorm-smotheredsun，withthegrayshadowsoftheoldKickapooCorralbelowthem，hemmedinbythesilvergleamingwatersoftheWalnut，apicturegrewupbeforeVictorBurleigh\'seyesthathewasnevertoforget。
Likethecleftofthelightningthroughthecloud，liketheflashoftheswallow\'swing，thecareless-heartedboyleapedtothestatureofaman，intowhosesoultheloveofalifetimeisborn。
Unconsciously，hedrewawayfromher，andlongafterwardsherecalledthesweetnessofhisdeepvoicewhenhespokeagain。
"ElinorWream，I\'dratherseeyouhelplessupherewiththehungriestwildbeastbetweenusthatevertoreahumanformtopiecesthantoseeyouinthatquietwaterbelowtheshallows。”
"Why？"Elinorlookedupintohisface。
"BecauseIcouldsaveyourlifehere，maybe，evenifIlostmine。
DownthereIcoulddrownforyou，butthatwouldn\'tsaveyou。
Nobodyeverswamthatwhirlpoolandlivedtotellaboutit。
There\'saledgeunderneaththatholdsdownwhattheinfernalslowsuctionswallows。Butit\'sdeadsure。”
"Why，that\'sawful，"Elinorsaid，lightly，forshehadnopictureofhimengulfedintheslow-movingtreacherybelowthem。
"There\'sanoldIndianlegendaboutthatpool，"Vicsaid，staringdownatthewater。
"Tellmeaboutit。”Elinorwasbreakingthetwigsfromabranchofbuck-berrygrowingbesideher。
"Oh，it\'satragicalone，likeeverythingelseaboutthatplace，"
Vicresponded，grimly。"OldLagonda，ChiefoftheWahoos，Ireckon，Idon\'tknowhistribe，didn\'twanttogiveupthisvalleytothesonsandheirsofSunrisetodesecratewithsalmoncansandpopbottlesandHarvard-turnedchaperons。Heheldoutagainstputtinghismultiplicationsigntothetreaty，claimingthatlandwaslikewaterandairandcouldn\'tbeboughtandsold。
Butthewhitemenwithtruemissionarycourtesyheldhisheadunderwatertillheburbled`Nuff，\'andsignedupwithapieceofcharcoal。
Thenhewentdowntherivertothissmooth-facedwhirlpool，andlaidacurseonthesonsofmenwhohadtakenhisownfromhim。”
Thetwilighthaddeepened。Thesunwaslostinthecloudbankoutofwhichahotwindwassweepingeastward。Vicwastellingthestorywell，andthemagnetismofhisvoicewascompelling。
Elinordrewnearertohim。
"Whatwasthecurse？Iwouldn\'twanttogonearthatplace，unlessyouwerewithme。”
TheveryinnocenceofthewordsputathrillinVicBurleigh\'severypulsebeat。
"Don\'teverdoit，ifyoucanhelpit。”Viccouldnotkeepbackthewords。
"OldLagondadecreedatributetotheriverforthewrongdonetohim，alifeayearinthatpool。AndtheWalnuthasbeenexactinginitsrights。
Lifeafterlifehasgoneoutdownthereuntilsometimesitseemsliketheoldchief\'scursewouldneverbelifted。”
"Ihopeitmaybe，whileIamatSunrise，anyhow，"Elinorsaid。
"Idon\'tlikerealtragediesaboutme。Ilikeaneasy，comfortablelife，andeverybodygoodandhappy。IhopethecursewillbestaiduntilI
gobackhome。”
Vichadn\'tthoughtofthis。Ofcourse，shewouldleaveSunrisesometime。
HerhomewasinCambridge-by-the-Sea，notonthePrairie-by-the-Walnut。Shebelongedtothedead-languagescholars，nottocrudered-bloodedcreatureslikehimself。Heturnedhisfacetothewestandthethreateningskyseemedinharmonywithhisstorm-rivensoul。Hewassoyoung——lessthanhalfanhourolderthanthebigwhole-heartedfellowwhostartedupthebluffinpicnicfrolicwithaprettygirlwhomProfessorBurgessadored。Thatwasonereasonwhyhehadbroughtherup。HewantedtoteasetheProfessorthen。
HehatedBurgessnow，andthewhiteteethclinchedatthethoughtofhim。
Asuddenshoutingandbeatingoftom-tomsdownintheCorral，andthecallincruderhymetostragglingcouplestoclosein，announcedsupper。
HighaboveotherwhoopingthevoiceofTrench，thebigrightguard，reachedthetopofthebluff:
VictorBurleighandElinorWream，BetterwakefromLove\'sYoungDream，Beforetheantsgetintothecream。
Thebeatingofadishpandrownedthechorus。ThendownbytheriverDennie\'ssopranostreamedout，Thesunissot，Thecoffee\'shot，Thesupper\'sgot。
What？
Yes!Got!
AnsweringthiscallfromthenorthendoftheCorral，aheavybasegrowled，Dennieissad，Theeggsarebad；
TheProfessor\'smadAtaCollegelad。
Burleigh!Burly!Burlee!
Comehome!Comehome!Comehome!
"TheKickapoosareonthewarpath。Let\'sgodownandgetintotherunning。”
VicliftedElinortoherfeetwithasortofreverenceinhistouch。
Butshedidnotnotethatitwasotherwisethanthegood-naturedgripofthecomradewhohadhelpedherupthesteepplaceshalfanhourago。
Descentwasmoredifficult，anditwasgrowingdarkrapidly。
Vicheldherarmtokeepherfromfalling，andonceonaslidingrock，hehadtocatchbothofherhands，andhalf-lifthertosolidfooting。
Hershiningeyes，starbrightinthegloom，thedaintyrosehueofhercheeks，thetouchofhersoftwhitehands，andherneedforhisstrength，madetheshadowypathdeliciousforhercompanion。
Thecallofthewildwasinthateveningcampintheautumnwoodland，inthecharmofthedeepeningtwilightwarmedwiththeredglowofthefires，intheappetizingodorofcoffee，theunconventionalfreedom，thecarelessnessofyouth，thejollygood-fellowshipofcomrades。
ToProfessorBurgessithadtheaddedcharmofnewness。
Allthepleasuresofpopularitywerehisthisevening，forhewasyounghimself，hedressedwell，andhehadthegraceofagentleman。
Theenjoymentofthedaygavehimathrillofsurprise。
HewasalreadydroppingtheviewpointofDr。JoshuaWreamforDeanFenneben\'sangleofvision。Andinthesepicturesquesurroundingsheforgotabouttheweatherandtheprudenceofgettinghomeearly。
"Throwthatlogonthefire，Vic。Itbeginstolookspookybackhere。
I\'vejusthadmyeartothegroundandIheardanawfulroaringsomewhere。”
Trench，whohadbeensprawlinglazilyintheshadows，nowdeclared，"Say，I\'dhatetobepennedintothisplacesoIcouldn\'tgetout。
There\'snoskinningupthatrockwallevenifafellowcouldswimtheriver，andIcan\'t，"andthebigguardstretchedhimselfonthegroundagain。
"What\'sthatoldstoryabouttheKickapooshere？"somebodyasked。
"DennieSaxonknowsit。Tellusaboutit，Dennie，ANDTHENWE\'LL
ALLGOHOME。”Thelastwordswerehalf-sung。
"Beswift，Dennie，bequiteswift。Iheardthatnoiseagain。
I\'mafraidit\'sastampedeofwildhorses。”Trench，whohadhadhiseartotheground，satupsuddenly。Butnobodypaidanyattentiontohim。
"Come，DenmarkSaxon，let\'sclosethedayinsongandstory。
YoutellthestoryandthenI\'llsingthesong，"somebodydeclared。
"Aw-w-w!"aprolongedchorus。"Makeyourstorylong，Dennie；
makeitlengthy。”
"Don\'tyoudoit，Dennie。Itellyouthisgroundisshaking。
Ifeelit，"Trenchinsisted。
"Say，who\'sgotthebromo-seltzer？Therightguard\'ssupperisn\'ttreatinghimright。Goahead，Dennie，"thecrowdurged。
Theywereallinacircleaboutthefire。ItsflickeringglowlightedVicBurleigh\'sruggedface，andgleamedinhisauburnhair。
ElinorsatbetweenhimandVincentBurgess。DenniewasjustbeyondVincent，whonotedincidentallytheplayoflightandshadowontheblowsyripplesofherhairthatnightandremembereditallonadaylongafterward。
"Onceuponatime，"Denniebegan，therewasabeautifulKickapooIndianmaiden——"
"Yep，anyKickapoo\'sabeaut。Hurryup，Dennie。Ihearsomethingcoming。”
Itwasthebiglazyguardagain。
"Oh!VicBurleigh，sitonhisprostrateform。Goon，Dennie，"
thecompanyinsisted，andshecontinued。
"HernamewasTheFawnoftheMorningLight，herbestloverwasSwiftElk。”
"YoubeMrs。SwiftElk——"butVicBurleigh\'sarmaboutTrench\'sthroatchokedhiswords。
"AndtherewasawilySioux，namedRedFox。wholovedtheFawnandwantedhertomarryhim。Shewouldn\'tdoit。
TheKickapooswereheap-biggrafters，andtheyhadthisoldCorralfullofponiesandjunktheyhadrelievedothertribesofcaringfor。
Andtheonlywaytogetinhere，besidesfallingoverthebluffandbecomingapin-cushionforpoisonedarrows，wastocomeinbytheshallowsintheriverwherethefordisnowaboveoldLagonda\'spool，andmostIndiansneededadiagramforthat。”
AlthoughDenniespokelightly，sheshudderedalittleatthethought，andthewholecompanygrewgraver。
"AnIndiandoesn\'tforget。So，RedFox，whohadsworntohaveTheFawn，camedownherewithhundredsofSiouxwhowantedtheponiestheKickapooshadstolen，asRedFoxwantedSwiftElk\'sgirl。
TheKickapooswouldn\'tgiveuptheponiesandSwiftElkwouldn\'tgiveupTheFawn。Sothesiegebegan。RightwherewearesosafeandpeacefultonightthoseKickapoosfought，andstarved，anddied，whiletheSiouxkeptcruelwatchonthetopofthatoldstoneledge，neverlettingoneescape。Atlast，afterhoursandhoursofsiege，TheFawnandSwiftElkdecidedtoescapebytheriverinthenight。
Astormhadcomeonsuddenly，andacloudburstuptheWalnutwassendingaperfectsurgeofwaterdownaroundthebend。ThetwoloverswerecaughtinitssweepandcarriedbeyondtheshallowswhenaflashoflightningshowedthemtoRedFoxwatchingonthebluffupthere。
AtthenextflashhesentanarrowstraightthroughSwiftElk\'sbodyandintoTheFawn\'sshoulder，pinningthetwotogether。
TheSiouxleapedintothestreamtosavethegirlheloved，buttheheavycurrentsweptthemtowardthewhirlpool，andbeforetheycouldpreventthedyingandwoundedandrescuingwereallcaughtbythefatalsuction。ThentheSiouxwarriorsrushedinfromallsides，upstream，downtheblufffromwestprairie，andovertheCorral，andslaughteredeveryKickapoohere。
Theirfierceyellsandtheshrieksofthesquawsandpappooses，thepoundingofhorses\'hoofsinthestampedeofhundredsofponies，theroaroftheriver，thewrathofthestormmadeascenethisoldCorralwillneverseeagain。”Denniepaused。
"IthinkIhearsomethinglikeit，rightnow，"cameTrench\'sirrepressiblevoicefromtheshadowsintheedgeofthecircle。
Butnobodyheededit。
Andallthewhilefromfaracrossthewestprairiethestormcloudwasrollingin，blackandangry，blowingitshotbreathbeforeit，whilefromacloudburstupstreamanhourbeforeagreatsurgeofwaterwasrushingdowntheWalnut，turningthequietrivertoamurderousflood。
ButthehighwallshidallthisfromthevalleyandtheheedlessyoungfolktookthefulltimelimitoftheirholidayintheshelteringgloomoftheoldKickapooCorral。
CHAPTERV
THESTORM
_Rockandmoan，androaralone，Andthedreadofsomenamelessthingunknown_——
LOWELL
THEsilencefollowingDennie\'sstorywasbrokenbyasuddenpealofthunderoverhead。AtthesameinstanttheblacknessofmidnightlifteditselfabovethestoneledgesanddroppeddownupontheCorral，smotheringeverythingindarkness。
Arushingwhirlwind，aluridblazeoflightning，andasecondpealofthunderthrewthecampintoblinddisorder。
Intheminute\'slullfollowingthefirststormherald，therewasawildscramblingforwrapsandlunchbaskets。
Thenthedarknessthickenedandthestorm\'sfuryburstuponthecrowd——amadlashingofbendingtreetops，ablindingwhirlofdustfillingtheair，thethunder\'sterrificcannonade，theincessantblazeoflightning，therattlingofthedistantrain；
andaboveallthese，unlikethemall，asteady，dreadfulroaring，comingnearereachmoment。
ProfessorBurgesswasnocoward，buthehadlittlepowerofgeneralship。
Asthecrowdhuddledtogetherundertheswayingtrees，TrenchcalledtoBurleigh:
"There\'sbeenacloudburstupstream。TheroarI\'vebeenhearingisawallofwatercomingdown。We\'vegottogetoutofthis。”
ThenaboveallthecrashingandboomingtheyheardVicBurleigh\'svoice:
"Everyfellowtakeagirlandrunfortheford。Comeon!"
Inthedarkness，eachboycaughtthearmofthegirlnearesthimandmadeadashfortheford。AflashoflightningshowedBurleighthatthewhite-facedgirlclingingtohisarmwasElinorWream。Afterthat，thestormwasaplaythingforhim。
ThefirsttoreachthefordwereVincentBurgessandDennieSaxon。Denniewassure-footedandsheknewbyinstinctwheretofindtheshallows。
Buttheriverwasrisingrapidlyandthewaterswereblackandangryunderthelightning\'sglitter。AsthecrowdheldbackVicshouted:
"You\'llhavetowade。It\'snotverydeepyet。Professor，youmustcrossfirst，andcount\'emastheycome。Goquick!Oneatatime。
Thewayisnarrow。AndforGod\'ssake，keeptotheuppersideoftheshallows。Standinthemiddle，Trench，anddon\'tletthemgetdownstreambelowyou。”
TheywereallsafelyacrossexceptVicandElinor，whenTrenchcriedout:
"Sendyourgirlinquick，Burleigh，andyourunwest。
Thefloodisatthebendnow。Hurry!"
"Runin，Elinor。Trenchwilltakeyouthrough，andI\'llfollow，forIcanswimandhecan\'t。I\'llberightbehindyou。Run!"
AvisionofthewhirlpoolandofSwiftElkandTheFawnflashedintoElinor\'smind，fillingherwithterror。
BeforeViccouldpushherforward，Trenchshouted:
"It\'stoolate。Don\'ttryit。I\'vegottorun。”
Hewasstrongandsure-footedandhefoughthiswaygallantlytothefurthersideasagreatwaveswirledaroundthecurveoftheriver，engulfingtheshallowsinitsmadsurge。
Whenhereachedtheeastbankthecountofthecompanynumberedallbuttwo。
"It\'sVicandElinor，"Trenchdeclared。"Vicwouldn\'tcometillthelast，andElinorwastoodeadscaredtotrustanybodyelse，Iguess。
Nobodycouldcrosstherenow，Professor。ButVicisasstrongasanoxandhe\'snotafraidofthedevil。He\'llkeepboththeirheadsabovewater。
HewantstowinoutintheThanksgivinggametoomuchtogetlostnow。
Trusthimtogetupthebluffsomeway，andbacktotownbytheMainstreetbridgelikeasnot，beforewegetthere。There\'snoshelterbetweenhereandLagondaLedge。Let\'sallcutforitbeforetherainbeatsusintothemud。”
Thedelugewasjustbeginning，so，safe，butwet，andmud-smeared，fightingwindandrainanddarkness，takingitallasajollylark，althoughtheyhadsliddenintosafetybutahand\'sbreadthinfrontofdeath，thecouplesstraggledbacktotown。
VincentBurgess，anxious，angry，andjealous，foundanunconsciouscomfortinDennieSaxoninthathomewardstruggle。ShewassocapableandcheerythatheforgotalittlethegirlwhohadassurelydrawnhimKansas-wardashisinterestintypesandgeographicalbreadthhaddone。
Itdimlyenteredhisconsciousness，ashetoldDenniegood-bye，thatmaybeshehadbeenthemostdesirablecompanionofthecrowdonsuchanightasthis。
Heknew，atleast，thathewouldhaveshownElinormuchmoreattentionthanhehadshowntoDennie，andheknewthatElinorwouldhaverequireditofhim。
ThelightfromthehallwasstreamingacrosstheverandaoftheSaxonHouse，abeamasfaithfulandfriendlyattheborderofthelowercampusasthebiggerbeaconinthecollegeturretuponthelime-stoneridge。
AsBurgessstartedawaytheworstdelugeofthenightfelloutofthesky，sohedroppeddownonaseattowaitforthedownpourtoweaken。
Hewasverytiredandhismindwasfeverishlybusy。WherecouldBurleighandElinorbenow？Whatdangersmightthreatenthem？
WhatillmightbefallElinorfromexposuretothisbeatingstorm？
Hewasfranticwiththethought。ThenherecalledDennie，thegirlwhowasworkingherwaythroughcollege，whomhe——ProfessorVincentBurgess，A。B。，fromHarvard——hadescortedhome。HowcheapKansaswasmakinghim。
TheboysandgirlshadtakenDennieasoneofthemtoday；
andtruly，shedidaddtothecomfortandpleasureoftheouting。
Itseemedallrightdowninthewoodswhereallwasunconventional。
Butnow，alone，inhowcommonagradeheseemedtohaveplacedhimself，tobeforcedtopayattentiontothepoorestgirlinschool。
Hischeeksgrewhotattheverythoughtofit。
Intheshadows，beyondhim，aformstraightenedupstupidly:
"Shay，ProfeshBurgush，thatyou？"
Dennie\'sfather，half-drunkenstill!Oh，Shadesofclassicculture!
Towhatdepthsinsocialcontactmayacollegemanfallinthiswretchedland!
"Shay!Is\'tyou，orain\'tityou？Yougonnatellme？"
OldBondqueried。
"ThisisVincentBurgess，"theyoungmanreplied。
"Denniehome？"thefatherasked。
"Yes，sir，"camethecurtanswer。
"Who？Whobringherhome？VicBurleigh？"
"Ibroughtherhome。Sheisagoodgirl，too。”
Inspiteofhimself，Burgessresentedtheshameofsuchafatherforthecapable，happy-spiriteddaughter。
"Yesh，Dennie\'sgoodgirl，allright。”
Thenasilencefell。
Presently，theoldmanspokeagain。
"Shay，Profesh，\'dyeminddoin\'somethin\'forme？"
"Whatisit？"Burgesswasbynaturecourteous。
"Ifanythingsh\'deverhappentome，\'dyoutakecareofDennie？Shay，wouldyou？"
"IfIcoulddoanythingforher，Iwoulddoit，"theyoungmanreplied。
"Somethin\'gonnahappentome。Iain\'tshafe。IknowI\'llgothatway。Butyou\'llbegoodtoDennie。Now，wouldn\'tyou？
I\'daskFunnybone，buthe\'snoshafer\'nIam。Noshafer!
You\'llbegoodtoDennie，yousaidso。Shayitagain!"
BondwasstandingnowbendingthreateninglytowardBurgess，whohadalsorisen。
"I\'lldoallthatagentlemanoughttodo。”Hehadonlyonethought——
topacifythedrunkenmanandgetaway。Andtheoldmanunderstood。
"Shwearit，Itellyou!Lif\'upyourrighthandan\'——an\'shweartotakecareofDennie，orI\'llkillyou!"Bondinsisted。
Hewasalarge，muscularman，toweringovertheslenderyoungprofessorlikeaverygiant，andinhiseyestherewasacruelgleam。
VincentBurgesswasatthelimitofmentalresistance。
Liftinghisshapelyrighthandintheshadowylight，hesaidwearily:
"Iswearit!"
"Onemorequestion，andyoumaygo。YouknowthatlittleboyVicBurleightakescareofhere？"
TheProfessorhadheardofhim。
"Vickeepsthatlittleboyallright。Hedon\'tcomplainnone。
S\'poseyouhelpmewatchum，Profesh。”Thenasanafterthought，Saxonadded:"Youngwomanlivin\'outnorthoftown。
Prettywoman。Shedon\'tknownothing\'boutthatlittleboy。
Now，honest，shedon\'t。Livesallbyherselfwithabigdog。”
Jealousyisanugly，suspiciousbeast。VincentBurgesswasnoworsethanmanyothermenwouldhavebeen，becausehismindleapedtothemeaningoldSaxon\'swordsmightcarry。
AndthiswasthemanwithElinorinthedarknessandthestorm。
BeforeBurgesscouldthinkclearly，Saxoncameastepnearer。
"Shay，where\'sVictonight？"
"AcrosstheriverwithMissWream。Theywerecutoffbythedeepwater，"Vincentanswered。
AquickchangefromdrunkennesstosobersenseleapedintoBondSaxon\'seyes。
"Acrosstheriver!GreatGod!"Thensternly，withagrimsetofjaw，hecommanded:"Yougohome!Ifyoudaretosayaword，I\'llkillyou。
Ifyoutrytofollowme，he\'llkillyou。Gohome!I\'mgoingoverthere，ifIdieforit。”Andthedarknessandrainswallowedhimasheleapedawaytothewestward!
BurgessgazedintotheblacknessintowhichBondSaxonhadgoneuntilasofthandtouchedhis，andhelookeddowntoseelittleBugBuler，cladinhisnightgown，standingbarefootbesidehim。
