Етюд у багряних тонах
On the great Alkali Plain.
Itain’teasytotalkwhenyourlipsislikeleather,butIguessI’dbestletyouknowhowthecardslie. What’sthatyou’vegot?”
“Prettythings!finethings!”criedthelittlegirlenthusiastically,holdinguptwoglitteringfragmentsofmica. “WhenwegoesbacktohomeI’llgivethemtobrotherBob.”
“You’llseeprettierthingsthanthemsoon,”saidthemanconfidently.“Youjustwaitabit. Iwasgoingtotellyouthough—yourememberwhenwelefttheriver?”
“Oh,yes.”
“Well,wereckonedwe’dstrikeanotherriversoon,d’yesee. Buttherewassomethin’wrong;compasses,ormap,orsomethin’,anditdidn’tturnup. Waterranout.Justexceptalittledropforthelikesofyouand—and——”
“Andyoucouldn’twashyourself,”interruptedhiscompaniongravely,staringupathisgrimyvisage.
“No,nordrink. AndMr.Bender,hewasthefusttogo,andthenIndianPete,andthenMrs.McGregor,andthenJohnnyHones,andthen,dearie,yourmother.”
“Thenmother’sadeadertoo,”criedthelittlegirldroppingherfaceinherpinaforeandsobbingbitterly.
“Yes,theyallwentexceptyouandme. ThenIthoughttherewassomechanceofwaterinthisdirection,soIheavedyouovermyshoulderandwetrampedittogether. Itdon’tseemasthoughwe’veimprovedmatters. There’sanalmightysmallchanceforusnow!”
“Doyoumeanthatwearegoingtodietoo?”askedthechild,checkinghersobs,andraisinghertear-stainedface.
“Iguessthat’saboutthesizeofit.”
