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。