Canoeing in Kanuckia: Or, Haps and Mishaps Afloat and Ashore of the Statesman, the Editor, the Artist, and the ScribblerHabberton, John
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Canoeing in Kanuckia: Or, Haps and Mishaps Afloat and Ashore of the Statesman, the Editor, the Artist, and the Scribbler
Habberton, John
Canoes and canoeing; Québec (Province) -- Description and travel
Suddenly an unexpected, an unhoped for influence appeared upon the
scene. A young lady, who apparently had a nephew or niece among the
children, strolled toward the water's edge a little way from the boats,
and amused herself with the gambols of a huge water-dog. The parlor
critic would scarcely have called her beautiful--probably at the Court
of Jove there were goddesses more beautiful than Juno, nevertheless
Juno ruled men as no rival beauty did. The lady with the dog noticed
no member of the expedition, but it was impossible for the mariners
to be as unconcerned in return, for maidens who are embodiments of
health, strength, grace and modesty are not seen often enough even
where maidens most do congregate. The Commodore sat down and leaned
against a tree to hide the dusty back of his shirt; the Purser made
haste to don a blue jacket which he had fortunately brought with him;
the Vice, who, apparently with malice aforethought, had shaved himself,
sat in his canoe, adjusted his statesmanlike glasses, and took full
satisfaction out of the ennobling spectacle, while the Cook, with
characteristic modesty, crept within the tent, where he might behold
and yet remain invisible. When the lady departed, as unfortunately she
did, the quartette debated whether she went on wings, or floated off on
one of the clouds that were hovering about, or was wafted away by the
fortunate breezes which could express their admiration without being
suspected of forwardness or flattery, or, whether she was suddenly
translated to a better world, as the Vice enthusiastically declared
was no more than her desert. And yet, the material optics of every
member of that expedition knew that the lady walked away upon her own
feet, as any ordinary mortal would have done, for each of them had
gazed industriously after her as long as her form was visible. The
difference of opinion led to no dispute, however, for the manners of
the expedition had noticeably improved within an hour, and though no
canoeist had modified his apparel in any way, each man had something in
his face which made him more presentable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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