Поющие в терновнике

           "WhatisWeil’sdisease,Luke?Yousaidyouweren’tinanydanger,butitlookstomeasifyou’vebeenverysickindeed."

           "Oh,it’sjustsomesortofjaundicemostcuttersgetsoonerorlater.Thecaneratscarryit,wepickitupthroughacutorsore.I’mingoodhealth,soIwasn’ttoosickcomparedtosomewhogetit.ThequackssayI’llbefitasafiddleinnotime."

           Climbingupthroughagreatgorgefilledwithjungle,theroadledinland,ariverinfullspateroaringandtumblingbelow,andatonespotamagnificentwaterfallspillingtojoinitfromsomewhereupabove,rightathwarttheroad.Theydrovebetweenthecliffandtheanglingwaterinawet,glitteringarchwayoffantasticlightandshadow.Andastheyclimbedtheairgrewcool,exquisitelyfresh;Meggiehadforgottenhowgoodcoolairmadeherfeel.Thejungleleanedacrossthem,soimpenetrablenooneeverdaredtoenterit.Thebulkofitwasquiteinvisibleundertheweightofleafyvineslyingsaggingfromtreetoptotreetop,continuousandendless,likeavastsheetofgreenvelvetflungacrosstheforest.UndertheeavesMeggiecaughtglimpsesofwonderfulflowersandbutterflies,cartwheelingwebswithgreatelegantspeckledspidersmotionlessattheirhubs,fabulousfungichewingatmossytrunks,birdswithlongtrailingredorblondtails.

           LakeEachamlayontopofthetableland,idyllicinitsunspoiledsetting.Beforenightfelltheystrolledoutontotheverandaoftheirboardinghousetolookacrossthestillwater.