第15部分(第3/5 頁)

十月之湖（2）

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October　Lake

Herbert　Ernest　Bates

The　October　leaves　have　fallen　on　the　lake。　On　bright；　calm　days　they　lie　in　thousands　on　the　now　darkening　water；　mostly　yellow　flotillas　of　poplar；　floating　continuously　down　from　great　trees　that　themselves　shake　in　the　windless　air　with　the　sound　of　falling　water；　but　on　rainy　days　or　after　rain　they　seem　to　swim　or　be　driven　away；　and　nothing　remains　to　break　the　surface　except　the　last　of　the　olive…yellow　lily　pads　that　in　high　summer　covered　every　inch　of　water　like　plates　of　emerald　porcelain。　The　lilies　have　gone　too；　the　yellow　small…headed　kind　that　in　bud　are　like　swimming　snakes；　and　the　great　reeds　are　going；　woven　by　wind　and　frost　into　untidy　basket　islands　under　which　coot　and　moorhen　skid　for　cover　at　the　sound　of　strangers。

All　summer；　in　this　world　of　water…lilies；　the　coot　and　moorhen　lived　a　bewildered　life。　There　was　no　place　where　they　could　swim；　and　all　day　they　could　be　seen　walking　daintily；　heads　slightly　aside　and　slightly　down；　cross　the　lily…hidden　water；　as　bemused　by　the　world　of　leaves　as　they　had　been　in　winter　by　the　world　of　ice。　In　unbroken　expect　for　two　small　islands。　This　birds；　as　the　fit　takes　them；　dash　madly　up　and　down　it；　taking　off　and　touching　down　like　small　fussy　black　sea…planes。　Beside　them　the　arrival　of　the　wild　duck；　at　much　higher　speed；　is　almost　majestic。　They　plane　down；　the　necks　of　the　drakes　shining　like　royal　green　satin；　with　the　air　of　squadrons　ing　in　after　long　flights　from　home。

It　was　not　until　late　summer　fishing　was　possible。　The　water　was　so　low　and　clear　after　drought　that　the　fish　could　be　seen　in　great　dark　shoals；　sunning　themselves；　shy；　i