第35部分(第3/7 頁)

the　side。　Then　she　handed　it　to　me　dipped　full　of　water。　I　was　thirsty　after　the　brandy　and　the　water　was　icy　cold；　so　cold　it　made　my　teeth　ache。　I　looked　toward　the　shore。　We　were　closer　to　the　long　point。　There　were　lights　in　the　bay　ahead。

〃Thanks；〃　I　said　and　handed　back　the　tin　pail。

〃You're　ever　so　wele；〃　Catherine　said。　〃There's　much　more　if　you　want　it。〃

〃Don't　you　want　to　eat　something？〃

〃No。　I'll　be　hungry　in　a　little　while。　We'll　save　it　till　then。〃

〃All　right。〃

What　looked　like　a　point　ahead　was　a　long　high　headland。　I　went　further　out　in　the　lake　to　pass　it。　The　lake　was　much　narrower　now。　The　moon　was　out　again　and　the　guardia　di　finanza　could　have　seen　our　boat　black　on　the　water　if　they　had　been　watching。

〃How　are　you；　Cat？〃　I　asked。

〃I'm　all　right。　Where　are　we？〃

〃I　don't　think　we　have　more　than　about　eight　miles　more。〃

〃That's　a　long　way　to　row；　you　poor　sweet。　Aren't　you　dead？〃

〃No。　I'm　all　right。　My　hands　are　sore　is　all。〃

We　went　on　up　the　lake。　There　was　a　break　in　the　mountains　on　the　right　bank；　a　flattening…out　with　a　low　shore　line　that　I　thought　must　be　Cannobio。　I　stayed　a　long　way　out　because　it　was　from　now　on　that　we　ran　the　most　danger　of　meeting　guardia。　There　was　a　high　dome…capped　mountain　on　the　other　shore　a　way　ahead。　I　was　tired。　It　was　no　great　distance　to　row　but　when　you　were　out　of　condition　it　had　been　a　long　way。　I　knew　I　had　to　pass　that　mountain　and　go　up　the　lake　at　least　five　miles　further　before　we　would　be　in　Swiss　water。　The　moon　was　almost　down　now　but　before　it　went　down　the　sky　clouded　over　again　and　it　was　very　dark。　I　stayed　well　out　in　the　lake；　rowing　awhile；　then　resting　and　holding　the　oars　so　that　the　wind　struck　the　blades。