第35部分(第3/8 頁)

d　and　cheerful。　〃It's　lovely　brandy；〃　I　said。　The　moon　was　under　again　but　I　could　see　the　shore。　There　seemed　to　be　another　point　going　out　a　long　way　ahead　into　the　lake。

〃Are　you　warm　enough；　Cat？〃

〃I'm　splendid。　I'm　a　little　stiff。〃

〃Bail　out　that　water　and　you　can　put　your　feet　down。〃

Then　I　rowed　and　listened　to　the　oarlocks　and　the　dip　and　scrape　of　the　bailing　tin　under　the　stern　seat。

〃Would　you　give　me　the　bailer？〃　I　said。　〃I　want　a　drink。〃

〃It's　awful　dirty。〃

〃That's　all　right。　I'll　rinse　it。〃

I　heard　Catherine　rinsing　it　over　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