CHAPTER X
A SACRED ISLE
Jack's entrance into the group reminded one of the sudden appearanceof a very lively trout into a quiet pool of goldfish. She had seenhalf the town by evening of the next day, had already begun a Japanesevocabulary which she did not hesitate to use with frequency, had quitecaptured the colonel at whom she fired questions with such accuracyand precision that she had a dozen legends of Fujiyama at her tongue'send, and was beginning a study of the religions. She decided offhandthat Mr. Montell should be relegated to Eleanor and that she was not topoach on her preserves, and so as she, herself, could not be withouta cavalier she made up her mind she would appropriate Mr. Harding. Todo her justice, it never occurred to her that this would in any waydisturb either of her sisters. Nan was a dear old thing, but, in theeyes of eighteen, really something of an old maid, and therefore hardlyto be classed with those who might still have attractions for youngmen. Five years' difference in ages makes a tremendous gap at thistime of life, and so from the first Jack turned to Mr. Harding as herrightful escort and companion.
As for Mr. Harding, he was helpless. In the first place Jack was newlyarrived, she was Nan's sister, and, therefore, consideration was dueher. Added to this, as Jack advanced, Nan retreated, and it was a veryrare occasion that allowed the young man the elder sister's society.Nan herself was too proud to assert herself, and moreover she hadalways given way to Jack and it was in the usual course of things thatshe should do so now. She was really very humble about it. Who wouldnot prefer gay, merry Jack? She, who was so amusing, so perfectly ather ease, so young and joyous? And so it fell out that Nan would stayat home with her Aunt Helen and insist that the others go forth to seethe sights which had been already taken in by the earlier arrivals.
Then Mrs. Craig made a start for the mountains, taking her householdwith her, so there were no more opportunities for music. The climatewas beginning to tell on Miss Helen and she was so languid andindisposed to effort, that Nan urged her to keep quiet until the restshould be ready to go to the mountains.
So a week passed and then it was decided that all the Corners shouldgo to Myanoshita for a while, and that ended the association withthe young men for the time being at least. With the approach of Julyheat would come the swarms of mosquitoes which started life in ricefields, and with this affliction, added to the humid condition of theatmosphere, the frequent rains and the great dampness, Tokyo promisedto be anything but an agreeable summer resort. So Miss Helen and Nanpored over guide-books and decided to make certain journeys by easystages.
"But," objected Jack who was having a very good time, "we haven't beento Enoshima yet, and I do so want to see those lovely shells."
"Who wants to pick up shells in the pouring rain?" said Jean.
"It doesn't rain every minute," retorted Jack. "There have been somequite pleasant days since we left home."
"But scarcely one since we reached here. I had no idea that Japan wassuch a moist, unpleasant place."
"You ought to have known it would be in summer, but I don't see butthat we do very well even when it rains. There are the _jinrikishas_ totake you everywhere."
"Oh, but it is depressing without any sunshine," protested Jean, "andit is so damp all my things are beginning to mould."
"I suppose," remarked Jack who was ready to make capital of anyinformation which came her way, "that is why they wear pongee andcrape in these countries; I never thought of it before, but now I seewhy. Don't you think we might take a day for Enoshima, Aunt Helen,just one day before we go? Even if it rained it wouldn't make so muchdifference."
"What do you say, Nan?" asked her Aunt Helen.
Nan, who was busy examining a map, traced a line on its surface. "Idon't see why we need take a day off to go there specially, when ourway leads right past it. Why not stop there over night, or at Kamakura?We always meant to do that, you know, then we could go on the next day.I think it might be the best plan, for it ought to be less tiresome foryou and mother."
"Very well, we will decide to do that, for, as you say, Nan, it will becarrying out a former plan and will not be out of our way."
"I shall pray for a pleasant day," said Jack. "I am so glad to find outwhere it is. If I had known that Myanoshita was in that direction Ishould have felt easier."
"Just where is Myanoshita?" asked Jean coming to Nan's side and lookingdown upon the map.
"Right there." Nan put her finger on the spot. "It is about fifty milesfrom Yokohama. It is in the Fuji highlands."
"Oh, good!" cried Jean. "I should think it would be perfectly lovely.How do we get there?"
"We go by rail to Kodzu where you can take a tram car to Yumoto, andthen you go up the mountain road by _jinriki_ to Myanoshita."
"It is a watering place, isn't it?"
"Yes, one of the numerous springs, hot springs, which are everywhereall through Japan. They say the temperature is very agreeable, not sohot as some others and without any odor of sulphur."
"I suppose," put in Jack, still on the quest for information, "thatthey use the hot baths quite as we do stoves; whenever they feel coldthey pop into the hot water, and that is why they are so fond of hotbaths."
"It is probably something that way," returned Nan shutting up herbook. "Well, I suppose packing is the next thing in order." She gave alittle sigh. How fleeting really good times were. She wouldn't for theworld have had a disloyal thought of Jack, but she could not help butremember what happy days those first ones had been, and now they hadpassed like all bright things.
Jack's prayers must have been of avail, for the day of their departurefrom Tokyo was a pleasant one, although no one could tell what mightbefall them the next.
They were not allowed to go off without a "bon-voyage" from theirfriends, for Mr. Harding and Mr. Montell were both on hand. On thisoccasion the former managed in some way to get a word with Nan. She hadso persistently avoided him since his attentions to Jack that he hadnever once seen her alone.
"I had looked forward to the pleasure of a trip to Enoshima with you,"he began.
"Yes?" said Nan with a polite rising inflection.
"Didn't we plan that out on that unforgettable day at Kamakura?"
"Perhaps we did; I really don't remember, but you know the old and oftquoted words about the best laid plans."
"I wish it were possible for me to get off to-day, but I am afraid itis not, but I am counting upon seeing you all later in the season. Idon't forget that Aunt Nora is to look up a house for you all."
"But not in Tokyo," returned Nan.
"There are possible ways of reaching other places, you know," returnedthe young man with an effort at playfulness.
"Oh, yes," replied Nan indifferently. "Excuse me, but I must speak tomy aunt," and she left him to wonder what had come over her since thosefirst days of good comradeship. Perhaps she intended to let him knowthat she had left her heart at home and that he need not persist inhis attentions. The more he thought of it the surer he was that thiswas the case, and from that moment he was quite as distant as herself.At parting, he merely bowed and wished her a pleasant trip. There wasno word of regret at her leaving, no further reference to a futuremeeting, and so Nan went on to Enoshima with no such anticipation ashad filled her on that perfect day at Kamakura.
The way to Kamakura was now enlivened by fields of iris and by thepaddy fields of rice, the plants now grown higher. It was all new andenticing to Jack and Jean who were eager for the stop at Kamakurawhere they had all decided to spend the night. Nan had no desire tovisit the temples again and Miss Helen decided to keep her company atthe little hotel under the pine trees. The tide was out and these twoconcluded to spend their time in watching the nets hauled in. It wassomething to see, the brown fishermen, the little boats, the draggingnets and finally the little group of children and old people who cameup with their bowls and baskets to receive what might be doled outto them from the lot of unmarketable fish left after the catch hadbeen separated into heaps. On this occasion, there was fis
h enough togo around and the poor people went off happy in the expectation of ahearty supper. Gentleness and quietness prevailed, and the childrenwere happy and joyous, not only the gleaners of fish but the gatherersof shells as well. Of these there was no lack, for the shells could besold to the makers of beautiful things at Enoshima.
Nan and Miss Helen picked up such as they liked for themselves,delicate, frail, changeful things they were, full of color and light,even the tiniest.
Nan and her aunt loved the quiet hour and wandered around contentedlytill the others returned. Then there was much talk and chatter till themoon came out on the sea, and there was only the sound of the wind inthe pines and the moaning of the breakers on the sands, for the spiritof silence touched even talkative Jack.
Instead of one night, two were spent at Kamakura, so fascinating wasthe ancient town to all. Moreover the morning of that first day broughtrain, so the trip to Enoshima was put off till it held up, which it didabout noon. A wonderful spot they found the charmed island, for hereit seemed as if all the shells from all shores had been poured. Littleshops to the right and left were full of delicate shell work. Wonderfulthings of mother-of-pearl met them at every turn. The girls hung overthem hardly able to drag themselves away from the array of jewelry, thecunningly wrought and tiny figures of beasts and birds, the card cases,picture frames, anything and everything that ingenuity could contrivefrom such lovely material.
"There is one thing about it," said Jack cheerfully, "we shall probablynot need to spend any money at Myanoshita and so we needn't feel badlyif it all goes here," a speech which showed up Jack's philosophy sowell that the others all laughed.
The street came to an end at last and consequently so did thetemptation to spend money. A _tori-i_ indicated that the entrance to ashrine or temple was near, and the high, steep flight of steps furtherindicated this. The stone trough, too, was there, and in this thepilgrims washed their hands and then rinsed their mouths before goingon to the shrine.
Near the trough were hanging votive offerings in the shape of blue andwhite towels. The girls stood gazing at them, wondering what theywere, when a kindly looking elderly gentleman came up and told themthat they were offered to the great sea-goddess, Benten. "The goddessof love and good luck has her shrine here. Have you seen her threetemples and the Dragon Cave?"
The girls answered that they had not, but would like to. "Is it far?"asked Nan, "and is it a hard way, because if it is, we'd better leaveour aunt and our mother behind."
"It is rather a climb," confessed the stranger, "and the way to thecave is somewhat difficult."
"Is there much to see when you get there?" asked Jack.
"That depends upon what interests one," was the answer. "I don't knowthat it would please you ladies to clamber down black slippery rocks toview an empty shrine, and perhaps to be sprinkled with sea-spray, butthere are guides, and in lieu of any other, I should be glad to showyou the way."
After some consulting, the girls decided to give up a visit to theDragon Cave. "For," said Nan, "after all Enoshima had so much thatis beautiful to offer us that we shall be satisfied without anythingfurther." After receiving their thanks the stranger passed on, andthen Jack declared that she would like to climb up to the top of theridge if any one would go with her. She would like to see the view evenif she did not care specially about the temples. Her sisters declaredthat they would like to go, too, so leaving their elders sitting on thestones below, they began the climb.
"It reminds me of Amalfi," said Nan, "with the blue bay below and thewinding way up the cliffs. Instead of Vesuvius we have Fujiyama, andinstead of the old monastery we have Buddhist temples."
"If the colonel were here he would tell us many tales of Enoshima,"said Jean.
"And Mr. Harding could tell just as many," remarked Jack who wasbeginning to miss the company of entertaining young men. "Don't let usstop to prowl around here very long; I think it is nicer down in thevillage. I bought a lot of things but I didn't spend any money to speakof and I am sorry I didn't get more. There was such a darling cunninglittle fox there that I think I will get when I go back, if I can findthe shop where I saw it."
The view was indeed beautiful, with the silver sea below, the quaintlittle village, the golden sands, and, lifting its lovely crown to theclouds, Fujisan in the distance. Nan would again have tarried long,but a desire for the tiny fox once having taken possession of Jacknothing would do but she must get it as soon as possible. So down theridge they went to rejoin Mrs. and Miss Corner and to go back under one_tori-i_ after another to the town where the shops proved scarcely lessfascinating than at first sight.
But at last even Jack confessed to being tired and so they walked backpast the sand-dunes to where the little uncertain bridge led across tothe mainland, and before long they were back in Kamakura and presentlyreached the inn whose lower front stood hospitably open to them.
"I almost wish we had gone to the cave of the Dragon when we were sonearly there," said Nan as she looked off toward the dimpling waters."I shall never have another chance."
"But it promised to be a treacherous and unpleasant way down thoseslippery steps and in that dark and wet cavern," returned Mary Lee."One of us might have fallen or something uncanny might have happened.I am rather glad we didn't go."
"If we had gone I might not have had time to get my fox," interposedJack who, with Jean, was sitting on the cool mats looking over thepurchases they had made that day. "See, Nan, isn't he a darling?"
"As for me," remarked Jean, "I wouldn't have gone for the world. Ido so dislike those wet, slimy, ghoulish places." So of them all, Nanwas the only one who regretted not having made the acquaintance of theDragon of Benten Sama.
Another night by the sea and then came the start for the hills. Therewas some debate as to whether they should stop at the pretty town ofYumoto whose attractive hotel invited them, but Miss Helen argued thatif they were to halt at every attractive place in Japan they might aswell make up their minds to abandon their own country entirely andspend the rest of their days in the Land of the Rising Sun. Thereforethey proceeded on their journey by _jinrikisha_ up the steep road tothe place of their destination. A lovely way it was, though hard on thecoolies, whose brown backs, tattooed with all sorts of strange designs,glistened with the moisture given forth by reason of the exertion.
"When I haven't anything else to interest me," said Jack, "I study thedesigns on my runner's back. It is really very entertaining to makeout the flowers and dragons and queer things. I wonder if they arethere for the express purpose of entertaining those who ride in the'jinriki.'" She and Nan were walking up a particularly steep part ofthe way.
"Don't ask me the whys and wherefores of things in Japan," returnedNan. "I long ago gave up trying to find out the reasons for things.Aren't the woods delightful after the heat of the city, and aren'twe fortunate not to have rain? I am looking forward to having theloveliest walks and excursions through these wild mountains."
Jack gave a little sigh. "I should like it better if we hadn't leftall the men folks behind. It is stupid to tramp through rough placeswithout some one to ease your way a little."
"No doubt you can get a coolie or two," returned Nan coldly. "Indeed,I believe that one does generally travel in a chair, as they call thething they carry lashed to those poles."
"Oh, yes, we must try those. I saw some one carried that way yesterday,and I thought I must experiment the first chance I got. Allee samee, Iwould rather prowl around with Mr. Harding than be carried by a coolie.Don't you think he is nice, Nan?"
"Who, the coolie?"
"No, Mr. Harding, of course. I am quite gone on him."
"What about Carter?"
"Oh, Cart makes me tired," responded Jack.
Nan made no reply, but as she resumed her ride in the _jinrikisha_,her thoughts were busy. She did not know exactly how matters stoodbetween Jack and the young man who had been devoted to her since shewas a child. Of course Jack was too young to know her own mind, evensupposing she
had imagined herself sentimentally fond of Carter. Whocould tell when she would really fall in love? Perhaps Mr. Harding hadattracted her strongly. Well, if it were a mutual thing, Nan decidedthat she must do all she could to further it. Jack had always been aproblem, and if it meant her happiness and her future good, why then,of course, nothing else must be considered. Neal Harding was a fine,clean-minded, unselfish man, missing him who could tell upon whatunworthy object Jack might next set her fancy? Nan thought it all outas she was borne along over the mountain paths, and had settled it allin her own mind by the time Myanoshita was reached.
CHAPTER XIAT MYANOSHITA]