They kept the mid-channel, and with its swift current soon came abreast of the high out-jutting headland behind which the waters turned and hid themselves from the home view. Diver's Rock, it was called, from some old legend now forgotten. A few minutes more, and the whole long range of the river below was plain in sight, down to a mountain several miles off, behind which it made yet another sharp turn and was again lost. In that range the river ran a little west of south; just before rounding Diver's Rock its direction was near due east, so that the down tide at the turn carried them well over towards the eastern shore. That was what they wanted, as Cowslip's mill was on that side. So keeping just far enough from the shore to have the full benefit of the ebb, they fell softly and quick down the river; with a changing panorama of rocks and foliage at their side, the home promontory of Shahweetah lying in sight just north of them, and over it the heads of the northern mountains; while a few miles below, where the river made its last turn, the mountains on either side locked into one another and at once checked and rested the eye. The lines of ground there were beautiful; the western light sported among them, dividing hill from hill, and crowning their heads with its bright glory. It was the dynasty of the East, just then. The eastern mountains sat in stately pride; and their retainers, the woods, down to the water side, glittered in the royal green and silver; for on their fresh unsullied leaves the light played with many a sheen. The other shore was bright enough still; but the shadows were getting long and the sun was getting low, and the contrast was softly and constantly growing.
"It's pretty, aint it, Winthrop?" said Asahel.
"Yes."
"I wonder what's the reason you row so much better than Rufus — Rufus bites his lip, and works so, and makes such a splash, — and you don't seem as if you worked at all."
"Perhaps because I am stronger," said Winthrop.
"Rufus is strong enough. But that can't be the reason you do everything better than he does."
"That don't happen to be the state of the case."
"Yes it does; for you always catch the most fish, and papa said last summer he never saw any one bind and tie as fast as you did."
Again silently the boat fell down along the shore, a little dark speck amidst the glow of air and water.
"How nice you look in your white jacket and trousers," said
Asahel.