第 6 节
作者:上网找工作      更新:2024-04-14 09:14      字数:9321
  the snail above that of the crisp and oleaginous bacon? Delicious are the
  grasshoppers   that   sport   on   the   hillside;are   they   better   than   the   dried
  apples of the Pale Faces? Pleasant is the gurgle of the torrent; Kish…Kish;
  but   is   it   better   than   the   cluck…cluck   of   old   Bourbon   from   the   old   stone
  bottle?〃
  〃Ugh!〃   said   the   Indian;〃ugh!   good。  The  White   Rabbit   is   wise。   Her
  words   fall   as   the   snow   on   Tootoonolo;   and   the   rocky   heart   of   Muck…a…
  Muck is hidden。 What says my brother the Gray Gopher of Dutch Flat?〃
  〃She has spoken; Muck…a…Muck;〃 said the Judge; gazing fondly on his
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  daughter。 〃It is well。 Our treaty is concluded。 No; thank you; you need
  NOT dance the Dance of Snow Shoes; or the Moccasin Dance; the Dance
  of Green Corn; or the Treaty Dance。 I would be alone。 A strange sadness
  overpowers me。〃
  〃I   go;〃  said   the  Indian。   〃Tell  your   great   chief   in  Washington;     the
  Sachem  Andy;   that   the   Red   Man   is   retiring   before   the   footsteps   of   the
  adventurous Pioneer。 Inform him; if you please; that westward the star of
  empire     takes    its  way;   that  the   chiefs   of   the  Pi…Ute    nation    are  for
  Reconstruction to a man; and that Klamath will poll a heavy Republican
  vote in the fall。〃
  And     folding   his   blanket   more    tightly   around    him;   Muck…a…Muck
  withdrew。
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  CHAPTER III。
  Genevra Tompkins stood at the door of the log…cabin; looking after
  the retreating Overland Mail stage which conveyed her father to Virginia
  City。 〃He may never return again;〃 sighed the young girl as she glanced at
  the frightfully rolling vehicle and wildly careering horses;〃at least; with
  unbroken   bones。   Should   he   meet   with   an   accident!   I   mind   me   now   a
  fearful legend; familiar to my childhood。 Can it be that the drivers on this
  line are privately instructed to despatch all passengers maimed by accident;
  to prevent tedious litigation? No; no。 But why this weight upon my heart?〃
  She   seated   herself   at   the   piano   and   lightly  passed   her   hand   over   the
  keys。 Then; in a clear mezzo…soprano voice; she sang the first verse of one
  of the most popular Irish ballads:
  〃O Arrah; ma dheelish; the distant dudheen Lies soft in the moonlight;
  ma bouchal vourneen: The springing gossoons on the heather are still; And
  the caubeens and colleens are heard on the hills。〃
  But as the ravishing notes of her sweet voice died upon the air; her
  hands     sank   listlessly   to  her   side。  Music     could   not   chase    away    the
  mysterious   shadow   from   her   heart。   Again   she   rose。   Putting   on   a   white
  crape bonnet; and carefully drawing a pair of lemon…colored gloves over
  her taper fingers; she seized her parasol and plunged into the depths of the
  pine forest。
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  CHAPTER IV。
  Genevra   had   not   proceeded   many   miles   before   a   weariness   seized
  upon her fragile limbs; and she would fain seat herself upon the trunk of a
  prostrate   pine;   which   she   previously   dusted   with   her   handkerchief。   The
  sun was just sinking below the horizon; and the scene was one of gorgeous
  and sylvan beauty。 〃How beautiful is Nature!〃 murmured the innocent girl;
  as;   reclining   gracefully   against   the   root   of   the   tree;   she   gathered   up   her
  skirts    and   tied   a  handkerchief      around     her  throat。   But    a  low    growl
  interrupted her meditation。 Starting to her feet; her eyes met a sight which
  froze her blood with terror。
  The only outlet to the forest was the narrow path; barely wide enough
  for   a   single   person;   hemmed   in   by   trees   and   rocks;   which   she   had   just
  traversed。 Down this path; in Indian file; came a monstrous grizzly; closely
  followed   by   a   California   lion;   a   wild…   cat;   and   a   buffalo;   the   rear   being
  brought up by a wild Spanish bull。 The mouths of the three first animals
  were     distended    with   frightful   significance;    the   horns   of  the   last  were
  lowered as ominously。 As Genevra was preparing to faint; she heard a low
  voice behind her。
  〃Eternally dog…gone my skin ef this ain't the puttiest chance yet。〃
  At   the   same    moment;     a  long;   shining   barrel   dropped     lightly   from
  behind her; and rested over her shoulder。
  Genevra shuddered。
  〃Dern yedon't move!〃
  Genevra became motionless。
  The crack of a rifle rang through the woods。 Three frightful yells were
  heard;   and   two   sullen   roars。   Five   animals   bounded   into   the   air   and   five
  lifeless bodies lay upon the plain。 The well…aimed bullet had done its work。
  Entering the open throat of the grizzly; it had traversed his body only to
  enter the throat of the California lion; and in like manner the catamount;
  until   it   passed   through   into   the   respective   foreheads   of   the   bull   and   the
  buffalo; and finally fell flattened from the rocky hillside。
  Genevra turned quickly。 〃My preserver!〃 she shrieked; and fell into the
  arms of Natty Bumpo; the celebrated Pike Ranger of Donner Lake。
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  CHAPTER V。
  The moon rose cheerfully above Donner Lake。 On its placid bosom a
  dug…out     canoe    glided    rapidly;   containing     Natty   Bumpo      and    Genevra
  Tompkins。
  Both were silent。 The same thought possessed each; and perhaps there
  was   sweet   companionship   even   in   the   unbroken   quiet。   Genevra   bit   the
  handle   of   her   parasol   and   blushed。   Natty   Bumpo   took   a   fresh   chew   of
  tobacco。 At length Genevra said; as if in half… spoken revery:
  〃The   soft   shining   of   the   moon   and   the   peaceful   ripple   of   the   waves
  seem to say to us various things of an instructive and moral tendency。〃
  〃You may bet yer pile on that; Miss;〃 said her companion; gravely。 〃It's
  all the preachin' and psalm…singin' I've heern since I was a boy。〃
  〃Noble being!〃 said Miss Tompkins to herself; glancing at the stately
  Pike   as   he   bent   over   his   paddle   to   conceal   his   emotion。   〃Reared   in   this
  wild seclusion; yet he has become penetrated with visible consciousness of
  a Great First Cause。〃 Then; collecting herself; she said aloud: 〃Methinks
  'twere  pleasant to glide   ever  thus down   the  stream  of   life;  hand   in   hand
  with   the   one   being   whom   the   soul   claims   as   its   affinity。   But   what   am   I
  saying?〃and the delicate…minded girl hid her face in her hands。
  A long silence ensued; which was at length broken by her companion。
  〃Ef you mean you're on the marry;〃 he said; thoughtfully; 〃I ain't in no
  wise partikler!〃
  〃My husband;〃 faltered the blushing girl; and she fell into his arms。
  In ten minutes more the loving couple had landed at Judge Tompkins's。
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  CHAPTER VI。
  A year has passed away。 Natty Bumpo was returning from Gold Hill;
  where he had been to purchase provisions。 On his way to Donner Lake;
  rumors of an Indian uprising met his ears。 〃Dern their pesky skins; ef they
  dare to touch my Jenny;〃 he muttered between his clenched teeth。
  It  was    dark   when    he   reached    the  borders    of   the  lake。  Around      a
  glittering fire he dimly discerned dusky figures dancing。 They were in war
  paint。   Conspicuous   among   them   was   the   renowned   Muck…a…   Muck。   But
  why did the fingers of Natty Bumpo tighten convulsively around his rifle?
  The  chief held   in his   hand   long   tufts   of   raven   hair。 The  heart   of   the
  pioneer   sickened   as   he   recognized   the   clustering   curls   of   Genevra。   In   a
  moment   his   rifle   was   at   his   shoulder;   and   with   a   sharp   〃ping;〃   Muck…a…
  Muck      leaped    into  the   air  a  corpse。   To   knock    out   the   brains   of  the
  remaining   savages;   tear   the   tresses   from   the   stiffening   hand   of   Muck…a…
  Muck; and dash rapidly forward to the