第 7 节
作者:男孩不逛街      更新:2021-02-21 10:45      字数:9322
  went away I have to do all the work; and that makes our meals very late。〃
  〃Did the old man remain with the young girls?〃 asked Morok。
  Goliath; amazed that; notwithstanding his importunities; his master
  should still appear to neglect the animals' supper; regarded the Prophet
  with an increase of stupid astonishment。
  〃Answer; you brute!〃
  〃If I am a brute; I have a brute's strength;〃 said Goliath; in a surly
  tone; 〃and brute against brute; I have not always come the worst off。〃
  〃I ask if the old man remained with the girls;〃 repeated Morok。
  〃Well; thenno!〃  returned the giant。  〃The old man; after leading his
  horse to the stable; asked for a tub and some water; took his stand under
  the porchand thereby the light of a lanternhe is washing out
  clothes。  A man with a gray moustache!paddling in soap…suds like a
  washerwomanit's as if I were to feed canaries!〃 added Goliath;
  shrugging his shoulders with disdain。  〃But now I've answered you;
  master; let me attend to the beasts' supper;〃and; looking round for
  something; he added; 〃where is the cleaver?〃
  After a moment of thoughtful silence; the Prophet said to Goliath; 〃You
  will give no food to the beasts this evening。〃
  At first the giant could not understand these words; the idea was so
  incomprehensible to him。
  〃What is your pleasure; master?〃 said he。
  〃I forbid you to give any food to the beasts this evening。〃
  Goliath did not answer; but he opened wide his squinting eyes; folded his
  hands; and drew back a couple of steps。
  〃Well; dost hear me?〃 said Morok; with impatience。  〃Is it plain enough?〃
  〃Not feed? when our meat is there; and supper is already three hours
  after time!〃 cried Goliath; with ever…increasing amazement。
  〃Obey; and hold your tongue。〃
  〃You must wish something bad to happen this evening。  Hunger makes the
  beasts furiousand me also。〃
  〃So much the better!〃
  〃It'll drive 'em mad。〃
  〃So much the better!〃
  〃How; so much the better?But〃
  〃It is enough!〃
  〃But; devil take me; I am as hungry as the beasts!〃
  〃Eat thenwho prevents it?  Your supper is ready; as you devour it raw。〃
  〃I never eat without my beasts; nor they without me。〃
  〃I tell you again; that; if you dare give any food to the beastsI will
  turn you away。〃
  Goliath uttered a low growl as hoarse as a bear's; and looked at the
  Prophet with a mixture of anger and stupefaction。
  Morok; having given his orders; walked up and down the loft; appearing to
  reflect。  Then; addressing himself to Goliath; who was still plunged in
  deep perplexity; he said to him。
  〃Do you remember the burgomaster's; where I went to get my passport
  signed?To…day his wife bought some books and a chaplet。〃
  〃Yes;〃 answered the giant shortly。
  〃Go and ask his servant if I may be sure to find the burgomaster early
  to…morrow morning。〃
  〃What for?〃
  〃I may; perhaps; have something important to communicate; at all events;
  say that I beg him not to leave home without seeing me。〃
  〃Good! but may I feed the beasts before I go to the burgomaster's?only
  the panther; who is most hungry?  Come; master; only poor Death? just a
  little morsel to satisfy her; Cain and I and Judas can wait。〃
  〃It is the panther; above all; that I forbid you to feed。  Yes; her;
  above all the rest。〃
  〃By the horns of the devil!〃 cried Goliath; 〃what is the matter with you
  to…day?  I can make nothing of it。  It is a pity that Karl's not here;
  he; being cunning; would help me to understand why you prevent the beasts
  from eating when they are hungry。〃
  〃You have no need to understand it。〃
  〃Will not Karl soon come back?〃
  〃He has already come back。〃
  〃Where is he; then?〃
  〃Off again。〃
  〃What can be going on here?  There is something in the wind。  Karl goes;
  and returns; and goes again; and〃
  〃We are not talking of Karl; but of you; though hungry as a wolf you are
  cunning as a fox; and; when it suits you; as cunning as Karl。〃  And;
  changing on the sudden his tone and manner; Morok slapped the giant
  cordially on the shoulder。
  〃What! am I cunning?〃
  〃The proof is; that there are ten florins to earn to…nightand you will
  be keen enough to earn them; I am sure。〃
  〃Why; on those terms; yesI am awake;〃 said the giant; smiling with a
  stupid; self…satisfied air。  〃What must I do for ten florins?〃
  〃You shall see。〃
  〃Is it hard work?〃
  〃You shall see。  Begin by going to the burgomaster'sbut first light the
  fire in that stove。〃  He pointed to it with his finger。
  〃Yes; master;〃 said Goliath; somewhat consoled for the delay of his
  supper by the hope of gaining ten florins。
  〃Put that iron bar in the stove;〃 added the Prophet; 〃to make it
  red…hot。〃
  〃Yes; master。〃
  〃You will leave it there; go to the burgomaster's; and return here to
  wait for me。〃
  〃Yes; master。
  〃You will keep the fire up in the stove。〃
  〃Yes; master。〃
  Morok took a step away; but recollecting himself; he resumed: 〃You say
  the old man is busy washing under the porch?〃
  〃Yes; master。〃
  〃Forget nothing: the iron bar in the firethe burgomasterand return
  here to wait my orders。〃  So saying; Morok descended by the trap…door and
  disappeared。
  CHAPTER IV。
  MOROK and DAGOBERT
  Goliath had not been mistaken; for Dagobert was washing with that
  imperturbable gravity with which he did everything else。
  When we remember the habits of a soldier a…field; we need not be
  astonished at this apparent eccentricity。  Dagobert only thought of
  sparing the scanty purse of the orphans; and of saving them all care and
  trouble; so every evening when they came to a halt he devoted himself to
  all sorts of feminine occupations。  But he was not now serving his
  apprenticeship in these matters; many times; during his campaigns; he had
  industriously repaired the damage and disorder which a day of battle
  always brings to the garments of the soldier; for it is not enough to
  receive a sabre…cutthe soldier has also to mend his uniform; for the
  stroke which grazes the skin makes likewise a corresponding fissure in
  the cloth。
  Therefore; in the evening or on the morrow of a hard…fought engagement;
  you will see the best soldiers (always distinguished by their fine
  military appearance) take from their cartridge…box or knapsack a
  housewife; furnished with needles; thread; scissors; buttons; and other
  such gear; and apply themselves to all kinds of mending and darning; with
  a zeal that the most industrious workwoman might envy。
  We could not find a better opportunity to explain the name of Dagobert;
  given to Francis Baudoin (the guide of the orphans) at a time when he was
  considered one of the handsomest and bravest horse…grenadiers of the
  Imperial Guard。
  They had been fighting hard all day; without any decisive advantage。  In
  the evening; the company to which our hero belonged was sent as outliers
  to occupy the ruins of a deserted village。  Videttes being posted; half
  the troopers remained in saddle; whilst the others; having picketed their
  horses; were able to take a little rest。  Our hero had charged valiantly
  that day without receiving any woundfor he counted as a mere memento
  the deep scratch on his thigh; which a kaiserlitz had inflicted in
  awkwardly attempting an upward thrust with the bayonet。
  〃You donkey! my new breeches!〃 the grenadier had exclaimed; when he saw
  the wide yawning rent; which he instantly avenged by running the Austrian
  through; with a thrust scientifically administered。  For; if he showed a
  stoical indifference on the subject of injury to his skin; it was not so
  with regard to the ripping up of his best parade uniform。
  He undertook; therefore; the same evening; at the bivouac; to repair this
  accident。  Selecting his best needle and thread from the stores of his
  housewife; and arming his finger with a thimble; he began to play the
  tailor by the light of the watch…fire; having first drawn off his
  cavalry…boots; and also (if it must be confessed) the injured garment
  itself; which he turned the wrong side out the better to conceal the
  stitches。
  This partial undress was certainly a breach of discipline: but the
  captain; as he went his round; could not forbear laughing at the sight of
  the veteran soldier; who; gravely seated; in a squatting position; with
  his grenadier cap on; his regimental coat on his back; his boots by his
  side; and his galligaskins in his lap; was sewing with all the coolness
  of a tailor upon his own shop…board。
  Suddenly; a musket…shot is heard; and the videttes fall back upon the
  detachment; calling to arms。  〃To horse!〃 cries the captain; in a voice
  of thunder。
  In a moment; the troopers are in their saddles; the unfortunate clothes…
  mender having to lead the first rank; there is no time to turn the
  unlucky garment; so he slips it on; as well as he can; wrong side out;
  and leaps upon his horse; without even stopping to put on his boots。
  A party of Cossacks; profiting by the cover of a neighboring wood; had
  attempted to surprise the detachment: the fight was bloody; and our hero
  foamed with rage; for he set much value on his equipments; and the day
  had been fatal to him。  Thinking of his torn clothes and lost boots; he
  hacked away with more fury than ever; a bright moon illumined the scene
  o