第 19 节
作者:
男孩不逛街 更新:2021-02-21 10:45 字数:9322
announced that this terrible animal united vigor with suppleness; and
strength with agility。
Morok; with his iron wand still extended in the direction of the cage;
made a step towards the panther。 The panther made a stride towards the
Prophet。 Morok stopped; Death stopped also。
At this moment the tiger; Judas; to whom Morok's back was turned; bounded
violently in his cage; as if jealous of the attention; which his master
paid to the panther。 He growled hoarsely; and; raising his head; showed
the under…part of his redoubtable triangular jaw; and his broad chest of
a dirty white; with which blended the copper color; streaked with black;
of his sides; his tail; like a huge red serpent; with rings of ebony; now
clung to his flanks; now lashed them with a slow and continuous movement:
his eyes; of a transparent; brilliant green; were fixed upon the Prophet。
Such was the influence of this man over his animals; that Judas almost
immediately ceased growling; as if frightened at his own temerity; but
his respiration continued loud and deep。 Morok turned his face towards
him; and examined him very attentively during some seconds。 The panther;
no longer subject to the influence of her master's look; slunk back to
crouch in the shade。
A sharp cracking; in sudden breaks; like that which great animals make in
gnawing hard substances; was now heard from the cage of the lion。 It
drew the attention of the Prophet; who; leaving the tiger; advanced
towards the other den。
Nothing could be seen of the lion but his monstrous croup of a reddish
yellow。 His thighs were gathered under him; and his thick mane served
entirely to conceal his head。 But by the tension and movement of the
muscles of his loins; and the curving of his backbone; it was easy to
perceive that he was making violent efforts with his throat and his
forepaws。 The Prophet approached the cage with same uneasiness; fearing
that; notwithstanding his orders; Goliath had given the lion some bones
to gnaw。 To assure himself of it; he said in a quick and firm voice:
〃Cain!〃
The lion did not change his position。
〃Cain! come here!〃 repeated Morok in a louder tone。 The appeal was
useless; the lion did not move; and the noise continued。
〃Cain! come here!〃 said the Prophet a third time; but; as he pronounced
these words; he applied the end of the glowing bar to the haunch of the
lion。
Scarcely did the light track of smoke appear on the reddish hide of Cain;
when; with a spring of incredible agility; he turned and threw himself
against the grating; not crouching; but at a single boundupright;
superb; terrifying。 The Prophet being at the angle of the cage; Cain; in
his fury; had raised himself sideways to face his master; and; leaning
his huge flank against the bars; thrust between them his enormous fore…
leg; which; with his swollen muscles; was as large as Goliath's thigh。
〃Cain! down!〃 said the Prophet; approaching briskly。
The lion did not obey immediately。 His lips; curling with rage;
displayed fangs as long; as large; and as pointed as the tusks of a wild
boar。 But Morok touched those lips with the end of the burning metal;
and; as he felt the smart; followed by an unexpected summons of his
master; the lion; not daring to roar; uttered a hollow growl; and his
great body sank down at once in an attitude of submission and fear。
The Prophet took down the lantern to see what Cain had been gnawing。 It
was one of the planks from the floor of his den; which he had succeeded
in tearing up; and was crunching between his teeth in the extremity of
his hunger。 For a few moments the most profound silence reigned in the
menagerie。 The Prophet; with his hands behind his back; went from one
cage to the other; observing the animals with a restless contemplative
look; as if he hesitated to make between them an important and difficult
choice。
From time to time he listened at the great door of the shed; which opened
on the court…yard of the inn。 At length this door turned on its hinges;
and Goliath appeared; his clothes dripping with water。
〃Well! is it done?〃 said the Prophet。
〃Not without trouble。 Luckily; the night is dark; it blows hard; and it
pours with rain。〃
〃Then there is no suspicion?〃
〃None; master。 Your information was good。 The door of the cellar opens
on the fields; just under the window of the lasses。 When you whistled to
let me know it was time; I crept out with a stool I had provided; I put
it up against the wall; and mounted upon it; with my six feet; that made
nine; and I could lean my elbows on the window…ledge; I took the shutter
in one hand; and the haft of my knife in the other; and; whilst I broke
two of the panes; I pushed the shutter with all my might。〃
〃And they thought it was the wind?〃
〃Yes; they thought it was the wind。 You see; the 'brute' is not such a
brute; after all。 That done; I crept back into my cellar; carrying my
stool with me。 In a little time; I heard the voice of the old man; it
was well I had made haste。〃
〃Yes; when I whistled to you; he had just entered the supper…room。 I
thought he would have been longer。〃
〃That man's not built to remain long at supper;〃 said the giant;
contemptuously。 〃Some moments after the panes had been broken; the old
man opened the window; and called his dog; saying: 'Jump out!'I went
and hid myself at the further end of the cellar; or that infernal dog
would have scented me through the door。〃
〃The dog is now shut up in the stable with the old man's horse。〃
〃Go on!〃
〃When I heard them close shutter and window; I came out of my cellar;
replaced my stool; and again mounted upon it。 Unfastening the shutter; I
opened it without noise; but the two broken panes were stopped up with
the skirts of a pelisse。 I heard talking; but I could see nothing; so I
moved the pelisse a little; and then I could see the two lasses in bed
opposite to me; and the old man sitting down with his back to where I
stood。〃
〃But the knapsackthe knapsack?That is the most important。〃
〃The knapsack was near the window; on a table; by the side of a lamp; I
could have reached it by stretching out my arm。〃
〃What did you hear said?〃
〃As you told me to think only of the knapsack; I can only remember what
concerns the knapsack。 The old man said he had some papers in itthe
letter of a generalhis moneyhis cross。〃
〃Goodwhat next?〃
〃As it was difficult for me to keep the pelisse away from the hole; it
slipped through my fingers。 In trying to get hold of it again; I put my
hand too much forward。 One of the lasses saw it; and screamed out;
pointing to the window。〃
〃Dolt!〃 exclaimed the Prophet; becoming pale with rage; 〃you have ruined
all。〃
〃Stop a bit! there is nothing broken yet。 When I heard the scream; I
jumped down from my stool; and got back into the cellar; as the dog was
no longer about; I left the door ajar; so that I could hear them open the
window; and see; by the light; that the old man was looking out with the
lamp; but he could find no ladder; and the window was too high for any
man of common size to reach it!〃
〃He will have thought; like the first time; that it was the wind。 You
are less awkward than I imagined。〃
〃The wolf has become a fox; as you said。 Knowing where the knapsack was
to be found with the money and the papers; and not being able to do more
for the moment; I came awayand here I am。〃
〃Go upstairs and fetch me the longest pike。〃
〃Yes; master。〃
〃And the red blanket。〃
〃Yes; master。〃
〃Go!〃
Goliath began to mount the ladder; half…way up he stopped。 〃Master;〃
said he; 〃may I not bring down a bit of meat for Death?you will see
that she'll bear me malice; she puts it all down to my account; she never
forgets; and on the first occasion〃
〃The pike and the cloth!〃 repeated the Prophet; in an imperious tone。
And whilst Goliath; swearing to himself; proceeded to execute his
instructions; Morok opened the great door of the shed; looked out into
the yard; and listened。
〃Here's the pike and the cloth;〃 said the giant; as he descended the
ladder with the articles。 〃Now what must I do next?〃
〃Return to the cellar; mount once more by the window; and when the old
man leaves the room〃
〃Who will make him leave the room?〃
〃Never mind! he will leave it。〃
〃What next?〃
〃You say the lamp is near the window?〃
〃Quite nearon the table next to the knapsack。〃
〃Well; then; as soon as the old man leaves the room; push open the
window; throw down the lamp; and if you accomplish cleverly what remains
to dothe ten florins are yoursyou remember it all?〃
〃Yes; yes。〃
〃The girls will be so frightened by the noise and darkness; that they
will remain dumb with terror。〃
〃Make yourself easy! The wolf turned into a fox; why not a serpent?〃
〃There is yet something。〃
〃Well; what now?〃
〃The roof of this shed is not very high; the window of the loft is easy
of access; the night is darkinstead of returning by the door〃
〃I will come in at the window。〃
〃Ay; and without noise。〃
〃Like a regular snake!〃 and the giant departed。
〃Yes!〃 said the Prophet to himself; after a long silence; 〃these means
are sure。 It was not for