第 35 节
作者:
浪剑飞舟 更新:2021-02-24 23:32 字数:9322
And; I grieve to say;writing of an idealist that WAS; and a
heroine that IS to be;she was getting outrageously hungry。
There were a few biscuits in her traveling…bag; and she remembered
that she had been presented with a small jar of California honey at
San Jose。 This she took out and opened on the seat before her; and
spreading the honey on the biscuits; ate them with a keen schoolgirl
relish and a pleasant suggestion of a sylvan picnic in spite of the
cold。 It was all very strange; quite an experience for her to speak
of afterwards。 People would hardly believe that she had spent an
hour or two; all alone; in a deserted wagon in a mountain snow pass。
It was an adventure such as one reads of in the magazines。 Only
something was lacking which the magazines always supplied;something
heroic; something done by somebody。 If that awful…looking
mountaineerthat man with the long hair and mustache; and that
horrible gold ring;why such a ring?was only different! But he
was probably gorging beefsteak or venison with her father and Mr。
Waterhouse;men were always such selfish creatures!and had quite
forgotten all about her。 It would have been only decent for them to
have brought her down something hot; biscuits and honey were
certainly cloying; and somehow didn't agree with the temperature。
She was really half starved! And much they cared! It would just
serve them right if something DID happen to her;or SEEM to happen
to her;if only to frighten them。 And the pretty face that was
turned up in the moonlight wore a charming but decided pout。
Good gracious; what was that? The horses were either struggling or
fighting in their snow shelters。 Then one with a frightened neigh
broke from its halter and dashed into the road; only to be plunged
snorting and helpless into the drifts。 Then the other followed。
How silly! Something had frightened them。 Perhaps only a rabbit
or a mole; horses were such absurdly nervous creatures! However;
it is just as well; somebody would see them or hear them;that
neigh was quite human and awful;and they would hurry down to see
what was the matter。 SHE couldn't be expected to get out and look
after the horses in the snow。 Anyhow; she WOULDN'T! She was a
good deal safer where she was; it might have been rats or mice
about that frightened them! Goodness!
She was still watching with curious wonder the continued fright of
the animals; when suddenly she felt the wagon half bumped; half
lifted from behind。 It was such a lazy; deliberate movement that
for a moment she thought it came from the party; who had returned
noiselessly with the runners。 She scrambled over to the back seat;
unbuttoned the leather curtain; lifted it; but nothing was to be
seen。 Consequently; with feminine quickness; she said; 〃I see you
perfectly; Mr。 Waterhousedon't be silly!〃 But at this moment
there was another shock to the wagon; and from beneath it arose
what at first seemed to her to be an uplifting of the drift itself;
but; as the snow was shaken away from its heavy bulk; proved to be
the enormous head and shoulders of a bear!
Yet even then she was not WHOLLY frightened; for the snout that
confronted her had a feeble inoffensiveness; the small eyes were
bright with an eager; almost childish curiosity rather than a
savage ardor; and the whole attitude of the creature lifted upon
its hind legs was circus…like and ludicrous rather than aggressive。
She was enabled to say with some dignity; 〃Go away! Shoo!〃 and to
wave her luncheon basket at it with exemplary firmness。 But here
the creature laid one paw on the back seat as if to steady itself;
with the singular effect of collapsing the whole side of the wagon;
and then opened its mouth as if in some sort of inarticulate reply。
But the revelation of its red tongue; its glistening teeth; and;
above all; the hot; suggestive fume of its breath; brought the
first scream from the lips of Miss Amy。 It was real and
convincing; the horses joined in it; the three screamed together!
The bear hesitated for an instant; then; catching sight of the
honey…pot on the front seat; which the shrinking…back of the young
girl had disclosed; he slowly reached forward his other paw and
attempted to grasp it。 This exceedingly simple movement; however;
at once doubled up the front seat; sent the honey…pot a dozen feet
into the air; and dropped Miss Amy upon her knees in the bed of the
wagon。 The combined mental and physical shock was too much for
her; she instantly and sincerely fainted; the last thing in her
ears amidst this wreck of matter being the 〃wheep〃 of a bullet and
the sharp crack of a rifle。
。 。 。 。 。 。
She recovered her consciousness in the flickering light of a fire
of bark; that played upon the rafters of a roof thatched with bark
and upon a floor of strewn and shredded bark。 She even suspected
she was lying upon a mattress of bark underneath the heavy bearskin
she could feel and touch。 She had a delicious sense of warmth;
and; mingled with this strange spicing of woodland freedom; even a
sense of home protection。 And surely enough; looking around; she
saw her father at her side。
He briefly explained the situation。 They had been at first
attracted by the cry of the frightened horses and their plunging;
which they could see distinctly; although they saw nothing else。
〃But; Mr。 Tenbrook〃
〃Mr。 Who?〃 said Amy; staring at the rafters。
〃The owner of this cabinthe man who helped uscaught up his gun;
and; calling us to follow; ran like lightning down the trail。 At
first we followed blindly; and unknowingly; for we could only see
the struggling horses; who; however; seemed to be ALONE; and the
wagon from which you did not seem to have stirred。 Then; for the
first time; my dear child; we suddenly saw your danger。 Imagine
how we felt as that hideous brute rose up in the road and began
attacking the wagon。 We called on Tenbrook to fire; but for some
inconceivable reason he did not; although he still kept running at
the top of his speed。 Then we heard you shriek〃
〃I didn't shriek; papa; it was the horses。〃
〃My child; I knew your voice。〃
〃Well; it was only a VERY LITTLE screambecause I had tumbled。〃
The color was coming back rapidly to her pink cheeks。
〃And; then; at your scream; Tenbrook fired!it was a wonderful
shot for the distance; so everybody saysand killed the bear;
though Tenbrook says it oughtn't to。 I believe he wanted to
capture the creature alive。 They've queer notions; those hunters。
And then; as you were unconscious; he brought you up here。〃
〃WHO brought me?〃
〃Tenbrook; he's as strong as a horse。 Slung you up on his shoulders
like a feather pillow。〃
〃Oh!〃
〃And then; as the wagon required some repairing from the brute's
attack; we concluded to take it leisurely; and let you rest here
for a while。〃
〃And where iswhere are THEY?〃
〃At work on the wagon。 I determined to stay with you; though you
are perfectly safe here。〃
〃I suppose I oughtto thankthis man; papa?〃
〃Most certainly; though of course; I have already done so。 But he
was rather curt in reply。 These half…savage men have such singular
ideas。 He said the beast would never have attacked you except for
the honey…pot which it scented。 That's absurd。〃
〃Then it's all my fault?〃
〃Nonsense! How could YOU know?〃
〃And I've made all this trouble。 And frightened the horses。 And
spoilt the wagon。 And made the man run down and bring me up here
when he didn't want to!〃
〃My dear child! Don't be idiotic! Amy! Well; really!〃
For the idiotic one was really wiping two large tears from her
lovely blue eyes。 She subsided into an ominous silence; broken by
a single sniffle。 〃Try to go to sleep; dear; you've had quite a
shock to your nerves; added her father soothingly。 She continued
silent; but not sleeping。
〃I smell coffee。〃
〃Yes; dear。〃
〃You've been having coffee; papa?〃
〃We DID have some; I think;〃 said the wretched man apologetically;
though why he could not determine。
〃Before I came up? while the bear was trying to eat me?〃
〃No; after。〃
〃I've a horrid taste in my mouth。 It's the honey。 I'll never eat
honey again。 Never!〃
〃Perhaps it's the whiskey。〃
〃What?〃
〃The whiskey。 You were quite faint and chilled; you know。 We gave
you some。〃
〃Out ofthatblackbottle?〃
〃Yes。〃
Another silence。
〃I'd like some coffee。 I don't think he'd begrudge me that; if he
did save my life。〃
〃I dare say there's some left。〃 Her father at once bestirred
himself and presently brought her some coffee in a tin cup。 It was
part of Miss Amy's rapid convalescence; or equally of her
debilitated condition; that she made no comment on the vessel。 She
lay for some moments looking curiously around the cabin; s