A meeting of selectors had been held; war declared against the marsupial1; and a hunt on a grand scale arranged for this particular Sabbath. Of course those in the neighbourhood hunted the kangaroo every Sunday, but “on their own,” and always on foot, which had its fatigues2. This was to be a raid EN MASSE and on horseback. The whole country-side was to assemble at Shingle3 Hut and proceed thence. It assembled; and what a collection! Such a crowd! such gear! such a tame lot of horses! and such a motley swarm4 of lean, lank5, lame6 kangaroo-dogs!
We were not ready. The crowd sat on their horses and waited at the slip-rails. Dogs trooped into the yard by the dozen. One pounced7 on a fowl8; another lamed9 the pig; a trio put the cat up a peach-tree; one with a thirst mounted the water-cask and looked down it, while the bulk of the brutes10 trotted12 inside and disputed with Mother who should open the safe.
Dad loosed our three, and pleased they were to feel themselves free. They had been chained up all the week, with scarcely anything to eat. Dad didn’t believe in too much feeding. He had had wide experience in dogs and coursing “at home” on his grandfather’s large estates, and always found them fleetest when empty. OURS ought to have been fleet as locomotives.
Dave, showing a neat seat, rode out of the yard on Bess, fresh and fat and fit to run for a kingdom. They awaited Dad. He was standing13 beside HIS mount — Farmer, the plough-horse, who was arrayed in winkers with green-hide reins14, and an old saddle with only one flap. He was holding an earnest argument with Joe . . . Still the crowd waited. Still Dad and Joe argued the point . . . There was a murmur15 and a movement and much merriment. Dad was coming; so was Joe — perched behind him, “double bank,” rapidly wiping the tears from his eyes with his knuckles17.
Hooray! They were off. Paddy Maloney and Dave took the lead, heading for kangaroo country along the foot of Dead Man’s Mountain and through Smith’s paddock, where there was a low wire fence to negotiate. Paddy spread his coat over it and jumped his mare18 across. He was a horseman, was Pat. The others twisted a stick in the wires, and proceeded carefully to lead their horses over. When it came to Farmer’s turn he hesitated. Dad coaxed19 him. Slowly he put one leg across, as if feeling his way, and paused again. Joe was on his back behind the saddle. Dad tugged20 hard at the winkers. Farmer was inclined to withdraw his leg. Dad was determined21 not to let him. Farmer’s heel got caught against the wire, and he began to pull back and grunt22 — so did Dad. Both pulled hard. Anderson and old Brown ran to Dad’s assistance. The trio planted their heels in the ground and leaned back.
Joe became afraid. He clutched at the saddle and cried, “Let me off!” “Stick to him!” said Paddy Maloney, hopping23 over the fence, “Stick to him!” He kicked Farmer what he afterwards called “a sollicker on the tail.” Again he kicked him. Still Farmer strained and hung back. Once more he let him have it. Then — off flew the winkers, and over went Dad and Anderson and old Brown, and down rolled Joe and Farmer on the other side of the fence. The others leant against their horses and laughed the laugh of their lives. “Worse ’n a lot of d — d jackasses,” Dad was heard to say. They caught Farmer and led him to the fence again. He jumped it, and rose feet higher than he had any need to, and had not old Brown dodged24 him just when he did he would be a dead man now.
A little further on the huntsmen sighted a mob of kangaroos. Joy and excitement. A mob? It was a swarm! Away they hopped25. Off scrambled26 the dogs, and off flew Paddy Maloney and Dave — the rest followed anyhow, and at varying speeds.
That all those dogs should have selected and followed the same kangaroo was sad and humiliating. And such a waif of a thing, too! Still, they stuck to it. For more than a mile, down a slope, the weedy marsupial outpaced them, but when it came to the hill the daylight between rapidly began to lessen27. A few seconds more and all would have been over, but a straggling, stupid old ewe, belonging to an unneighbourly squatter28, darted29 up from the shade of a tree right in the way of Maloney’s Brindle, who was leading. Brindle always preferred mutton to marsupial, so he let the latter slide and secured the ewe. The death-scene was most imposing30. The ground around was strewn with small tufts of white wool. There was a complete circle of eager, wriggling31 dogs — all jammed together, heads down, and tails elevated. Not a scrap32 of the ewe was visible. Paddy Maloney jumped down and proceeded to batter33 the brutes vigorously with a waddy. As the others arrived, they joined him. The dogs were hungry, and fought for every inch of the sheep. Those not laid out were pulled away, and when old Brown had dragged the last one off by the hind16 legs, all that was left of that ewe was four feet and some skin.
Dad shook his head and looked grave — so did Anderson. After a short rest they decided34 to divide into parties and work the ridges35. A start was made. Dad’s contingent36 — consisting of himself and Joe, Paddy Maloney, Anderson, old Brown, and several others — started a mob. This time the dogs separated and scampered37 off in all directions. In quick time Brown’s black slut bailed38 up an “old man” full of fight. Nothing was more desirable. He was a monster, a king kangaroo; and as he raised himself to his full height on his toes and tail he looked formidable — a grand and majestic39 demon40 of the bush. The slut made no attempt to tackle him; she stood off with her tongue out. Several small dogs belonging to Anderson barked energetically at him, even venturing occasionally to run behind and bite his tail. But, further than grabbing them in his arms and embracing them, he took no notice. There he towered, his head back and chest well out, awaiting the horsemen. They came, shouting and hooraying. He faced them defiantly41. Anderson, aglow42 with excitement, dismounted and aimed a lump of rock at his head, which laid out one of the little dogs. They pelted43 him with sticks and stones till their arms were tired, but they might just as well have pelted a dead cow. Paddy Maloney took out his stirrup. “Look out!” he cried. They looked out. Then, galloping44 up, he swung the iron at the marsupial, and nearly knocked his horse’s eye out.
Dad was disgusted. He and Joe approached the enemy on Farmer. Dad carried a short stick. The “old man” looked him straight in the face. Dad poked45 the stick at him. He promptly46 grabbed hold of it, and a piece of Dad’s hand as well. Farmer had not been in many battles — no Defence Force man ever owned him. He threw up his head and snorted, and commenced a retreat. The kangaroo followed him up and seized Dad by the shirt. Joe evinced signs of timidity. He lost faith in Dad, and, half jumping, half falling, he landed on the ground, and set out speedily for a tree. Dad lost the stick, and in attempting to brain the brute11 with his fist he overbalanced and fell out of the saddle. He struggled to his feet, and clutched his antagonist47 affectionately by both paws — standing well away. Backwards48 and forwards and round and round they moved. “Use your knife!” Anderson called out, getting further away himself. But Dad dared not relax his grip. Paddy Maloney ran behind the brute several times to lay him out with a waddy, but each time he turned and fled before striking the blow. Dad thought to force matters, and began kicking his assailant vigorously in the stomach. Such dull, heavy thuds! The kangaroo retaliated49, putting Dad on the defensive50. Dad displayed remarkable51 suppleness52 about the hips53. At last the brute fixed54 his deadly toe in Dad’s belt.
It was an anxious moment, but the belt broke, and Dad breathed freely again. He was acting55 entirely56 on the defensive, but an awful consciousness of impending57 misfortune assailed58 him. His belt was gone, and — his trousers began to slip — slip — slip! He called wildly to the others for God’s sake to do something. They helped with advice. He yelled “Curs!” and “Cowards!” back at them. Still, as he danced around with his strange and ungainly partner, his trousers kept slipping — slipping. For the fiftieth time and more he glanced eagerly over his shoulder for some haven59 of safety. None was near. And then — oh, horror! — down THEY slid calmly and noiselessly. Poor Dad! He was at a disadvantage; his leg work was hampered60. He was hobbled. Could he only get free of them altogether! But he couldn’t — his feet were large. He took a lesson from the foe61 and jumped — jumped this way and that way, and round about, while large drops of perspiration62 rolled off him. The small dogs displayed renewed and ridiculous ferocity, often mistaking Dad for the marsupial. At last Dad became exhausted63 — there was no spring left in him. Once he nearly went down. Twice he tripped. He staggered again — down he was going — down — down, down and down he fell! But at the same moment, and, as though they had dropped from the clouds, Brindle and five or six other dogs pounced on the “old man.” The rest may be imagined.
Dad lay on the ground to recover his wind, and when he mounted Farmer again and silently turned for home, Paddy Maloney was triumphantly64 seated on the carcase of the fallen enemy, exultingly65 explaining how he missed the brute’s head with the stirrup-iron, and claiming the tail.
点击收听单词发音
1 marsupial | |
adj.有袋的,袋状的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 fatigues | |
n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 );杂役;厌倦;(士兵穿的)工作服 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 shingle | |
n.木瓦板;小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌);v.用木瓦板盖(屋顶);把(女子头发)剪短 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 swarm | |
n.(昆虫)等一大群;vi.成群飞舞;蜂拥而入 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 lank | |
adj.瘦削的;稀疏的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 lame | |
adj.跛的,(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 pounced | |
v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 );猛扑;一眼看出;抓住机会(进行抨击) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 fowl | |
n.家禽,鸡,禽肉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 lamed | |
希伯莱语第十二个字母 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 brutes | |
兽( brute的名词复数 ); 畜生; 残酷无情的人; 兽性 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 brute | |
n.野兽,兽性 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 trotted | |
小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 reins | |
感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 murmur | |
n.低语,低声的怨言;v.低语,低声而言 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 hind | |
adj.后面的,后部的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 knuckles | |
n.(指人)指关节( knuckle的名词复数 );(指动物)膝关节,踝v.(指人)指关节( knuckle的第三人称单数 );(指动物)膝关节,踝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 mare | |
n.母马,母驴 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 coaxed | |
v.哄,用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 );巧言骗取;哄劝,劝诱 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 tugged | |
v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 grunt | |
v.嘟哝;作呼噜声;n.呼噜声,嘟哝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 hopping | |
n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 dodged | |
v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 );回避 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 hopped | |
跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 scrambled | |
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 lessen | |
vt.减少,减轻;缩小 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 squatter | |
n.擅自占地者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 imposing | |
adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 wriggling | |
v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等);蠕蠕 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 scrap | |
n.碎片;废料;v.废弃,报废 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 batter | |
v.接连重击;磨损;n.牛奶面糊;击球员 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 ridges | |
n.脊( ridge的名词复数 );山脊;脊状突起;大气层的)高压脊 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 contingent | |
adj.视条件而定的;n.一组,代表团,分遣队 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 scampered | |
v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑,惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 bailed | |
保释,帮助脱离困境( bail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 majestic | |
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 demon | |
n.魔鬼,恶魔 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 defiantly | |
adv.挑战地,大胆对抗地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 aglow | |
adj.发亮的;发红的;adv.发亮地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 pelted | |
(连续地)投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 ); 连续抨击; 攻击; 剥去…的皮 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 galloping | |
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 poked | |
v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 );戳出;拨弄;与(某人)性交 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 backwards | |
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 retaliated | |
v.报复,反击( retaliate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 defensive | |
adj.防御的;防卫的;防守的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 suppleness | |
柔软; 灵活; 易弯曲; 顺从 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 hips | |
abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯,耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 );[建筑学]屋脊;臀围(尺寸);臀部…的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 impending | |
a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 haven | |
n.安全的地方,避难所,庇护所 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 hampered | |
妨碍,束缚,限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 perspiration | |
n.汗水;出汗 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 triumphantly | |
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 exultingly | |
兴高采烈地,得意地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |