IT was not until early on the morrow of this adventurous1 and dramatic eve that our hero awoke, and acquired assurance doubly sure that the prince and the treasure had really gone off, without any prospect2 of return. When he saw himself alone in the little white tombhouse, betrayed, robbed, abandoned in the heart of savage3 Algeria, with a one-humped camel and some pocket-money as all his resources, then did the representative of Tarascon for the first time doubt. He doubted Montenegro, friendship, glory, and even lions; and the great man blubbered bitterly.
Whilst he was pensively4 seated on the sill of the sanctuary5, holding his head between his hands and his gun between his legs, with the camel mooning at him, the thicket6 over the way was divided, and the stupor-stricken Tartarin saw a gigantic lion appear not a dozen paces off. It thrust out its high head and emitted powerful roars, which made the temple walls shake beneath their votive decorations, and even the saint’s slippers7 dance in their niche8.
The Tarasconian alone did not tremble.
“At last you’ve come!” he shouted, jumping up and levelling the rifle.
Bang, bang! went a brace9 of shells into its head.
It was done. For a minute, on the fiery10 background of the African sky, there was a dreadful firework display of scattered11 brains, smoking blood, and tawny12 hair. When all fell, Tartarin perceived two colossal13 Negroes furiously running towards him, brandishing14 cudgels. They were his two Negro acquaintances of Milianah!
Oh, misery15!
This was the domesticated16 lion, the poor blind beggar of the Mohammed Monastery17, whom the Tarasconian’s bullets had knocked over.
This time, spite of Mahound, Tartarin escaped neatly18. Drunk with fanatical fury, the two African collectors would have surely beaten him to pulp19 had not the god of chase and war sent him a delivering angel in the shape of the rural constable20 of the Orleansville commune. By a bypath this garde champetre came up, his sword tucked under his arm.
The sight of the municipal cap suddenly calmed the Negroes’ choler. Peaceful and majestic21, the officer with the brass22 badge drew up a report on the affair, ordered the camel to be loaded with what remained of the king of beasts, and the plaintiffs as well as the delinquent23 to follow him, proceeding24 to Orleansville, where all was deposited with the law-courts receiver.
There issued a long and alarming case!
After the Algeria of the native tribes which he had overrun, Tartarin of Tarascon became thence acquainted with another Algeria, not less weird25 and to be dreaded26 — the Algeria in the towns, surcharged with lawyers and their papers. He got to know the pettifogger who does business at the back of a cafe — the legal Bohemian with documents reeking27 of wormwood bitters and white neckcloths spotted28 with champoreau; the ushers29, the attorneys, all the locusts30 of stamped paper, meagre and famished31, who eat up the colonist32 body and boots — ay, to the very straps33 of them, and leave him peeled to the core like an Indian cornstalk, stripped leaf by leaf.
Before all else it was necessary to ascertain34 whether the lion had been killed on the civil or the military territory. In the former case the matter regarded the Tribunal of Commerce; in the second, Tartarin would be dealt with by the Council of War: and at the mere35 name the impressionable Tarasconian saw himself shot at the foot of the ramparts or huddled36 up in a casemate-silo.
The puzzle lay in the limitation of the two territories being very hazy37 in Algeria.
At length, after a month’s running about, entanglements38, and waiting under the sun in the yards of Arab Departmental offices, it was established that, whereas the lion had been killed on the military territory, on the other hand Tartarin was in the civil territory when he shot. So the case was decided39 in the civil courts, and our hero was let off on paying two thousand five hundred francs damages, costs not included.
How could he pay such a sum?
The few piashtres escaped from the prince’s sweep had long since gone in legal documents and judicial40 libations. The unfortunate lion-destroyer was therefore reduced to selling the store of guns by retail41, rifle by rifle; so went the daggers42, the Malay kreeses, and the life-preservers. A grocer purchased the preserved aliments; an apothecary43 what remained of the medicaments. The big boots themselves walked off after the improved tent to a dealer44 of curiosities, who elevated them to the dignity of “rarities from Cochin-China.”
When everything was paid up, only the lion’s skin and the camel remained to Tartarin. The hide he had carefully packed, to be sent to Tarascon to the address of brave Commandant Bravida, and, later on, we shall see what came of this fabulous45 trophy46. As for the camel, he reckoned on making use of him to get back to Algiers, not by riding on him, but by selling him to pay his coach-fare — the best way to employ a camel in travelling. Unhappily the beast was difficult to place, and no one would offer a copper47 for him.
Still Tartarin wanted to regain48 Algiers by hook or crook49. He was in haste again to behold50 Baya’s blue bodice, his little snuggery and his fountains, as well as to repose51 on the white trefoils of his little cloister52 whilst awaiting money from France. So our hero did not hesitate; distressed53 but not downcast, he undertook to make the journey afoot and penniless by short stages.
In this enterprise the camel did not cast him off. The strange animal had taken an unaccountable fancy for his master, and on seeing him leave Orleansville, he set to striding steadfastly54 behind him, regulating his pace by this, and never quitting him by a yard.
At the first outset Tartarin found this touching55; such fidelity56 and devotion above proof went to his heart, all the more because the creature was accommodating, and fed himself on nothing. Nevertheless, after a few days, the Tarasconian was worried by having this glum57 companion perpetually at his heels, to remind him of his misadventures. Ire arising, he hated him for his sad aspect, hump and gait of a goose in harness. To tell the whole truth, he held him as his Old Man of the Sea, and only pondered on how to shake him off; but the follower58 would not be shaken off. Tartarin attempted to lose him, but the camel always found him; he tried to outrun him, but the camel ran faster. He bade him begone, and hurled59 stones at him. The camel stopped with a mournful mien60, but in a minute resumed the pursuit, and always ended by overtaking him. Tartarin had to resign himself.
For all that, when, after eight full days of tramping, the dusty and harassed61 Tarasconian espied62 the first white housetops of Algiers glimmer63 from afar in the verdure, and when he got to the city gates on the noisy Mustapha Avenue, amid the Zouaves, Biskris, and Mahonnais, all swarming64 around him and staring at him trudging65 by with his camel, overtasked patience escaped him.
“No! no!” he growled66, “it is not likely! I cannot enter Algiers with such an animal!”
Profiting by a jam of vehicles, he turned off into the fields and jumped into a ditch. In a minute or so he saw over his head on the highway the camel flying off with long strides and stretching his neck with a wistful air.
Relieved of a great weight thereby67, the hero sneaked68 out of his covert69, and entered the town anew by a circuitous70 path which skirted the wall of his own little garden.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
adventurous
|
|
| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
pensively
|
|
| adv.沉思地，焦虑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
sanctuary
|
|
| n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
slippers
|
|
| n. 拖鞋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
niche
|
|
| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
brace
|
|
| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
tawny
|
|
| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
colossal
|
|
| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
brandishing
|
|
| v.挥舞( brandish的现在分词 )；炫耀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
domesticated
|
|
| adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
monastery
|
|
| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
neatly
|
|
| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
pulp
|
|
| n.果肉，纸浆；v.化成纸浆，除去...果肉，制成纸浆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
constable
|
|
| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
majestic
|
|
| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
delinquent
|
|
| adj.犯法的，有过失的；n.违法者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
weird
|
|
| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
reeking
|
|
| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
ushers
|
|
| n.引座员( usher的名词复数 )；招待员；门房；助理教员v.引，领，陪同( usher的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
locusts
|
|
| n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
famished
|
|
| adj.饥饿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
colonist
|
|
| n.殖民者，移民 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
straps
|
|
| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
hazy
|
|
| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
entanglements
|
|
| n.瓜葛( entanglement的名词复数 )；牵连；纠缠；缠住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
judicial
|
|
| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
retail
|
|
| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
daggers
|
|
| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
apothecary
|
|
| n.药剂师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
dealer
|
|
| n.商人，贩子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
fabulous
|
|
| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
trophy
|
|
| n.优胜旗，奖品，奖杯，战胜品，纪念品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
crook
|
|
| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
cloister
|
|
| n.修道院；v.隐退，使与世隔绝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
steadfastly
|
|
| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
fidelity
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
glum
|
|
| adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
follower
|
|
| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
hurled
|
|
| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
mien
|
|
| n.风采；态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
harassed
|
|
| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
espied
|
|
| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
glimmer
|
|
| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
swarming
|
|
| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
trudging
|
|
| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
sneaked
|
|
| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
covert
|
|
| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
circuitous
|
|
| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |