The sun had set behind the great mountain of storm clouds in the west, and twilight2 was drawing a curtain of darkness around. The clouds rose higher and higher; the heavens began to be overspread with long masses of floating vapor3, and the distant gleam of lightning could now be distinctly[28] seen. He now encountered a steep hill in his march; his limbs could scarcely bear his body along, but he knew that he must go on. There were but few trees on the hill, and their absence enabled him to see his way more clearly in ascending5, but the valley beyond seemed shrouded6 in midnight darkness.
These wild regions were infested7 with wolves and other ravenous8 beasts, and our hero being unarmed, his life became hourly more endangered. After struggling along under accumulating difficulties, in utter loneliness and discouragement he sat down on a log to rest. It was to him an hour of trial; and his patience almost failed him. But the remembrance of God’s promise, “Behold, I am with thee and will keep thee,” cheered him. A clap of thunder warned him of the approach of the storm, and aroused his enfeebled energies to their task. But where should he go? The darkness, if possible, had increased; not a ray of light remained,[29] excepting when the electric fluid for a moment lit up the heavens with its lurid9 blaze only to leave it still darker. An effort to secure shelter must be made at once.
As he was anxiously hurrying on among the weeds and fallen timber, a huge rattlesnake that had coiled itself under some rubbish suddenly sounded its “death-rattle.” Finding that danger was threatening in the heavens above, and lurking10 on the earth beneath, he was on the point of sitting down and awaiting his fate, when, suddenly, a flash of lightning revealed an opening between the tall trees, and the hope that there might be some human habitation not far distant caused him to again renew his efforts.
Moving cautiously forward, he succeeded in crossing a stream of water; a short distance beyond was an old, broken-down fence. The glimpse which the lightning gave him of this, the work of man, sent a thrill of joy to his desponding heart.
[30]He anxiously watched for the electric lamp to reveal the place of habitation. Now and then a large drop of rain fell, and presently a fearful blaze of lightning illuminated11 the whole heavens, followed by a clap of thunder that seemed to shake the earth to its very foundation! The rain was now descending12 upon the distant hill. Aroused to a full sense of his danger, he commended his soul to God, expecting to be crushed beneath the falling timber, which could plainly be heard above the roar of the elements.
As we all shrink from imminent13 danger, he instinctively14 looked around for some protection. Near by, in a clump15 of trees, he espied16, when it again lightened, something like a roof. What a thrill of joy entered his heart! Groping his way forward, he found a little hut with door wide open as if to welcome him; he needed no invitation, but rushed in, for the storm was bursting upon him.
All within was dark and silent save a rustling[31] in one corner and the flitting of a bat overhead. The chilly17 dampness which pervaded18 the room, and the musty smell that came up from the floor, made the first impression far from agreeable. The roof leaked and the windows were gone. In one corner he found a dry spot; here he nestled down, awaiting the fury of the descending storm.
The elements were now raging with irresistible19 power. The very earth seemed to tremble under the contending forces that were hurling20 destruction all around. Part of the shattered roof came down, the trees were torn up by the roots and the cabin was almost lifted from its foundation.
Happily the winds hurled21 the rain against the corner in which he had taken refuge, and the logs, chinking and daubing that remained, arrested the water, so that the place which he occupied was comparatively dry, whilst all the rest of the inside was deluged22 with the dashing rain.
[32]Musing for a time upon his lonely condition and his prospects23 for the future, he fell asleep, and did not awake until it was quite day. He arose, and kneeling down in that deserted24 cabin, he brought all his sorrows before God, and asked in great humility25 for His guidance and protection.
The storm had passed, and the sun rose in a serene26 and cloudless sky. After his communion with God, he came out of his retreat to view his surroundings.
The ground was literally27 covered with pools of standing28 water, fallen timber and fragments of vegetation. The cabin in which he had slept had been long since deserted, and the place looked mournfully desolate29, wild and forsaken30.
As the lowlands were now full of standing water, and the creek31 so high that to return by the way he came was impossible, he took up his satchel32 and staff, and proceeded westward33 in search of a settlement.
[33]After wandering on for several hours he came to a large swamp covered with reeds, tall grass and spaces of open water; in some places the covering was a beautiful carpet of green moss34, upon which one could stand, but the least movement would shake the frail35 moss bed for rods around; under this treacherous36 cover there appeared to be a great depth of quicksand and water. A path made by wild animals along the margin37 of the swamp somewhat relieved the irksomeness of passing through it.
As he was traveling on he discovered the footprints of a bear which had been turning over some old logs in search of worms and insects. An encounter with Bruin was something for which he was wholly unprepared. Sitting down to consider which course he had better pursue, his attention was attracted by a noise among the bushes behind him. He had already passed the monster and might have escaped unnoticed had he not sat down!
[34]The bear, seeing him, came out of the bushes toward him. As our hero did not show any signs of retreat the bear stopped and sat upon his haunches, ready for a fight. The worn-out missionary38 did not feel like accepting the challenge, but was rather inclined to a purely39 defensive40 policy. The bear remained stationary41 for some time, waiting, no doubt, for a demonstration42 of the purposes and ability of the stranger. They eyed each other until that indescribable superiority implanted in the eye of man made the huge beast quail43, and he sullenly44 retreated into the thicket45.
The way being now clear our traveler again started on. The marsh46 was at length passed, but another difficulty now presented itself in the shape of an abrupt47 bluff48; too much fatigued49 to ascend4 it, he changed his course by its base, still, however, designing to go westward. A beautiful spring that gushed50 out from among the rocks at the side of the hill invited him to rest. Whilst laving his sore, feverish51 feet in[35] its cool waters, he noticed the movements of a little squirrel as it jumped from tree to tree, gathering52 nuts for the coming winter. Here he learned a lesson which would enable him to appease53 his hunger.
Having eaten his frugal54 meal, and being somewhat refreshed, his step was lighter55. Another stream impeded56 his progress, so he again changed his course, following its windings57 among the valleys and hills. Throughout his whole course he had as yet seen no indications of the presence of man.
The sun was again setting, and as the shades of night increased and no dwelling appeared he began to look about for some place of shelter. As he was hastily ascending a ridge58, a pack of wolves commenced their discordant59 yelps60 and howlings right in his front. Turning around he wended his way up a ravine, walking as fast as possible. Another pack of wolves then set up a howl to his left; this seemed to enrage61 the others, so that their[36] hideous62 noise could not but chill the heart of the defenseless wanderer.
To climb a tree and rest among its branches for the night, was his first thought. A spreading beech63, with branches almost reaching the ground, offered its accommodations. After choosing his position in the tree, and fixing himself, as he supposed, for the night, he very soon found his limbs cramped64 and his hold unsafe. Becoming satisfied that to remain where he was would be risking his life, he immediately descended65. The darkness, when off the tree, seemed much more dense66; and being now within reach of the wolves, made him almost regret having left it. “Oh, that I never had been called to this sacrifice,” involuntarily burst from him. A voice whispered: “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.” These words were not without effect, for they led him to say, “if the Lord of Lords[37] suffered thus before me, why should I murmer at my lot?” and he again “thanked God and took courage.”
At length he succeeded in finding a hollow tree which answered his purpose. Feeling that he was in God’s hands, it was not long until “tired nature’s sweet restorer” came to his relief.
It is well that God conceals67 from us the rod with which He intends to chasten us; were it not so, our prospective68 trials would seem greater than we could bear. The trials encountered by His servant in this peculiar69 case, were but the beginning of those in store for him.
Having changed his course so often, he lost all idea of the points of the compass. The consequence was that he spent two days and a night longer wandering in this wilderness70. At the expiration71 of that time he found himself at the very old hut in which he had spent the first night; which proved to him that he had been traveling in a circle. Under the circumstances, he was very glad to again avail himself of the protection thus afforded.
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1
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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2
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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3
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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4
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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7
infested
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| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
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8
ravenous
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| adj.极饿的，贪婪的 | |
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lurid
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| adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的 | |
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10
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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13
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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15
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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16
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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17
chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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20
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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21
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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22
deluged
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| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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23
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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24
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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25
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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26
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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28
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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29
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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30
Forsaken
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| adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词 | |
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31
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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32
satchel
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| n.(皮或帆布的)书包 | |
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33
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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34
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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35
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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36
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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38
missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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39
purely
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| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
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40
defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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41
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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42
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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43
quail
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| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
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44
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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45
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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46
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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47
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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48
bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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49
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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50
gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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51
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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52
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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53
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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54
frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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55
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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56
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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58
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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59
discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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60
yelps
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| n.（因痛苦、气愤、兴奋等的）短而尖的叫声( yelp的名词复数 )v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的第三人称单数 ) | |
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61
enrage
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| v.触怒，激怒 | |
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62
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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63
beech
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| n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的 | |
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64
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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65
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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66
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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67
conceals
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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68
prospective
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| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
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69
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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70
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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71
expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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