With a final wave of the hand, I moved forward, until the intervening trees, like the falling of a curtain, hid it all from view. Seth was astride the old mare13, riding bareback, his white goat-like beard hanging down his breast until it mingled14 with her mane, while his long thin legs were drawn15 up in the awkward way he had. He was a strange, silent, gloomy man, as austere16 as his native hills; and we rode on with no exchange of speech. Indeed, my thoughts were of a nature that I had no wish to share with another; so it was some time before the depth of loneliness which oppressed my spirits enabled me to feel even passing interest in the things at hand.
"I'd hate like thunder ter be a-goin' on your trip, Maester John," volunteered Seth at last, solemnly turning on the mare's broad back to face me.
"And why?" I asked, wonderingly; for the man's rare gift of silence had won him a certain reputation for deep, occult knowledge which I could not wholly ignore. "It will bring me the sight of some wonderful country, no doubt."
His shrewd gimlet eyes seemed fairly to pierce ? 21 ? me, as he deliberately18 helped himself to tobacco from a pouch19 at his waist.
"Wal, that may all be, Maester John; but I've heerd tell ther is some most awful things goes on out yonder," and he swung his long arm meaningly toward the west. "Animyles sich as don't prowl raound yere, man-yeatin' snakes as big as thet tree, an' the blood-thirstiest salvages20 as ever was. An' arter a while ther ain't no more trees grows, ther Ian' is thet poor, by gosh! jist a plumb21 dead levil er' short grass, an' no show ter hide ner nuthin'."
"Were you ever there, Seth?" I questioned with growing anxiety, for I had heard some such vague rumors22 as these before.
"Me? Not by a dinged sight!" he replied, emphatically. "This yere is a long way further west thin I keer 'bout6 bein'. Ol' Vermont is plenty good 'nough fer this chicken, an' many's ther day I wish I was back ther. But I hed a cousin onct who tuk ter sojerin' 'long with Gineral Clarke, an' went 'cross them ther prairies ter git Vincennes frum the British. Lor'! it must a' bin7 more ner thirty year ago! He tol' me thet they jist hed ter wade23 up ter ther neck in water fer days an' days. I ain't so durn fond o' water as all thet. An' he said as how rattlesnakes was everywhere; an' ther Injuns was mos' twice es big es they be yere."
"But Clarke, and nearly all of his men, got back safely," I protested.
? 22 ?
"Oh, I guess some on 'em got back, 'cause they was an awful lot in thet army, mighty24 nigh two thousand on 'em, Ephriam said; but, I tell ye, they hed a most terrible tough time afore they did git hum. I seed my cousin whin he kim back, an' he was jist a mere25 shadder; though he was bigger ner you whin he went 'way."
"But Fort Dearborn is much farther to the north. Perhaps it will be better up there."
"Wuss," he insisted, with a most mournful shake of the head, "a dinged sight wuss. Ephriam said es how the further north ye wint, the tougher it got. He saw an Injun from up near the big lake—a Pottamottamie, or somethin' like thet—what was nine fut high, an' he told him es how the rivers in his kintry was all full o' man-eatin' critters like snakes, an' some on 'em hed a hundred legs ter crawl with, an' cud travel a dinged sight faster ner a hoss. By gosh! but you bet I don't want none on it. Your father must 'a' been plum crazy fer ter sind ye way out ther all 'lone,—jist a green boy like you. What ye a-goin' fer, enyhow?"
I explained to him the occasion and necessity for my trip, but he shook his head dubiously26, his long face so exceedingly mournful that I could not remain unaffected by it.
"Wal," he said at length, carefully weighing his words, "maybe it's all right 'nough, but I've got my ? 23 ? doubts jist the same. I'll bet thet ther gal28 is jist one o' them will-o'-the-wisps we hear on, an' you never will find her. You'll jist wander 'round, huntin' an' huntin' her, till ye git old, or them monsters git ye. An' I'll be blamed if ever I heerd tell o' no sich fort as thet, nohow."
Seth was certainly proving a Job's comforter; and I was already sufficiently29 troubled about the final outcome of my adventure. Hence my only hope of retaining any measure of courage was to discountenance further conversation, and we continued to jog along in silence, although I caught him looking at me several times in a manner that expressed volumes.
We camped that night in the dense heart of some oak woods, beside a pleasant stream of clear, cool water. Late the following evening, just as the sun was disappearing behind the trees, our wearied horses emerged suddenly upon the bank of a broad river, and we could discern the dim outlines of Hawkins's buildings amid the deepening shadows of the opposite shore.
Upon one thing I was now fully27 determined30. Seth should start back with the first streak31 of the next dawn. His long face and dismal32 croakings kept me constantly upon nettles33, and I felt that I should face the uncertain future with far stouter34 heart if he were out of my sight. Firm in this resolve, I urged my horse to splash his reluctant way through the shallows of the ford35; and as our animals rose on the steep bank ? 24 ? of the western shore, we found ourselves at once in the midst of a group of scattered36 buildings. It seemed quite a settlement in that dim light, although the structures were all low and built of logs. The largest and most centrally located of these was evidently the homestead, as it had a rudely constructed porch in front, and a thin cloud of smoke was drifting from its chimney. As I drew nearer, I could perceive the reflection of a light streaming out through the open doorway.
No one appeared in answer to our shouting,—not even a stray dog; and, in despair of thus arousing the inhabitants, I flung my rein to Seth, and, mounting the doorstep, peered within. As I did so, a shiny, round, black face, with whitened eyes and huge red lips, seemed to float directly toward me through the inner darkness. It was so startling an apparition37 that I sprang back in such haste as nearly to topple over backward from the steps. Heaven alone knows what I fancied it might be; indeed, I had little enough time in which to guess, for I had barely touched the ground,—my mind still filled with memories of Seth's grotesque38 horrors,—when the whole figure emerged into view, and I knew him instantly for a negro, though I had never before seen one of his race. He was a dandified-looking fellow, wearing a stiff white waistcoat fastened by gilded39 buttons, with a pair of short curly mustaches, waxed straight out at the ends; and ? 25 ? he stood there grinning at me in a manner that showed all his gleaming teeth. Before I could recover my wits enough to address him, I heard a voice from within the house,—a soft, drawling voice, with a marked foreign accent clinging to it.
"No, sah," he replied with vigor42, "dat Mistah Hawkins am not yere, sah. An' dat Mistah Burns has gone 'way fer gud, sah. But dar am a gemman yere, sah,—"
"What!" came a surprised ejaculation that caused the negro to jump, and I heard a chair overturned within. "A gentleman? Sam, don't deceive me! For the love of Heaven, let me see him. May I be bastinadoed if it hasn't been three months since my eyes beheld43 the last specimen44! Sam, where was it I saw the last one?"
"Montreal, sah."
"By Saint Guise45! 'tis gospel truth," and the speaker strode forward, candle in hand. "Here, now, you ace17 of spades," he cried impatiently, "hold the flame until I bid this paragon46 of the wilderness47 fit welcome in the name of Hawkins, who strangely seems to have vanished from the sylvan48 scene. Alas49, poor Hawkins! two gentlemen at one time, I greatly ? 26 ? fear, will be the death of him. Would that his good friend Burns might be with him on this festive50 occasion. Ye gods, what a time it would be!"
As the black hastily reached out for the candle-stick, his erratic51 master as quickly changed his mind.
"No," he muttered thoughtfully, drawing back within the hall; "'tis far more fit that such formal greeting should occur within, where the essentials may be found with which to do full courtesy. I will instead retire. Sam, bid the gentleman meet me in the banquet hall, and then, mark you, thou archfiend of blackness, seek out at once that man Hawkins in his hidden lair52, and bid him have ample repast spread instantly, on pain of my displeasure. By all the saints! if it be not at once forthcoming I will toast the scoundrel over his own slow fire."
"Seth," I said to my staring companion, as soon as I could recover from my own surprise, "find a place for the horses somewhere in the stables, and come in."
"Where is your master to be found?" I questioned of the black, whose air of self-importance had been resumed the moment he was left alone.
"Second door to de right, sah," he answered, gazing curiously53 at my deer-skin hunting-shirt as I pressed by.
I had little difficulty in finding it, for all that the way was totally dark, as the fellow within was lustily ? 27 ? carolling a French love-song. I hung back for a moment, striving vainly to distinguish the words.
Without pausing to make my presence known, I opened the door quietly, and stepped within. The room was not a large one, though it occupied the full width of the house; and the two lighted candles that illumined it, one sitting upon a table otherwise bare, the other occupying the rude dresser in the far corner, revealed clearly the entire interior.
The sole occupant of the room sat upon a corner of the table, one foot resting on the floor, the other dangling54 carelessly. Hardly more than a year my elder, he bore in his face the indelible marks of a life vastly different. His features were clear-cut, and undeniably handsome, with a curl of rare good-humor to his lips and an audacious sparkle within his dark eyes. His hat, cocked and ornamented56 in foreign fashion, lay beside him; and I could not help noting his long hair, carefully powdered and arranged with a nicety almost conspicuous57, while his clothing was rich in both texture58 and coloring, and exhibited many traces of vanity in ribbon and ornament55. Within his belt, fastened by a large metal clasp, he wore a pearl-handled pistol with long barrel; and a rapier, with richly jewelled hilt, dangled59 at his side. Altogether he made a fine figure of a man, and one of a sort I had never met before.
If he interested me, doubtless I was no less a ? 28 ? study to him. I could see the astonishment60 in his eyes, after my first entrance, change to amusement as he gazed. Then he brought a white hand down, with a smart slap, upon the board beside him.
"By all the saints!" he exclaimed, "but I believe the black was right. 'Tis the face of a gentle, or I know naught61 of the breed, though the attire62 might fool the very elect. Yet, parbleu! if memory serves, 'tis scarcely worse than what I wore in Spain."
He swung down upon his feet and faced me, extending one hand with all cordiality, while lips and eyes smiled pleasantly.
"Monsieur," he said, bowing low, and with a grace of movement quite new to me, "I bid you hearty63 welcome to whatsoever64 of good cheer this desert may have to offer, and present to you the companionship of Villiers de Croix. It may not seem much, yet I pledge you that kings have valued it ere now."
It was a form of introduction most unfamiliar65 to me, and seemed bristling66 with audacity67 and conceit68; but I recognized the heartiness69 of his purpose, and hastened to make fit response.
The graceful71 recklessness of the fellow, so conspicuous in each word and action, strongly attracted me. I confess I liked him from his first utterance72, ? 29 ? although mentally, and perhaps morally as well, no two men of our age could possibly be more unlike.
"Wayland?" he mused73, with a shrug74, as if the sound of the word was unpleasant. "Wayland?—'tis a harsh name to my ears, yet I have heard it mentioned before in England as that of a great family. You are English, then?"
I shook my head emphatically; for the old wounds of controversy75 and battle were then being opened afresh, and the feeling of antagonism76 ran especially high along the border.
"I am of this country," I protested with earnestness, "and we call ourselves Americans."
He laughed easily, evidently no little amused at my retort, twisting his small mustache through his slender fingers as he eyed me.
"Ah! but that is all one to me; it is ever the blood and not the name that counts, my friend. Now I am French by many a generation, Gascon by birth, and bearing commission in the Guard of the Emperor; yet sooth, 'tis the single accursed drop of Irish blood within my veins77 that brings me across the great seas and maroons78 me in this howling wilderness. But sit down, Monsieur. There will be both food and wine served presently, and I would speak with you more at ease."
? 30 ?
"On my word," he said, eying me closely as I crossed over to the bench, "but you are a big fellow for your years, and 'tis strength, not flabby flesh, or I know not how to judge. You would make a fine figure of a soldier, John Wayland. Napoleon perchance might offer you a marshal's baton80, just to see you in the uniform. Parbleu! I have seen stranger things happen."
"You are now connected with the French army?" I questioned, wondering what could have brought him to this remote spot.
"Ay, a Captain of the Guard, yet an exile, banished81 from the court on account of my sins. Sacre! but there are others, Monsieur. I have but one fault, my friend,—grave enough, I admit, yet but one, upon my honor, and even that is largely caused by that drop of Irish blood. I love the ladies over-well, I sometimes fear; and once I dared to look too high for favor."
"And have you stopped here long?"
"Here—at Hawkins's, mean you? Ten days, as I live; would you believe I could ever have survived so grievous a siege?" and he looked appealingly about upon the bare apartment. "Ten days of Hawkins and of Sam, Monsieur; ay! and of Ol' Burns; of sky, and woods, and river, with never so much as a real white man even to drink liquor with. By Saint Louis! but I shall be happy enough to face you across ? 31 ? the board to-night. Yet surely it is not your purpose to halt here long?"
"No! is that your aim? 'Tis my trip also, if Fate be ever kind enough to bring hither a guide. Sacre! there was one here but now, as odd a devil as ever bore rifle, and he hath taken the western trail alone, for he hated me from the start. That was Ol' Burns. Know you him?"
"'Twas he who brought the message that sent me here; yet he said little of his own journey. But you mention not where you are bound?"
"I seek Fort Dearborn, on the Great Lake."
"That likewise is to be the end of my journey. You go to explore?"
"Explore? Faith, no," and he patted his hand upon the bench most merrily. "There are but two reasons to my mind important enough to lure83 a French gentleman into such a hole as this, and send him wandering through your backwoods,—either war or love, Monsieur; and I know of no war that calleth me."
Love, as he thus spoke of it, was almost an unknown term to me then; and, in truth, I scarcely grasped the full significance of his meaning.
? 32 ?
"Ay!" with quickened enthusiasm; "'tis there Toinette has hidden herself for this year or more,—Toinette, on my word as a French soldier, the fairest maid of Montreal. I have just discovered her whereabouts, yet I shall win her ere I traverse these trails again, or I am not Villiers de Croix."
"I travel thither85 to bring back a little orphan86 child with me," I explained simply, in response to his look, "and will most gladly aid you where I can."
Before he could answer, Hawkins, a gaunt, silent frontiersman, together with Sam, entered the room, bearing between them our evening meal.
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收听单词发音
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1
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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2
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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3
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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4
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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5
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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6
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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7
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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8
planks
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| （厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点 | |
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9
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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10
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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11
silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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12
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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13
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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14
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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15
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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16
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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17
ace
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| n.A牌；发球得分；佼佼者；adj.杰出的 | |
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18
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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19
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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20
salvages
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| 海上营救( salvage的名词复数 )； 抢救出的财产； 救援费； 经加工后重新利用的废物 | |
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21
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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22
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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23
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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24
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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25
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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26
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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27
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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28
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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29
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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30
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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31
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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32
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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33
nettles
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| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
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34
stouter
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| 粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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35
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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36
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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37
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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38
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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39
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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40
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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41
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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42
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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43
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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44
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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45
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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46
paragon
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| n.模范，典型 | |
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47
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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48
sylvan
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| adj.森林的 | |
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49
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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50
festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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51
erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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52
lair
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| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
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53
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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54
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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55
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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56
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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58
texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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59
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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60
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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61
naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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62
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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63
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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64
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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65
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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66
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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67
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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69
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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70
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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72
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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73
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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75
controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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76
antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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77
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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78
maroons
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| n.逃亡黑奴（maroon的复数形式）vt.把…放逐到孤岛（maroon的第三人称单数形式） | |
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79
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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81
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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83
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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84
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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85
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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