I was still mirroring her image in my memory, forgetful of all else,—the broad white brow, the long dark lashes4 resting in such delicate tracery against the smooth velvet6 of the cheek now slightly flushed, the witching pink of the ear, the softly parted lips between which gleamed the small and regular teeth of ivory, the round white throat swelling7 ever so slightly to her breathing, when a sudden shout of surprised recognition aroused me from my reverie, and I looked up to see Jordan topping the sand-bank in our front, and waving his hand to some one beneath him and out of sight.
"See here, De Croix!" he cried, excitedly, "the prodigal8 has had good cause to lag behind. He has found the lost fairy of this wilderness9."
Before I could relieve myself of my burden,—for the mockery of his words angered me,—the French man appeared at his side, and glanced down where his companion's finger pointed10. For a moment he gazed; then he murmured a sharp French oath, and strode heavily down the sand-bank. There was a look in his face that caused me to lay the girl's head back upon the sand and rise hastily. The sudden movement ? 79 ? awoke her, and her dark eyes looked up in startled confusion. By this time I had taken a quick step forward, and faced De Croix.
"This lady is under my protection," I said, a bit hotly, not relishing11 the manner of his approach, "and any disrespect from either of you will be unwarranted."
He paused, evidently surprised at my bold front, and his lip curled contemptuously.
"Ah, my young game-cock!" he ejaculated, surveying me curiously12. "So you have spurs, and think you can use them? Well, I have no quarrel with you, but perchance I may have more reason to be the protector of this young lady than you suppose. Stand aside, Monsieur."
She had risen from the sand, and now stood erect13 beside me. I saw Jordan grinning in great enjoyment14 of the scene, and that De Croix's eyes were full of anger; but I would not stir. In my heart I felt a dull pain at his words, a fear that they might prove too true; but I remained where I was, determined16 to take no step aside until she herself should judge between us.
"Will you stand back, Monsieur?" he said, haughtily17, dropping his hand upon the hilt of his rapier, "or shall I show you how a gentleman of France deals with such impertinence?"
If he thought to affright me with his bravado18, he reckoned ill of my nature, for I have ever driven badly; ? 80 ? my blood seems slow to heat, though it was warm enough now.
"If the lady wishes it, you may pass," I answered shortly, my eyes never leaving his face. "Otherwise, if you take so much as another step I will crush every bone in your body."
He saw I meant it, but there was no cowardice19 in him; and the steel had already flashed in the sunlight to make good his threat, when she touched me gently upon the shoulder.
"I beg you do not fight," she urged. "I am not worthy20, and 'tis all unneeded. Captain de Croix," and she swept him a curtsey which had the grace of a drawing-room in it, "'tis indeed most strange that we should meet again in such a spot as this. No contrast could be greater than the memory of our last parting. Yet is there any cause for quarrel because this young gentleman has preserved my life?"
De Croix hesitated, standing21 half-poised for attack, even his glib22 tongue and ready wit failing as she thus calmly questioned him. Indeed, as I later learned, there was that of witchery about this young girl which held him at bay more effectually than if she had been a princess of the royal blood,—a something that laughed his studied art to scorn. She noted23 now his hesitancy, and smiled slightly at the evidence of her power.
"Well, Monsieur, 'tis not often that your lips ? 81 ? fail of words," she continued, archly. "Why is it I am made the subject of your quarrel?"
"By all the saints, Toinette!" he exclaimed, striving to appear at his ease, "this seems a poor greeting for one who has followed you through leagues of forest and across oceans of sand, hopeful at the least to gain a smile of welcome from your lips. Know you not I am here, at the very end of the world, for you?"
"I think it not altogether unlikely," she replied with calmness. "You have ever been of a nature to do strange things, yet it has always been of your own sweet will. Surely, Monsieur, I did never bid you come, or promise you a greeting."
"No," he admitted regretfully, "'tis, alas25, true"; and his eyes seemed to regain26 something of their old audacity27. "But there was that about our parting,—you recall it, Toinette, in the shadow of the castle wall?—which did afford me hope. No one so fair as you can be without heart."
She laughed softly, as though his words recalled memories of other days, pressing back her hair within its ribbon.
"Such art of compliment seems more in place at Montreal than here. This is a land of deeds, not words, Monsieur. Yet, even though I confess your conclusion partially28 true, what cause does it yield ? 82 ? why you should seek a quarrel with my good friend, John Wayland?"
"You know him, then?" he asked, in quick astonishment29.
"Know him! Do you think I should be here otherwise? Fie, Captain de Croix, that you, the very flower of the French court, should express so poor a thought of one you profess30 to respect so highly!"
He looked from one to the other of us, scarce knowing whether she were laughing at him or not.
"Sacre!" he exclaimed at last. "I believe it not, Mademoiselle. The boy would have boasted of such an acquaintance long before this. You know him, you say, for how long?"
"Since yester even, if you must know. But he has a face, Monsieur, a face frank and honest, not like that of a man long trained at courts to deceive. 'Tis for that I trust him, and have called him friend."
"No, Captain de Croix," she exclaimed, proudly. "I know the frontiersmen of my father's blood. They are brave men, and true of heart. This John Wayland is of that race." And she rested one hand lightly upon my arm.
The motion, simple as it was, angered him.
"You ask why I sought quarrel," he said sternly. "'Twas because I suspected this uncouth31 hunter had wronged you. Now I understand 'twas of your own ? 83 ? choice. I wish you joy, Mademoiselle, of your new conquest."
I felt the girl's slight form straighten, and saw his bold eyes sink beneath the flame of her look.
"Captain de Croix," and every sentence stung like the lash5 of a whip, "those are cowardly words, unworthy a French gentleman and soldier. Did you leave all your courtesy behind in Montreal, or dream that in this wilderness I should cringe to any words you might speak? You wish the truth; you shall have it. Three days ago, through an accident, I drifted, in an oarless33 boat, out from the river-mouth at Fort Dearborn to the open lake. None knew of my predicament. A storm blew me helpless to the southward, and after hours of exposure to danger, and great mental anguish34, I was driven ashore35 amid the desolation of this sand. This comrade of yours found me scarce alive, ministered to my sore need, protected me through the hours of the night, stood but now between me and your ribaldry, counting his life but little beside the reputation of a woman. He may not wear the latest Paris fashions, Monsieur, but he has proved himself a man."
"I meant not all I said, Toinette," he hastened to explain. "You will forgive, I know, for I was sorely hurt to find that some one else had done the duty that was plainly mine. Surely no rude backwoodsman is to come between us now?"
? 84 ?
She glanced from the one to the other, with true French coquetry.
"Faith, I cannot tell, Monsieur," she said, gayly; "stranger things have happened, and 'tis not altogether fine clothes that win the hearts of maidens36 on this far frontier. We learn soon to love strength, and the manly37 traits of the border. On my word, Monsieur, this John Wayland seems to have rare powers of body; I imagine he might even have crushed you, as he said."
"Think you so?" he asked, eying me curiously. "Yet 'tis not always as it looks, Mademoiselle."
It came so quickly as to startle me. I was wondering at the smile that curled his lips, when he sprang upon me, casting his arms around my waist, and twining one leg about mine. The shock of this sudden and unexpected onset38 took me completely by surprise, and I gave back sharply, scarce realizing his purpose, till he had the under-hold, and sought to lift me for a throw. 'Twas my weight alone that saved me, together with the rare good fortune that I had been leaning upon my gun.
As the breath came back to me, we locked grimly in a fierce struggle for the mastery. I had felt the straining grip of strong arms before, but De Croix surprised me, he was like steel, quick of motion as a wild-cat, with many a cunning French wrestling trick that tried me sorely. I heard a quick exclamation39 ? 85 ? of surprise from the girl, a shout of delighted approval from Jordan, and then there was no sound but the harsh trampling40 of our feet and the heavy breathing. De Croix's effort was to lift me to his hip32 for a throw; mine, to press him backward by bodily strength. Both of us were sadly hindered by the sliding sand on which we strove. Twice I thought I had him, when my footing failed; and once he held me fairly uplifted from the ground, yet could not make the toss. 'Twas a wild grapple, for when we had exhausted41 all the tricks we knew, it came to be a sheer test of physical endurance. Then, for the first time, I felt myself the master,—though he was a man, that gay French dandy, and never did my ribs42 crack under the pressure of a stronger hand. But I slowly pressed him back, inch by inch, struggling like a demon43 to the last, until I forced his shoulders to the sand.
For a moment he lay there, panting heavily; then the old frank and easy smile came upon his lips.
"Your hand, monsieur," he said; "that is, if it yet retains sufficient strength to lift me."
"I have done my very best, Mademoiselle, 'Tis defeat, but not disgrace, for I have made your giant puff45 to win. May I not hope it has won me restoration to your good graces?"
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收听单词发音
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1
watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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4
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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5
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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6
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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7
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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prodigal
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| adj.浪费的，挥霍的，放荡的 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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relishing
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| v.欣赏( relish的现在分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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12
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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13
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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15
rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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16
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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18
bravado
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| n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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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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glib
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| adj.圆滑的，油嘴滑舌的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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28
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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30
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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32
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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33
oarless
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| adj.无桨的 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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36
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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37
manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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38
onset
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| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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39
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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40
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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41
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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42
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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43
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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44
gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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45
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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