It was Dr. Pinfold who thus chatted and laughed. He had come to see Io start on her expedition, and was rejoiced to find his favourite looking already in much better health. Io’s spirits had rebounded2 after their late depression, the cause of that depression having been suddenly removed. She looked bright and quite ready to enjoy herself as she gazed up laughingly at the elephant, wondering how she should ever reach the height of his back.
“Make the brute3 kneel to his lady, as in duty bound!” cried the doctor to the kahaut [driver], who was perched on the elephant’s neck. The man shook his head, and jabbered4 something unintelligible5 to most of the party.
“He says that this elephant is not trained to kneel,” said Oscar, coming up at the moment. “We have a short elephant-ladder which we will carry with us.—Io, my love, are you ready to mount?”
With the aid of her husband and the doctor Io very soon reached the howdah, and smiled down on those who had helped her to attain6 her lofty position.
“A little queen on her throne!” cried the doctor.
“Please help Maha too,” said Io. But the active little Karen needed no help; she clambered up the steps like a cat.
“This is not sticking-plaster; do you not see the labels?” cried Thud. “This is what I am going to stow my specimens10 in—this is the nucleus11 of a museum.”
“You’ll have some rare treasures in it,” said the merry doctor. “I hope you’ve left a pocket for bandages and salve, in case you come to grief in your specimen9-hunting.—Coldstream, how do you travel?”
“On foot. I like the exercise,” replied Oscar. “We shall proceed but slowly. I can easily keep up with the elephant.”
“But hardly with the tat. Ha! ha! ha!—Mind, Thud, how you get up; the brute looks as if he were given to biting. No, no, don’t venture behind him; he puts back his ears—he’s certain to kick.”
“Hold him, will you? and don’t laugh!” cried Thucydides Thorn. “I don’t like the looks of the beast.”
Awkwardly the heavy lad mounted, secretly regretting the accident to Lightfoot, which had prevented his having the chance of a better mount. The Burmese tat might have tried the mettle12 of a better rider than Thud. First, Ma Ping—such was his name—determined not to stir from the spot. In vain Thud tried to coax13 him to go on, then cautiously touched him up with the whip, Pinfold looking on and laughing.
“Give it him, Thud!” cried the doctor, bestowing14 on the tat a gratuitous15 whack16 with his own umbrella.
The unexpected blow from behind had instantaneous effect. Ma Ping suddenly bolted off at a pace which almost unseated his rider. Off came Thud’s pagri and hat; but he clung desperately17 to the pommel with which the native saddle was happily furnished, without the aid of which the youth would certainly have come to the ground.
“‘Away went Gilpin, who but he!’” exclaimed Pinfold in high glee; indeed, no one acquainted with Cowper’s poem could have seen Thud at that moment without being reminded of the “citizen of credit and renown18.” The tat’s rapid motion had twisted round Thud’s black case, and, hanging by its red strings19, it streamed like a pennon behind him.
The tat was, however, brought up in its career by a cactus20 hedge; and Thud, panting and frightened but unhurt, awaited the coming up of the elephant and the rest of the party.
Thud made another attempt to arrange that Maha should change places with himself; the tat would suit a Karen, he declared, and he would prefer a howdah. But to this arrangement Oscar decidedly objected. He again gave his brother-in-law the alternative of remaining in Moulmein, but to this suggestion the lad would not listen. The specimen case was twisted round to its proper position, the hat and dusty pagri replaced, and Thud proceeded on his tat in rather a sulky condition.
Io enjoyed her ride; everything was to the youthful Englishwoman so strange and new. The party passed by paddy-fields, in which men and women were working together. The peasants stopped their labours to stare in wonder at a fair lady, who in return gazed down with curiosity upon them.
“O Oscar, look at that boy smoking a cigar three times the size of Dr. Pinny’s, with another stuck in each ear! How strange everything looks to my English eyes! What wonderfully tall grass we are approaching! It would almost hide my elephant; the tat will be lost in it altogether. Graceful22 bamboos! with what dignity they raise aloft their feathery crowns; and surely that is a banyan24, that tree of which I have read so often, that looks like a dark green roof resting on gnarled brown pillars, with big roots, like snakes, curling at their bases. This bird’s-eye view of a new world is very amusing. What a flight of parrots—lovely green, screaming parrots! And see that bird with flashing blue wings—such an exquisite25 metallic26 tint27! Certainly, if our English birds excel those of the East in song, these far excel ours in plumage.”
With such cheerful chat Io Coldstream beguiled28 the way. Oscar encouraged his wife to talk, gathered for her wild flowers wherever he could see any remarkable29 for beauty, and bade Io employ Maha’s deft30 fingers in making garlands for the howdah. He told stories of hunting adventures, and promised his wife specimens of birds to take home, as he had not forgotten to bring his gun.
“I think that my Oscar is getting back his spirits; the change is already doing him good,” such was the hope which brightened everything to Io. She was almost sorry when the first stage of the journey came to an end, and the party halted to rest their animals, and themselves partake of a meal which they found ready cooked, as Coldstream had sent on servants in front to prepare it.
“Tired? Oh no, not in the least tired,” cried Io, as her husband helped her down the elephant-ladder; “I am only hungry after my delightful31 ride.”
“I’m famishing!” exclaimed Thud. “My ride has been anything but delightful. I’m as stiff as if I’d been beaten.”
“There is still time for you to return,” observed Oscar.
“I don’t want to return; but I want to ride the elephant—he’s a quiet, sensible sort of beast. Can’t the beggar girl go on the tat?”
“It seems hardly worth while to pitch the tent now,” observed Coldstream to Io; “we shall have to do so at night.”
“But not now, oh, not now! with this delightful cluster of trees to spread over us their shade and shed their golden blossoms upon us,” was the cheerful reply.
Thud ate ravenously32, and then solaced33 himself for his fatigues34 and perils35 by sleeping on a soft, luxurious36 rug spread on the ground. Oscar, after his long walk, and with another before him, also stretched himself on the grass, but he did not sleep. He was listening to the voice of his Io, warbling to herself a sweet, happy lay. Io sang as the birds sing, pouring forth37 the rich notes as if they came spontaneously from a thankful, trustful heart:—
“The angry thunder-cloud
Pours its showers on the vine;
Unhurt the clusters shine.
They cannot harm, they cannot stay.
“On ocean the sea-mew
Fearless braves the stormy weather,
Safe in the oily dew
On each soft and glist’ning feather.
It cannot harm, it cannot stay.
“In hours of grief acute
Thus peace religion brings,
Like the bloom upon the fruit,
Or the oil upon the wings.
Though tears fall fast in sorrow’s day,
They cannot harm, they cannot stay.”
“Sing that again, my love,” said Oscar.
“I did not know that you were listening; I thought that I had lulled41 you to sleep,” said Io. “So you like my little song?”
“Your music is my solace,” replied Oscar; “it tells me that you are happy, and to see you so is my greatest earthly desire.”
“I have one song which you have not heard yet,” observed Io. “I stole the air from the world; it is a pretty old English tune42. You know that Luther said that the evil one should not have the best music.”
“Sing it by all means,” cried Oscar; and his wife cheerfully obeyed:—
“I’m waiting for the dawn of day,
When joy shall end earth’s sin and sadness,
When every shade shall pass away—
Oh, how happy—Christ possessing—
His smile so bright,
My joy, delight,
And every thought a thought of pleasure.”
Thus Io sang song after song. To Oscar each one seemed sweeter than the last. Was the loving minstrel not charming the dark spirit of sorrow away? It was not till the sun was sloping towards the west that, the burdens being replaced on the mules45, Io and Maha mounted again to the howdah.
“This has been such a happy day!” observed Io to her husband, as again the little cavalcade46 moved on.
But the day was not to close without its adventure. Thud, tired of his troublesome tat, asked Oscar to mount the animal. “You may bring the brute into order; I don’t mind walking a little. Perhaps I may find something to put into my specimen bag.”
But Thud soon became weary of walking. A stubble field afforded no materials for his museum, and the path was thickly covered with dust. The tat, ridden by Oscar, looked quiet enough, and Thucydides Thorn expressed a wish to try him again.
Oscar dismounted, and held the tat’s bridle47 to enable his companion to get up—a feat23 not very easily accomplished48 by Thud, who was awkward at mounting. But once in the saddle, the lad’s self-confidence revived; he resolved to show his mastery over the tat.
“I understand him now,” exclaimed the youth, shaking the rein49 and flourishing the whip. “I’ve a notion that an animal soon finds out what sort of man is on his back. My theory is—”
What Thud’s theory was remains50 amongst things unknown; for the tat made a sudden caper51, first turning completely round, then darting52 with speed in the direction of Moulmein.
“Stop him! stop him!” cried Thud; and as the tat dashed past the loaded mules, one of the drivers tried to catch at the rein. The tat swerved53, made a plunge54, and Thud measured his short length on the dusty road!
“Oh, I trust that he is not hurt!” exclaimed Io, who was near the place where her brother had fallen, but who could not dismount without aid.
The reply came in a howl of mingled55 anger and pain from the prostrate56 rider. Oscar hastened to the spot where Thud, who had now raised himself to a sitting position, was roaring like a two-year-old child, and pressing his handkerchief to his mouth.
“Help me down, Oscar,” cried the pitying Io. “I must see how much my poor boy is hurt.”
“There is not much harm done, I think,” observed Mr. Coldstream.—“Stand up and shake yourself, Thud. There are certainly no bones broken; the road was perfectly57 soft. Leave off crying, Thud; tears are unworthy of any one but a baby. There seems to be very little the matter.”
“Little the matter!” howled Thud. “Would you have called the matter little if you had had your two front teeth knocked out?” and, removing his handkerchief, Thud showed a tear-stained face, with a mouth whose beauty was by no means improved by an unsightly gap in the upper row of his teeth.
Thud carefully preserved the two teeth. Dr. Pinfold’s prediction had come true: these rare treasures, at least to their owner, were the first to be placed in the specimen bag.
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1
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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2
rebounded
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| 弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效 | |
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3
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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4
jabbered
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| v.急切而含混不清地说( jabber的过去式和过去分词 )；急促兴奋地说话 | |
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5
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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6
attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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7
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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8
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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9
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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10
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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11
nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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12
mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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13
coax
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| v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取 | |
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14
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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15
gratuitous
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| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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16
whack
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| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
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17
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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18
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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19
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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20
cactus
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| n.仙人掌 | |
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21
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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22
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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23
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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24
banyan
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| n.菩提树，榕树 | |
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25
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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26
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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27
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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28
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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29
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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30
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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31
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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32
ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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33
solaced
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| v.安慰，慰藉( solace的过去分词 ) | |
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34
fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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35
perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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36
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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37
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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38
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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39
trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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40
briny
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| adj.盐水的；很咸的；n.海洋 | |
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41
lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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42
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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43
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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44
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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45
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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46
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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47
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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48
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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49
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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50
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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51
caper
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| v.雀跃，欢蹦；n.雀跃，跳跃；续随子，刺山柑花蕾；嬉戏 | |
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52
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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53
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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55
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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56
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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57
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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