On this occasion, however, all his nerve seemed to desert him completely. Slowly and cautiously he moved out from behind his rock, and, raising his rifle to his shoulder, tried to bring the sights within range of a spot behind the bear’s fore1 shoulder, near the region of his heart; but the weapon swayed about like a sapling in a gale2 of wind, and in two seconds’ time he had covered every inch of that side of the bear’s body except the one at which he wished to shoot.
281“This will never do!” thought Oscar, drawing in a long breath, as if he hoped in that way to calm his agitated3 nerves and stop the rapid beating of his heart, which now thumped4 loudly against his ribs5. “If I don’t kill him dead, or disable him at the first shot, my life is not worth a row of pins. If I stay here, or run, it’s an even chance if he don’t discover me and assume the offensive. I don’t know what to do.”
Oscar drew himself a little further back behind his rock, and took a moment in which to think the matter over.
He could not shoot; he dared not retreat; and he was afraid to stay where he was. It looked as though he had got himself into a tight place.
It has been said by those who ought to know, for they have “been there,” that when a person is drowning the whole of his life passes in review before him, like the scenes of a panorama6; and Oscar could now affirm, from personal experience, that a boy who unexpectedly finds himself in the presence of a full-grown grizzly7 has to pass through the same ordeal8.
282He did, at any rate. He seemed to remember everything he had ever done. Scenes and incidents long since forgotten, and which he had hoped would never be recalled to him, flashed through his mind like lightning.
His heart beat loudly and more rapidly than before, and Oscar became thoroughly10 frightened when he found that his strength was all leaving him. His rifle seemed to weigh a ton, and he gladly would have laid it down if he had not been afraid of attracting the bear’s attention.
All this while the grizzly stood motionless in his tracks, looking toward the thicket12 on the opposite side of the glade13 and listening. He did not appear to be aware of the boy’s presence, for he never once turned his gaze in his direction; but it was plain that something had aroused his suspicions.
Knowing that it would be the height of folly14 to risk a shot while his nerves were in that condition, the boy also turned his head toward the thicket; but his senses were not as keen as those of the bear, and he could neither see, hear, nor smell anything.
There was something approaching that cluster 283of bushes, however, and Oscar found it out a few moments later.
All of a sudden a tall figure glided15 out from behind a tree, and Big Thompson, carrying his rifle at a trail, and keeping his eyes fastened on the snow, moved out into plain view.
Then Oscar saw, for the first time, that the bear’s trail led from that thicket to his den9 under the rock. The guide, whom the boy supposed to be a mile away at that moment, had found it and was following it up.
He was running right into danger too. His eyes being fastened on the trail, he did not see the bear, which was as close to him as it was to Oscar. At least that was what Oscar thought; but, as it happened, the wary16 old hunter knew where the bear was as well as his employer did.
The boy’s fears were greatly increased now. For a moment he seemed utterly17 incapable18 of moving or speaking; and then, his power of action and speech coming back to him as suddenly as it had deserted19 him, he sprang to his feet and raised a shout that could have been heard half a mile away.
284“Look out there, Thompson!” he yelled. “The bear is right in front of you!”
There is nothing of which the grizzly stands so much in fear as the sound of the human voice.
Numerous instances are on record bearing evidence to the fact that men who have been stricken down and seriously wounded by these fierce animals have saved their lives by setting up piercing shrieks20 of pain and terror.
This grizzly proved to be as timid as any of his species in this respect. When Oscar’s shout awoke the echoes of the grove21 he turned quickly; and, giving vent22 to a hoarse23 “huff, huff!” which resembled, in everything except volume, the sound uttered by a wild hog24 when he is suddenly startled, made all haste to get around the rock out of sight; but before he had taken half a dozen steps he was floored by a bullet from Big Thompson’s rifle.
Now it so happened that this veteran hunter was quite as much disconcerted at the sound of Oscar’s voice as the grizzly was. He never dreamed that the boy was anywhere in that vicinity; and if he had held his peace a 285moment longer the guide would have given a much better account of himself.
As it was, Oscar’s shout of warning disturbed his aim; and instead of killing25 the bear outright26, as he could have done under almost any other circumstances, he only succeeded in inflicting27 upon him a painful wound, which aroused all the ferocity in his nature at once.
He got upon his feet in an instant, and, uttering growls28 of rage that made Oscar shiver all over, charged toward the hunter, whose coolness and courage were wonderful to behold29.
Having no time to recharge his muzzle30 loader, Thompson grasped the barrel with both hands, and, swinging the heavy weapon over his head, calmly awaited the onset31.
It was a picture for a painter; and on the brow of the hill a little distance away was another picture for that same painter, if he wanted something to represent “Fright.”
There stood Oscar, with open mouth and staring eyes, watching all that was going on below him, and so utterly overcome with terror 286that he did not know he had a gun in his hands.
Down came the guide’s rifle with tremendous force, and the anxious spectator held his breath in suspense32 while he awaited the result of the stroke. He fully33 expected to see the bear tumbled over with a broken head, for it did not seem possible that anything in the shape of a skull34 could withstand a blow like that.
It was simply terrific. The stock of the rifle, broken short off at the grip, flew ten feet away in one direction, while the barrel, slipping from the hunter’s hand, went whirling through the air in another.
The blow checked the bear for perhaps ten seconds, just long enough to give Big Thompson time enough to gather himself for a jump.
He made half a dozen of them—wonderful jumps they were, too—directing his course toward the hill on which Oscar stood, with the intention of seizing one of the overhanging branches and swinging himself out of the reach of his enraged35 enemy; but he had not calculated on the depth of the snow, and the first thing he knew he was floundering in a drift that was waist deep.
Oscar saves Big Thompson’s life.
287He was wedged in so tightly that he could scarcely move, while the bear’s superior strength and weight enabled him to work his way through it without the least difficulty.
The fierce animal closed in rapidly upon the now helpless hunter, and Oscar’s first impulse was to take to his heels, in order that he might not see that which would surely follow when the bear came up with him.
But instead of acting11 upon it he did something else—something that excited Big Thompson’s unqualified admiration36, and caused Oscar himself the most unbounded astonishment37 whenever he thought of it afterward38.
He drew his gun to his shoulder, and the solid rock beside which he stood was not steadier than the muzzle of that weapon.
Taking a quick aim at the butt39 of the bear’s ear, near the place where the spine40 joins the base of the skull, he pressed the trigger, and the enraged animal fell as if he had been struck by lightning.
So did Oscar, who, as soon as he saw the 288result of his shot, sunk down beside the rock, at the same time letting go his hold upon his gun, which slid, muzzle foremost, down the hill, and buried itself almost out of sight in the snow.
For a moment or two after that Oscar must have been unconscious. He did not see the guide move; but when he looked toward him again Big Thompson had worked his way out of the drift; and, having picked up the barrel of his rifle, was searching for the stock.
Seeing Oscar sitting at the foot of the rock, he called out to him in a cheery voice:
“Wal, perfessor, if ye haint done it fur Ole Ephraim this time I’m an Injun. What be ye sittin’ up thar fur? Come down an’ take a look at him.”
The boy tried to obey. With great difficulty he arose to an upright position; but his legs refusing to support him, he rolled helplessly down the hill and landed in a snow-drift, from which he was extricated41 by Big Thompson, who placed him firmly upon his feet.
“Why, perfessor!” he exclaimed with some anxiety, as he gazed into the boy’s pale 289face; “what’s the matter of ye? Thar aint no color into ye at all.”
“I don’t wonder that I look white,” panted Oscar. “I never before was so badly frightened. I haven’t a particle of strength. I thought you were a goner, sure.”
“Me too,” said Big Thompson cheerfully.
“I must say that you took it very coolly. You didn’t show the least fear. Your face isn’t white.”
“Wal, arter ye have been knocked about the mountains an’ prairies, an’ been snowed an’ rained an’ blowed on as often as I have, ye won’t show much white neither,” was the reply. “Of all the tenderfeet I ever seed yer the best. Put it thar!”
Oscar complied, and an instant afterward made the firm resolution that if he ever again did his guide a service he would not shake hands on the strength of it.
The hunter’s long, bony fingers closed over his palm with almost crushing force, and it was a long time before he forgot the terrible shaking up that followed. This was Big Thompson’s way of showing his gratitude42.
290“Now,” continued the latter, as he resumed the search for the stock of his rifle, “thar’s nigh on to a thousand pound of bone an’ muscle into that thar feller, an’ it would take us a week to drag him to the shanty43; so I say let’s camp here till ye fix him up for stuffin’. We aint got no blankets, but we’ve both got hatchets44, an’ firewood is plenty.”
Oscar was only too glad to give his consent to this arrangement. He was so weak from fright that the bare thought of walking to the cabin made him feel as though he wanted to sit down and take a long rest.
Big Thompson evidently understood just how he felt, for he straightway proceeded to strip the boughs45 from some of the evergreens46 that stood close by, and when he had piled these boughs under the overhanging rock he seated Oscar upon them.
After that he rolled the bear upon a drag, drew it up under the rock, and having started a roaring fire, picked up his employer’s breech loader and went out to shoot something for supper.
“Ye needn’t be oneasy, kase I shan’t go 291fur away,” said he as he was about to set off. “I don’t reckon ye feel so pert as usual arter seein’ Ole Eph with his dander riz, so I’ll kinder keep within shootin’ distance of ye.”
Big Thompson disappeared in the grove, and Oscar, with that delicious feeling of relief and contentment which a weary traveller experiences when he reaches his comfortable home and sinks into his easy-chair after a long, tiresome47, and dangerous journey, settled back on his fragrant48 couch and feasted his eyes on the grizzly. He was like a boy with his first pair of skates—he could look at nothing else.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
fore
|
|
| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
gale
|
|
| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
thumped
|
|
| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
ribs
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
panorama
|
|
| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
grizzly
|
|
| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
den
|
|
| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
thicket
|
|
| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
glade
|
|
| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
wary
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
incapable
|
|
| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
shrieks
|
|
| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
vent
|
|
| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
hoarse
|
|
| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
hog
|
|
| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
outright
|
|
| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
inflicting
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
growls
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
muzzle
|
|
| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
onset
|
|
| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
suspense
|
|
| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
skull
|
|
| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
butt
|
|
| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
spine
|
|
| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
extricated
|
|
| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
shanty
|
|
| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
hatchets
|
|
| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
boughs
|
|
| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
evergreens
|
|
| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
tiresome
|
|
| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |