And it might be observed that if you should happen to have escaped from train robbers in the Rocky Mountains and have walked a dozen miles more or less in the night, a mess of fish cooked loose upon a wood fire is not half bad. You will find them charred9 and tasting of smoke (which is well) and elusive10 when subjected to the rules of table etiquette11. They crumble12 and fall apart and have to be sought for in the glowing fastnesses of consuming wood and extracted like the kernels13 of hickory nuts. They have to be caught all over again. But they are delicious—if you have lately escaped from train robbers in the Rocky Mountains.
In such a country as they were in one is much less likely to suffer from cold and exposure at night, notwithstanding the biting air, than in some tamer woodland where the ruggedness15 of Nature offers no natural shelters and wind-breaking rocks.
The boys, refreshed by their meal, but staggering from fatigue17, walked around the little lake in search of a shelter along the precipitous shore. They found a place which seemed to have been made for three weary scouts18, a place which, as Ed remarked, any boarding-house keeper in the East could get ten dollars a week for. It was not high enough to sit up in, but none of them felt like sitting up. Only a few pine branches were necessary to transform this little recess20 into a dormitory. And here the three award boys slept with a profundity21 which there is no word in any language capable of describing.
It was midmorning when Westy awoke, finding his companions still sleeping soundly. His joints22 were stiff and he found it soothing23 to his knees to hold his legs out straight. But he was not exactly tired. It was the aftermath of fatigue.
The sun was well up over the little mountain lake, glinting the water as it made its slow progress across the blue sky. How cheering it was! It seemed to radiate hope. How companionable—like a friend from home. The same genial24 sun that rose over the hills at Temple Camp and flecked the lake there with its glinting light. And here it was in the Rocky Mountains! What a change it wrought25 in the country and in the award boy’s spirit. Oh, he could do anything now, and all was well!
He stretched one leg out stiff and held it that way and lingered upon the ineffable26 relief that this afforded his knee.
Westy did not know how far they had walked in the brook27 during the night, nor in what direction, but the great mountains seemed still to be far away. He tried to identify the landscape with that he had last been able to see, which was from his vantage point in the big elm, but there was nothing recognizable now, only the brook.
He had thought that perhaps daylight would find them amid the wild fastnesses they had seen from a distance. But as he looked about he saw that the immediate28 neighborhood was not forbidding though it was wild and unpeopled. Could it be that he was in the heart of the Rockies? In such a place as Lewis and Clark, for example, had camped in their adventurous29 journey of exploration? The Rockies that he had dreamed of were always in the distance, holding themselves aloof30 as it seemed, from these hapless pilgrims. It was strange. Was he, in fact, in the Rockies?
He was, indeed, only the Rockies were too big for him. He had expected to find them under his feet. He had thought of them as something quite limited and distinct. Of course, there were dizzy heights and remote passes, terrible in their primeval wildness, and these it was not vouchsafed31 him to visit. But he was in the vast, enchanted32 region, just the same. Had he not escaped from train robbers in these very wilds? He, Westy Martin?
He felt in his pocket and made sure of the precious wallet of which he was the proud custodian33. It was there, smooth and bulging34; the whole thing was real. He had slept and awakened35 and the whole thing was real. If he had shot a grizzly36, as Dan Darewell in the Rockies by Captain Dauntless had done, he could hardly be more incredulous of his own achievement. He began to reflect how it had all happened.
He was glad that the others were not yet awake. Their sprawling37 attitudes bespoke38 rest rather than grace. There seemed no danger of their rousing. He did not know whether they were farther from the Yellowstone Park than they had been the day before or nearer to it. If their journey of the night had tended in a fairly straight course toward it then they might be now within four or five miles of it, perhaps even less.
There was no particular direction which attracted Westy’s gaze; he just gazed about. Mountains, mountains, mountains! They appalled39 him. He could see the mountains, but not the way through them. And they seemed impenetrable. One thing did attract his attention; this was a great tree far off, one of those big, lonely trees which serve as landmarks40. From the position of the sun he thought this was south. But this fact afforded him no enlightenment. East, west, north, south, were all the same; there was no telling where Yellowstone Park was.
Then suddenly, he noticed something else which did arouse his interest. Beyond the tree was a little dab41 of gray in the clear sky. He thought it a tiny cloud, but it dissolved even as he watched it. Immediately another appeared a short distance from where it had been and likewise dissolved. Then another.
“Those aren’t clouds,” said Westy. “They’re—— I bet it’s a train.”
He listened, but could hear nothing. But a little farther along, in line where the little dabs42 of white had appeared and disappeared, there straggled up a faint, half-tangible area of flaky whiteness which was gone instantly it was discernible.
“It’s a train all right,” Westy said, delighted. “I bet—I know it is.”
Beyond the point where he had been looking, the rugged16 landscape rolled away, magnificent, majestic43, endless. Here and there among the crowded mountains some mighty44 peak pierced the sky. No touch of human contamination was there, no gray streak45 imaginable as a road, no steeple, no green area of farm-land, with thin lines scarce discernible as fences. So it might have been a hundred thousand years ago. If man were there with all his claptrap he was swallowed up in the distance and vastness and all unseen by the scratched and tattered46 boy who stood barefooted in his wild refuge and gazed and gazed.
It was only scenery that he saw, and it would have been about the same had he glanced in another direction. Only the little, gray, dissolving specks47 had drawn48 his gaze there, and he looked long and wonderingly on the stupendous glory that was spread before him. He knew not what it was, in particular, that he was looking at.
Thus, Westy Martin, award boy, saw the Yellowstone National Park for the first time. Saw it as a scout19 should see it, divested49 by the kindly50 distance of every vestige51 of human handiwork or presence that it has. Saw it in all its awesome52 grandeur53, and saw not its boundaries or its artificial comforts, only its primeval magnificence extending mile upon mile and not distinguishable from the vast, mountainous country in which it lies.
Westy did not know that the area he was gazing at was within the boundaries of Yellowstone Park. His interest was centered in the little flickers54 of smoke that he had seen. If these indicated the railroad it would not be difficult to reach it, and from there on the way would be easy and perhaps short. For the hundredth time since he had become its custodian, he felt in his pocket to make sure the wallet was safe.
Then for a few moments he thought, standing14 there alone. He had always liked, at times, to be alone; he was that kind of a boy. But now he could not bring himself to end this romantic, musing55 loneliness. Well, fate had been kind to him (he gave all the credit to fate) and he had done something, something worth while. To be sure, there was nothing so very primitive about it, he mused56. Shining Sun doubtless could have made Nature yield him up a hundred various delectables out of which to make a feast. Poor Westy knew nothing about herbs and edible57 roots nor other commissary stores which the forest holds for those who know her secrets.
Again, he felt his pocket to make sure the wallet was safe. “I—I bet Shining Sun never even saw a wallet,” he said. “I bet he doesn’t even know how valuable money is.” Poor Westy, he could not hope to be a scout, free of all the prosaic58 contaminations of civilization, like Shining Sun. But at least no one could say now that he and his friends were just parlor59 scouts playing games in a backyard. . . .
He lingered just a moment more, gazing upon the vast, rugged panorama60 as if it were his, something he had won. Then he looked, not ruefully but with a thrill of pride, on his scratches and tattered raiment. Well, at least he could look Shining Sun in the face, and Mr. Madison C. Wilde, too, if he should ever encounter that jarring personage again.
Then he went over and aroused his friends. If the money in the wallet had been his, he would have given it for a cup of hot coffee. “Come on, get up,” he said; “we’ll have to catch some more fish if we can, but anyway, I think we’ll get there this morning; I think I know where the railroad tracks are. Have—I hope—have you got any matches left, Ed?”
“Absolooootly,” said Ed, sitting up refreshed and cheery as always. “And my trusty safety-pin is always at your service, Scout Martin. Where do we go from here?”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
affluent
|
|
| adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
heroism
|
|
| n.大无畏精神，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
poise
|
|
| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
civilized
|
|
| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
proceeding
|
|
| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
lighting
|
|
| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
primitive
|
|
| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
charred
|
|
| v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
elusive
|
|
| adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
etiquette
|
|
| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
crumble
|
|
| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
kernels
|
|
| 谷粒( kernel的名词复数 )； 仁； 核； 要点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
ruggedness
|
|
| 险峻，粗野； 耐久性； 坚固性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
rugged
|
|
| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
scouts
|
|
| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
scout
|
|
| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
recess
|
|
| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
profundity
|
|
| n.渊博；深奥，深刻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
joints
|
|
| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
soothing
|
|
| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
ineffable
|
|
| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
brook
|
|
| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
adventurous
|
|
| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
aloof
|
|
| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
vouchsafed
|
|
| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
enchanted
|
|
| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
custodian
|
|
| n.保管人，监护人；公共建筑看守 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
bulging
|
|
| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
grizzly
|
|
| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
sprawling
|
|
| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
bespoke
|
|
| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
appalled
|
|
| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
landmarks
|
|
| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
dab
|
|
| v.轻触，轻拍，轻涂；n.(颜料等的)轻涂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
dabs
|
|
| 少许( dab的名词复数 )； 是…能手； 做某事很在行； 在某方面技术熟练 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
majestic
|
|
| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
streak
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
tattered
|
|
| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
specks
|
|
| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
divested
|
|
| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
vestige
|
|
| n.痕迹，遗迹，残余 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
awesome
|
|
| adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
grandeur
|
|
| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
flickers
|
|
| 电影制片业； （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
musing
|
|
| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
mused
|
|
| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
edible
|
|
| n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
prosaic
|
|
| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
parlor
|
|
| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
panorama
|
|
| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |