Bruin looked up placidly6, but did not begin to climb at once. Probably he was fatigued7 with his race. Moreover he knew that his intended victim could not get away. The latter was emphatically and literally8 "treed." The bear sat upon his haunches and complacently9 regarded the Yankee.
Ebenezer Onthank made himself as comfortable as he could under the circumstances. He was by no means easy in mind, however. He was "holding the fort," it is true; but the enemy was in force outside, and evidently intended to remain. Worse still, he would probably after a while climb the tree, and this would bring matters to a crisis.
"You pesky critter! Why don't you go along about your business?" exclaimed the unhappy adventurer, shaking his fist at the foe.[Pg 151]
"If I only had a gun, I'd pepper you," continued Ebenezer. "I should like to put a bullet into that impudent11 eye of yours."
Though the bear had never received an English education, his instinct probably enabled him to understand the feelings of his intended victim, but he remained as placid5 as ever.
So an hour passed. At the end of that time the situation remained unchanged. The unfortunate Yankee was getting hungry, as well as tired of his somewhat constrained12 position. Bears probably have more patience than the human family, for Bruin had scarcely moved, except occasionally to wag his great head. He felt that in the game that was being played it was his adversary's turn to make the next move.
"I wish Tom and the Scotchman would find me out," thought Onthank. "What on earth makes them sleep so late?" he continued, irritably13. "They must be naturally lazy."
He may be excused for feeling irritated, though[Pg 152] there was no particular reason to expect his two friends to curtail14 their hours of slumber15 because he had done so. But he was not in a position where it is easy to be reasonable, and in his situation every minute seemed to him as long as five.
"How did you sleep, Tom?" asked the Scotchman.
"Tip-top. Did you rest well?"
"I have a gift of sleep," replied Ferguson. "But where is our Yankee friend?"
"I suppose he has taken an early walk," said Tom. "He will be back before long, I guess. We'd better not wait breakfast for him. I'm hungry for one."
The two friends proceeded to break their fast, washing down the rather stale provisions with water from a spring near by.
"I wish it were coffee," said Tom. "I'm tired of cold water."
"Doubtless the coffee would be more gratifying[Pg 153] to the palate, Tom; but it's likely the water is better for the health."
"I suppose you would refuse a cup of hot coffee, Mr. Ferguson, if it were offered you," said Tom, smiling.
"I don't say that, Tom. I would risk its effect upon my health for once. But, as we haven't got it, we may as well make the best of what we have."
Soon after their simple meal, which did not consume much time, Tom suggested to his companion that they set out in search of Mr. Onthank. He did not suspect that their missing companion was in trouble, but he thought that it would be pleasant to take a walk.
"You can go, if you like, Tom," said Ferguson, with characteristic caution. "I will remain behind to look after the camp."
"All right, Mr. Ferguson. I'll soon be back."
"Don't go too far away, my lad; and mind your bearings, so that you can find your way back."
"Never fear, Mr. Ferguson. It wouldn't be[Pg 154] very easy to be lost here. I'll keep my eyes open, and bring Mr. Onthank back with me if I see him anywhere."
Ferguson sat down, and indulged himself in reading, probably for the hundredth time, Walter Scott's Marmion, of which he had a small pocket edition; while Tom went on his way.
A fortunate chance directed our hero by an almost straight course to the very tree where Ebenezer Onthank was still perched with the grizzly standing17 guard beneath. From time to time he looked about him anxiously, in the hope of seeing the approach of one of his travelling companions.
It was with a feeling of joy, not wholly unmingled with anxiety, that he descried18 Tom descending19 a hillock not many rods away. As yet it was evident that our hero had not caught sight of the bear and his prisoner. It was very necessary to put him on his guard.
"Tom!" shouted Mr. Onthank, at the top of his voice.
Tom heard the call in spite of the distance, and[Pg 155] looked about him, but did not immediately catch sight of the speaker. It did not occur to him to look upwards20.
"Tom!" shouted the Yankee again. "Here I am. Look up in the tree."
That time Tom's glance detected his companion, and, not yet having discovered the bear, he was led to wonder why Mr. Onthank had climbed the tree. As he was advancing incautiously, Onthank shouted again, "There's a cursed grizzly under the tree. Don't come too near."
Tom saw the bear, and he paused suddenly. He was startled in truth, for he had been long enough in California to be aware that it was a dangerous beast.
"Isn't Ferguson with you?" asked Onthank, anxiously, for he knew that a boy of sixteen, even if armed, was no match for the king of the California sierras.
"No, he's behind in the camp," shouted Tom, in reply.
By this time the bear became aware that there was a second intruder within his precincts. He[Pg 156] turned his head deliberately21 and surveyed our hero. It is not within the range of the author to read the thoughts of a grizzly, but, from the indifference22 with which he turned away and resumed his watch, it may be inferred that he considered Tom too small game to merit his attention. This was rather satisfactory to our young hero, who was not ambitious to come in close quarters with so formidable an antagonist23.
Startled as he was, Tom maintained his ground. He wanted to help Onthank; but he did not know how to do it.
"What can I do to help you, Mr. Onthank?" shouted Tom.
"Blamed if I know," answered the Yankee, helplessly. "I wish Ferguson were here. It won't do for you to attack the beast single-handed."
"Shall I go back for Ferguson?" asked Tom.
"I don't know; how far away is the camp?"
"It must be as much as a mile."
"While you are away the brute24 may take it into his head to climb th[Pg 157]e tree, and then I am gone up."
"Haven't you any weapon?"
"No."
"I'll fire at the bear if you say so."
"It would be of no use. If you missed, or only grazed him, he would make for you."
"I wish you had my rifle," said Tom.
"So do I. I'd let him have it straight in the eye. Have you had breakfast?"
"Yes."
"I'm as hungry as a bear—as this bear who probably wants me for his breakfast. O Tom, if I was only back at Green Mountain Mills once more, I'd be content to live and die there, and all the gold in California wouldn't bring me out here again."
Tom stood silent and perplexed25. While he was considering whether he could do anything to help his friend, the bear slowly rose, approached the tree, and, grasping it between his paws, prepared to climb. He was evidently tired of waiting.
"He's coming, Tom!" shouted Onthank. "O Lord, what shall I do?"
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收听单词发音
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1
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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2
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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3
persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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4
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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6
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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7
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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8
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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9
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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10
deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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12
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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13
irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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14
curtail
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| vt.截短，缩短；削减 | |
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15
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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16
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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17
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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18
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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19
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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20
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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21
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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22
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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23
antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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24
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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