CHAPTER XVII. — A WELCOME IN THE WILDS.

 Before Lucy could reach the door, it was opened, and a stalwart man of middle age paused on the threshold, in evident surprise.

 

"Whom have you here, Lucy?" he asked in a tone of displeasure.

 

"Two boys, papa, who came here in distress¹, having lost their way."

 

"Did I not caution you against admitting strangers?" continued her father with a slight frown.

 

"Yes, but these are boys, not men."

 

Harry² Vane thought it was time to start.

 

"I hope, sir," he said, "you won't blame your daughter for her kindness to us. We stood greatly in need of friendly help, having been robbed of everything by the bushrangers, from whom we managed by good luck to escape some hours since."

 

The shepherd regarded Harry keenly, and proceeded to cross-examine him.

 

"You say you were captured by the bushrangers?" he said.

 

"Yes, sir."

 

"When was this?"

 

"This morning, just after breakfast."

 

"Where did it happen?"

 

Harry told him.

 

"Where were you going?"

 

"To the mines at Bendigo."

 

"How large was your party?"

 

"There were only three of us—a countryman of ours and ourselves."

 

"Where is he?"

 

"The bushrangers robbed him and let him go."

 

"Why did they not release you and your friend?"

 

"Because, as a young member of the band told us, the captain meant to spare us to join the band."

 

"You are young to be travelling to the mines. What countrymen are you?"

 

"We are Americans."

 

"Humph! your story sounds well enough, but how do I know that you are not spies of the bushrangers?"

 

Harry Vane's eyes flashed indignantly.

 

"I hope you won't think so badly of us," he said.

 

The shepherd seemed somewhat impressed by his indignant denial, which certainly seemed genuine enough, but wanted information on one point.

 

"How did you manage to escape? That doesn't seem very probable, at any rate."

 

"We both took advantage of the excitement occasioned by the murder of Captain Stockton——" he began.

 

"What!" exclaimed the shepherd in profound astonishment³, "Captain Stockton murdered! When? By whom?"

 

Of course Harry told the story, but that need not be repeated.

 

The shepherd listened in evident excitement.

 

"If this is true," he said, "nothing better could have happened for this part of Australia. This man—Stockton—is noted⁴ everywhere as the most desperate and cruel of the bushrangers. I can't begin to tell you how many atrocious crimes he has committed. He killed my brother in cold blood three years since,"—here the shepherd's face darkened—"because he defended the property of another, and tried to save it from being stolen. If he is dead I am deeply, profoundly grateful!"

 

"You need have no doubt on that point, sir," said Harry. "Jack⁵ and myself saw him shot down. There can be no doubt of his death."

 

"I believe you speak the truth. You don't look as if you were deceiving me. So you took the opportunity to give the bushrangers legbail, eh?"

 

"We didn't stay to bid them good-by," said Harry, smiling. "We ran till we were out of breath, but saw no one on our track. Probably it was some time before we were thought of, and our escape noticed. We have been walking ever since, and were ready to drop with hunger and fatigue⁶ when we espied⁷ the light of your cottage, and ventured to ask for help."

 

"You are welcome to all that we can do for you," said the shepherd, his tone changing. "I was suspicious at first, for the bushrangers are up to all sorts of tricks, but the news you have brought insures you a welcome. At last my poor brother is avenged⁸, and the bloodthirsty villain⁹ who killed him has gone to his account. You don't know who is elected in his place?"

 

"No, sir, we came away at once."

 

"Of course, of course; I should have thought of that."

 

"I hope it isn't Fletcher," said Jack.

 

"Ha! what do you know of Dick Fletcher?"

 

"More than we want to. He it was who passed himself off on us as a returned miner, and betrayed us into the hands of his comrades."

 

"I know of him, too. He would be as bad as the captain if he dared, but he is a coward. His turn will come after a while. But, Lucy,"—here he addressed his daughter,—"you are not treating your guests very well. Where are your potatoes and other vegetables?"

 

"They were so hungry they preferred not to wait for them, papa."

 

"You may put them in the pot now. I want them, and I think our young friends will be able to eat them later."

 

"You are very kind, sir, but I am afraid Jack and I will not be able to compensate¹⁰ you. The bushrangers took all we had, and left us penniless."

 

"I don't want your money, boy. You are welcome to all you get in this house. We don't have visitors very often. When they do come, they have no bills to pay."

 

"Unless they are bushrangers, father!" said Lucy with a smile.

 

"If they are bushrangers, they will meet with a still warmer reception," said the shepherd grimly. "And now, daughter, hurry up supper, for I have a very fair appetite myself."

 

Lucy moved about quietly but actively¹¹ in obedience¹² to her father's directions. An hour later, or perhaps less, the table was spread once more, and all got up to it. The boys, though the edge of their appetite was taken away, managed to eat the vegetables with a relish¹³, not having had a chance to eat any for a considerable time, except at their hotel in Melbourne.

 

After supper they sat down beside the fire and talked. Living so much alone, the shepherd and his daughter were anxious to hear all that the boys could tell them of the great world from which they lived aloof¹⁴. Later in the evening, the shepherd, whose name, by the way, was Andrew Campbell, said, "Now, let us have a little music. Lucy, bring me the bagpipe¹⁵."

 

His daughter went into an adjoining room, and brought out a Highland¹⁶ bagpipe, which Campbell received, and straightway began to play upon it some characteristic Scotch¹⁷ tunes¹⁸. It was loud and harsh, but the boys enjoyed it for want of better.

 

"Don't you sing, Miss Lucy?" asked Harry, when her father laid down the instrument.

 

"No," answered the girl, smiling. "I wish I did. Father is very fond of singing."

 

"Aye, am I; Lucy's mother sang, but the gift has not descended¹⁹ to her."

 

"Harry is a professional singer," said Jack. "He sings in public."

 

"Please sing something, then," pleaded Lucy.

 

"If you really wish it," answered Harry.

 

"I shall be glad to hear you, young sir," said the shepherd.

 

Harry hesitated no longer, but sang at once, choosing such Scotch melodies as he knew in preference. The shepherd's eyes glistened²⁰, and he was evidently much moved.

 

"It calls back my early days, when as a lad I trod the heath in Scotland," he said. "You are a fine singer. I don't mind when I have enjoyed an evening as much."

 

"I am very glad, sir, if I have been able in this way to repay your kindness," said Harry.

 

"Don't speak of it, lad," said the shepherd, lapsing²¹ into his Scotch mode of speech. "We shan't miss the bit sup we have given you."

 

At nine o'clock all retired²² for the night, for the shepherd must be up early in the morning to look after his flocks. Harry and Jack slept in a small room back. They were very tired, and fell asleep as soon as their heads struck the pillow.

 

1 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

2 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

3 astonishment   

n.惊奇，惊异

参考例句：

• They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
• I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。

4 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

5 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

6 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

7 espied   

v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• One day a youth espied her as he was hunting.She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. 一日，她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了，她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子，现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• In a little while he espied the two giants. 一会儿就看见了那两个巨人。 来自辞典例句

8 avenged   

v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复

参考例句：

• She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 villain   

n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因

参考例句：

• He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
• The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。

10 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

11 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

12 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

13 relish   

n.滋味，享受，爱好，调味品；vt.加调味料，享受，品味；vi.有滋味

参考例句：

• I have no relish for pop music.我对流行音乐不感兴趣。
• I relish the challenge of doing jobs that others turn down.我喜欢挑战别人拒绝做的工作。

14 aloof   

adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的

参考例句：

• Never stand aloof from the masses.千万不可脱离群众。
• On the evening the girl kept herself timidly aloof from the crowd.这小女孩在晚会上一直胆怯地远离人群。

15 bagpipe   

n.风笛

参考例句：

• The bagpipe is a sweet musical instrument.风笛是一种听起来很悦耳的乐器。
• A wailful bagpipe played out in the night.夜幕中传来悲哭般的风笛声。

16 highland   

n.(pl.)高地，山地

参考例句：

• The highland game is part of Scotland's cultural heritage.苏格兰高地游戏是苏格兰文化遗产的一部分。
• The highland forests where few hunters venture have long been the bear's sanctuary.这片只有少数猎人涉险的高山森林，一直都是黑熊的避难所。

17 scotch   

n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的

参考例句：

• Facts will eventually scotch these rumours.这种谣言在事实面前将不攻自破。
• Italy was full of fine views and virtually empty of Scotch whiskey.意大利多的是美景，真正缺的是苏格兰威士忌。

18 tunes   

n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• a potpourri of tunes 乐曲集锦
• When things get a bit too much, she simply tunes out temporarily. 碰到事情太棘手时，她干脆暂时撒手不管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

20 glistened   

v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Pearls of dew glistened on the grass. 草地上珠露晶莹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Her eyes glistened with tears. 她的眼里闪着泪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

21 lapsing   

v.退步( lapse的现在分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失

参考例句：

• He tried to say, but his voice kept lapsing. 他是想说这句话，可已经抖得语不成声了。 来自辞典例句
• I saw the pavement lapsing beneath my feet. 我看到道路在我脚下滑过。 来自辞典例句

22 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。