The shepherd had got over his first impression, and nothing could be more friendly than his manner toward them. He gave a still stronger proof of his confidence and friendship.
"So you think of going to the mines, my lads," he said.
"Yes, sir."
"I don't know about the wisdom of your plans. It isn't all that find the gold they look for. Are you expecting to come back with fortunes?"
"They would not be unwelcome, sir," said Harry3, "but we shall at any rate like the advantage of it, and we are young enough to try experiments."
"That's true; but about the gold I'm thinkin' you'll be disappointed. At any rate I'll make you an offer—the two of you. Stay here and help me tend sheep. I'll give you your living and clothes, and when you are twenty-one, I will make you a present of a hundred sheep each to start in business for yourselves."
The proposal took Harry and Jack4 by surprise. They could not but observe that Lucy's face brightened with hope, as she awaited their answer. It was clear that she hoped it would be favorable. It must be acknowledged that this made a considerable impression upon them. Lucy was a pretty girl, and they felt flattered by her desire that they should remain. But their resolution was only shaken, not changed. They had but to look about them at the unbroken solitude5 to feel that life under such circumstances would be unendurable. Both of them had led lives of activity and excitement, and neither felt prepared to settle down, but they felt grateful.
"Jack and I thank you for your kindness, Mr. Campbell," said Harry, "and consider your offer a good one. But it would be lonely for us here, and, though we may change our minds, we would like to try the gold-fields first."
"It's only natural, lads," said the shepherd. "You are young, and you crave6 excitement. When you are as old as I am, you won't mind the quiet. Go, then, to Bendigo, but if you have bad luck, come back here, and you shall be welcome to stay as long as you like, and to accept my offer if you feel like it then."
"I am sorry you won't stay," said Lucy, with a shade of sadness.
"I wish we could be contented7 to do so," said Harry. "You may be sure we won't forget your kindness, Miss Campbell."
"Do you mean me?" asked Lucy, smiling. "I never was called Miss Campbell before."
"I will say Lucy, if you will allow me."
"I would rather you did."
"Then good-by, Lucy. We shall always remember you."
"And you will come back some day?"
"If we can."
"Then good-by, and don't forget your promise."
There was a suspicious moisture in the girl's eyes, for she knew that when the young visitors were gone she would feel lonelier than ever.
"That's a nice girl, Jack," said Harry after a pause.
"That's so, Harry. I never saw a girl so nice before," responded Jack emphatically.
"Do you know, Jack," said Harry, turning to him with a smile, "it is just as well we are going away."
"What do you mean, Harry?"
"If we stayed here till we were both young men, we might both fall in love with Lucy, and quarrel over her."
"I might fall in love with her, but I would never quarrel with you, Harry," said Jack affectionately.
"No, Jack, I don't think you would. Nothing shall ever divide us."
"You are very kind to a poor sailor boy," said Jack. "You know a great deal more than I, and I am not fit to be your friend."
"Take care, Jack, I may quarrel with you if you say anything against yourself. Fit or unfit, you are my chosen friend, and I should not be willing to exchange you for anyone else I have ever met."
"Not even for Montgomery Clinton?" said Jack archly.
"Not even for him, with all his stock of trousers."
Reference was made to a young man from Brooklyn, a fellow passenger on the ship Nantucket, who had acquired the reputation of a dude, and had afforded much amusement to all on board. He will be remembered by the readers of the preceding volume, "Facing the World."
The boys did not set out on their journey empty-handed. Lucy, by direction of her father, had packed a basket with provisions enough to last them two or three days. The shepherd wished also to lend them some money, but this Harry declined.
"We might not be able to pay it back," he said.
"I shan't miss it, lads, if you don't," urged the shepherd.
"We might be robbed of it as we were of our other money, sir. We thank you all the same."
But they gladly accepted the basket of provisions, without which, indeed, they might have fared badly in that uninhabited wilderness8.
"How far is it to Bendigo?" Harry had asked the shepherd.
"Twenty-five miles, or thereabouts," was the answer.
"If it were a straight road and good travelling we might be there by night."! "But it is neither. You will be fortunate if you reach there in three or four days."
"Give us the direction, and we will try it, sir."
The two young travellers, refreshed by their night's sleep and two substantial meals, made good progress, and by noon found themselves, despite the difficulties of the way, seven miles distant from the station where they had received such hospitable9 treatment. By this time they were hungry, and were glad to sit down at the base of a gigantic gum-tree and attack the provisions they had brought with them. They were in good spirits and chatted cheerfully. Many thousands of miles away from home, without a penny in their pockets, and with only a basket of provisions between them and starvation, they did not allow themselves to be depressed10 by their uncertain prospects11, but looked forward hopefully.
"Jack," said Harry, "it seems so lonely here, I could easily believe that we two are alone in the world."
"It does seem so," said Jack.
"I feel a little like Robinson Crusoe on his island."
"Am I to be Friday?" asked Jack, with a smile.
Jack had read very few books, but who is there who has not read Robinson Crusoe?
"I don't think you are of the right color, Jack, but I would a good deal rather have you than Friday."
They were not so far away from human companionship as they supposed, as they soon learned to their dismay. Suddenly they heard a crunching12 as of steps upon the brush, and turning, they saw, with alarm, a tall muscular man with matted locks unprotected by a hat, a long untrimmed beard, and a suit hanging in tatters over his gaunt, bony figure. His eyes were fixed13 with a famished14 look upon the open basket of provisions.
The boys started to their feet in affright.
Harry took some bread and meat from the basket, and handed them to the stranger, who devoured16 them in silence. His appetite seemed enormous, and the boys saw in dismay that if he kept on there would be very little left. It was necessary, in self-defence, to limit the man's rapacity17.
"More, more!" he cried, when he had eaten all that had been given him.
"We have given you all we can spare," said Harry firmly.
"Give me the basket, or I will kill you both!" exclaimed the tramp, his eyes suffused18 with blood, and gleaming with fierce anger.
As he spoke19, he raised a knotted stick which had served him as a cane20, and swung it menacingly above his head.
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收听单词发音
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1
fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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2
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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3
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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4
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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5
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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6
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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7
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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8
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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9
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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10
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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11
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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12
crunching
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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13
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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14
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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15
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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16
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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17
rapacity
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| n.贪婪，贪心，劫掠的欲望 | |
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18
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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20
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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