CHAPTER XXVIII A TRIP ON HORSEBACK

 Three months passed and found Gerald still in his new home. There were no striking incidents during this time, but in a quiet way Gerald had effected a good deal in the way of change and improvement. The house was provided with new comforts, a safe had been sent from Helena, in which Thomas Nixon kept securities and valuable papers, a good deal of correspondence was carried on, Gerald acting¹ as private secretary. Meals were no longer sent in from the boarding-house, but a young Swedish woman was engaged as servant and housekeeper². In short, Mr. Nixon was beginning to live like other people.

 

To Gerald the most important event was the purchase of a horse for his use. At that time railroad facilities hardly existed in Campville, walking was difficult and fatiguing³ over the rough hills of Montana; and in traveling about for his employer Gerald found a horse of great service. He at any rate was in a position to contradict the statement that Thomas Nixon was a miser⁴, for the old man repeatedly offered him money outside of his salary, but thus far Gerald had declined with thanks.

 

One day Gerald brought back a letter from the morning mail, which Mr. Nixon read with thoughtful interest.

 

"I may have to send you on a journey, Gerald," he said.

 

"All right, sir."

 

"This letter is from the superintendent⁵ of a gold mine in Ransom⁶, seventy-five miles from here. I own a half interest in the mine. He writes me that the output for the last six months has been falling off, and that the value of the mine has greatly depreciated⁷. He ends by offering twenty thousand dollars for my share."

 

"Why should he want to buy it if the mine is falling off so largely?"

 

"That is what occurred to me. He closes by inviting⁸ me to go on and investigate for myself. He knows that I should not be likely to accept the invitation as my health is not sufficiently⁹ good."

 

"Did the superintendent offer to buy for himself?"

 

"He intimated that there was a man from New York whom he could induce to buy. I presume by a misrepresentation of the paying qualities of the mine."

 

"That would be a fraud," said Gerald.

 

"Certainly, and I don't care to defraud¹⁰ anyone."

 

"What did you regard as the value of your half of the mine?"

 

"At least thirty-five thousand dollars."

 

"Whatever I can do for you in this matter, Mr. Nixon, I shall be glad to do."

 

"I will send you to Ransom, not as representing me, but on a visit of investigation¹¹. Look about you, find out what you can, and report to me."

 

"I hope I shall be able to acquit¹² myself to your satisfaction."

 

"At any rate, I have great confidence in you, and shall be guided by your report."

 

"Is Ransom far from here?"

 

"About seventy-five miles. The way to it is across country, and at times the traveling may be rough."

 

"Oh, I can rough it," said Gerald, cheerfully. "Won't the superintendent be surprised at your not answering his letter?"

 

"I shall answer it. I will write that I will take his offer into consideration—that in a matter of such importance I cannot decide at once. I will also add that it is doubtful whether I can go to Ransom on account of my health, but he can write me any further information that he thinks may interest me. I will also give you a paper stating that you represent me, but that is not to be used unless it seems expedient¹³."

 

"Yes, sir, I understand. Have you any further instructions? When do you wish me to start?"

 

"As soon as you can get ready. I will make out a list of places along the route for your guidance. I would let you ask Mr. Loche for directions as to the course you are to take, but it might leak out where you had gone."

 

"I shall find the place, sir. I am a Yankee, and can ask questions."

 

"Take what money you need. I leave that to your discretion¹⁴."

 

"You put great trust in me, Mr. Nixon."

 

"Well, young as you are, you are my right-hand man. Mr. Nugent could have done me no greater favor than by sending you to me."

 

On the afternoon of the second day Gerald found himself riding up a rocky incline, probably fifty miles on his way. There was no other traveler in sight. This had been his experience much of the way. Through the clear atmosphere, however, he could see some scattered¹⁵ buildings, betokening¹⁶ the presence of a village three or four miles away.

 

"I wish some one would come along," thought Gerald. "I haven't seen a face for three hours."

 

Had Gerald foreseen in what way his solitude¹⁷ would be broken in upon, he would have hesitated to express such a wish.

 

Ten minutes later he heard a terrible roar, and, looking up quickly, turned pale with dismay, as he noted¹⁸ the approach of a huge lion advancing toward him at terrific speed.

 

He had never heard that lions were to be found in Montana, and his surprise was almost as great as his terror.

1 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

2 housekeeper   

n.管理家务的主妇，女管家

参考例句：

• A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
• She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

3 fatiguing   

a.使人劳累的

参考例句：

• He was fatiguing himself with his writing, no doubt. 想必他是拼命写作，写得精疲力尽了。
• Machines are much less fatiguing to your hands, arms, and back. 使用机器时，手、膊和后背不会感到太累。

4 miser   

n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly)

参考例句：

• The miser doesn't like to part with his money.守财奴舍不得花他的钱。
• The demon of greed ruined the miser's happiness.贪得无厌的恶习毁掉了那个守财奴的幸福。

5 superintendent   

n.监督人，主管，总监；(英国)警务长

参考例句：

• He was soon promoted to the post of superintendent of Foreign Trade.他很快就被擢升为对外贸易总监。
• He decided to call the superintendent of the building.他决定给楼房管理员打电话。

6 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

7 depreciated   

v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的过去式和过去分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视

参考例句：

• Fixed assets are fully depreciated. 折旧足额。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Shares in the company have depreciated. 该公司的股票已经贬值。 来自辞典例句

8 inviting   

adj.诱人的，引人注目的

参考例句：

• An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
• The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

9 sufficiently   

adv.足够地，充分地

参考例句：

• It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
• The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

10 defraud   

vt.欺骗，欺诈

参考例句：

• He passed himself off as the managing director to defraud the bank.他假冒总经理的名义诈骗银行。
• He is implicated in the scheme to defraud the government.他卷入了这起欺骗政府的阴谋。

11 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

12 acquit   

vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出

参考例句：

• That fact decided the judge to acquit him.那个事实使法官判他无罪。
• They always acquit themselves of their duty very well.他们总是很好地履行自己的职责。

13 expedient   

adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计

参考例句：

• The government found it expedient to relax censorship a little.政府发现略微放宽审查是可取的。
• Every kind of expedient was devised by our friends.我们的朋友想出了各种各样的应急办法。

14 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。

15 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

16 betokening   

v.预示，表示( betoken的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• a clear blue sky betokening a fine day 预示着好天气的晴朗蓝天

17 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

18 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。