CHAPTER XXXI. BEN BOONE.

 Ben Boone was a tall, loose-jointed man with a shambling gait, who looked as if he wished to get through life as easily as possible. It would be hard to find a man less ambitious¹. His movements were slow, and he seemed the incarnation of laziness.

 

He was as slow in speech as in action. Yet he was a successful hunter and had tramped about Colorado so much that no better guide could be found.

 

"I heard you wanted to see me, Mr. Packard," he said, when he made his appearance.

 

"Yes, I may have something for you to do. How are you getting on?"

 

"Not at all, squire². I'm a dreadfully unlucky man."

 

"So should I have been if I had been as lazy as you."

 

[Pg 281]

 

"What's the use of workin'? Things allus goes ag'inst me."

 

"I don't believe you would succeed under any circumstances. Do you know what makes the difference between you and me?"

 

"I reckon³ you was born to be rich."

 

"I was not rich till I came to Colorado, but when I came here I went to work."

 

Ben shrugged⁴ his shoulders.

 

"I've worked, too," he said, "but what's the good of it all?"

 

"Not much good in your case, I admit. However, I don't suppose you can be made over again, and if you could I don't think I would undertake it. There's one thing you do understand, and that's hunting. You've been pretty much all over Colorado."

 

"Yes, squire."

 

"I have a young friend here who would like to spend a week among the hills. He may not do much in the way of hunting, but he will carry a gun with him. He would like to explore the country a little under your guidance. I believe that is the only kind of work you are willing to undertake."

 

[Pg 282]

 

"Yes," answered Ben, in a tone⁵ of satisfaction. "I don't mind that."

 

"Then I'll tell you what I will do. You will take my young friend with you—his name is Rupert Rollins—and see that he has a good time."

 

"I'll do that, squire."

 

"I will furnish you with provisions⁶ sufficient to last you both a week, and will give you three dollars a day for your trouble. If there are any other expenses, Rupert will have money and will pay them. You won't need to spend anything, so there is no reason why you shouldn't save all your wages. How is your wife?"

 

"Oh, she's allus complainin'. She's had the fever'n ager last week."

 

"It is fortunate you have no children, for you don't seem to provide for even your wife."

 

"That's because I ain't lucky."

 

"Luck doesn't often come in the way of a shiftless man like yourself. Well, do you accept my offer?"

 

"Yes, squire. I'll be glad to do it."

 

[Pg 283]

 

"Send your wife here to-morrow morning. I will give her a part of your wages, so that she will have enough to carry her through while you are away."

 

"Give it to me, squire. I'll give it to her."

 

Giles Packard regarded him keenly.

 

"I can't trust you," he said. "If I give her the money I shall be sure she gets it."

 

"How much are you goin' to give her?"

 

"Two days' pay—six dollars. When you return, if you are away seven days there will be fifteen dollars for you."

 

Ben Boone grumbled⁷ some. He thought three dollars would be enough for his wife, but Mr. Packard was obstinate⁸. He understood Ben thoroughly⁹ and had very little confidence in him.

 

"You may be surprised, Rupert, that I should send you with such a man, but, shiftless and lazy as he is, he understands his business. He will prove a good guide, and will make you acquainted¹⁰ with some of the wonders of Colorado."

 

"I am quite satisfied, Mr. Packard."

 

[Pg 284]

 

"Uncle John, if you wish to join the party I am entirely¹¹ willing, and will pay your expenses also."

 

"No, Giles, I am getting too old for adventure. I have got to an age when a man prefers the chimney corner to camping out. It will do very well for Rupert, but I am about fifty years older than he is, and fifty years make a great difference. He can tell me till about his trip when he comes back."

 

"So I will, Mr. Plympton," said Rupert, with a smile.

 

Rupert looked forward to the journey with eager interest. He had always been fond of out-of-door sports, and the hunting expedition seemed to promise an experience entirely new to him. He little imagined what shape a portion of this experience would take.

1 ambitious   

adj.有雄心的，劲头十足的，有野心的

参考例句：

• One may be poor but never ceases to be ambitious.人穷志不穷。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

2 squire   

n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅

参考例句：

• I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
• The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。

3 reckon   

vt.计算，估计，认为；vi.计（算），判断，依靠

参考例句：

• Don't reckon upon your relatives to help you out of trouble.不要指望你的亲戚会帮助你摆脱困境。
• I reckon that he is rather too old to marry again.我认为他的年龄太大，不太适于再婚。

4 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 tone   

n.语气，音调，气度，色调；vt.（up）增强

参考例句：

• There was a tone of mockery in his voice.他说话的语气含有嘲笑的意味。
• Holmes used an informal,chatty tone in his essays.霍姆斯在文章中语气轻松随便。

6 provisions   

n.粮食，食品

参考例句：

• The campers got their provisions at the village shop. 野营者在乡村商店买食物。
• Both sides have to act according to the provisions of the agreement. 双方都应按照协议条款办事。

7 grumbled   

抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声

参考例句：

• He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
• The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。

8 obstinate   

adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的

参考例句：

• She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
• The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。

9 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

10 acquainted   

adj.对某事物熟悉的，对 某人认识的

参考例句：

• The students are already acquainted with the work of Shakespeare. 这些学生已经读过莎士比亚的著作。
• I have heard about your friend but I'm not acquainted with him. 我听说过你的朋友，但同他不熟。

11 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。