At many of their camps our voyageurs had met with this singular bird, and were always glad to receive him as a friend. They were now doubly delighted to see him, but this delight arose from no friendly feelings. Their guest was at once doomed14 to die. François had taken up his gun, and in the next moment would have brought him down, had he not been checked by Norman. Not that Norman intended to plead for his life, but Norman’s eye had caught sight of another “whiskey Jack,”—which was hopping15 among the rocks at some distance—and fearing that François’ shot might frighten it away, had hindered him from firing. It was Norman’s design to get both.
The second “whiskey Jack,” or, perhaps, it was the whiskey “Jill,” soon drew near; and both were now seen to hop16 from rock to rock, and then upon the top of the tent, and one of them actually settled upon the edge of the pot, as it hung over the fire, and quietly looking into it, appeared to scrutinise its contents!
The boys could not think of any way of getting the birds, except by François’ gun; and it was at length agreed that François should do his best. He was sure of one of them, at least; so telling the others to get behind him, he fired at the more distant one where it sat upon the tent, and took the other on the wing.
Both shots were successful. The two jays fell, and were soon divested17 of their soft, silky, hair-like plumage, and dropped into the boiling pot. They did not weigh together more than about six or seven ounces; but even that was accounted something under present circumstances; and, with the tripe de roche, a much better breakfast was made than they had anticipated.
No more of the lichen18 could be found. The rocks were all searched, but only a few patches—not enough for another full meal—could be obtained. The travellers had no other resource, therefore, but to continue on, and passing through the rocky ground, they once more embarked19 upon the wilderness20 of snow.
During that whole day not a living creature gladdened their eyes. They saw nothing that was eatable—fish, flesh, fowl21, or vegetable. Not even a bit of rock-tripe—in these parts the last resource of starving men—could be met with. They encamped in a plain, where not a tree stood—not even a rock to shelter them.
Next morning a consultation23 was held. Marengo was again the subject of their thoughts and conversation. Should they kill him on the spot or go a little farther? That was the question. Lucien, as before, interposed in his favour. There was a high hill many miles off, and in their proper course. “Let us first reach yonder hill,” proposed Lucien. “If nothing is found before that, then we must part with Marengo.”
The proposal was agreed to, and, striking their tent, they again set out.
It was a toilsome long way to that hill—feeble and weary as they all were—but they reached it without having observed the slightest trace of animal life.
“Up the hill!” cried Lucien, beckoning24 to the others, and cheering them with his weak voice, “Up the hill!”
On they went, up the steep declivity25—Marengo toiling26 on after them. The dog looked downcast and despairing. He really appeared to know the conditions that had been made for his life. His masters, as they crept upward, looked sharply before them. Every tuft that appeared above the snow was scrutinised, and every inch of the ground, as it came into view, was examined.
At length they crossed the escarpment of the hill, and stood upon the summit. They gazed forward with disappointed feelings. The hill-top was a sort of table plain, of about three hundred yards in diameter. It was covered with snow, nearly a foot in depth. A few heads of withered27 grass were seen above the surface, but not enough to subdue28 the uniform white that prevailed all over. There was no creature upon it; that was evident. A bird as big as a sparrow, or a quadruped as large as a shrew-mouse, could have been seen upon any part of it. A single glance satisfied all of them that no living thing was there.
They halted without proceeding29 farther. Some of them could not have gone another mile, and all of them were tottering30 in their tracks. Marengo had arrived upon the summit, and stood a little to one side, with the sledge31 behind him.
“You must do it!” said Basil, speaking to Norman in a hoarse32 voice, and turning his head away. Lucien and François stepped aside at the same time, and stood as if looking down the hill. The countenances33 of all three betokened34 extreme sorrow. There was a tear in Basil’s eye that he was trying to wipe away with his sleeve.
The sharp click of Norman’s gun was heard behind them, and they were all waiting for the report, when, at that moment, a dark shadow passing over the white declivity arrested their attention! It was the shadow of a bird upon the wing. The simultaneous exclamation35 of all three stayed Norman’s finger—already pressing upon the trigger—and the latter, turning round, saw that they were regarding some object in the air. It was a bird of great size—almost as large as an eagle, but with the plumage of a swan. It was white all over—both body and wings—white as the snow over which it was sailing. Norman knew the bird at a glance. Its thick short neck and large head—its broad-spreading wings, of milky36 whiteness, were not to be mistaken. It was the “great snowy owl22” of the Arctic regions.
Its appearance suddenly changed the aspect of affairs. Norman let the butt37 of his rifle fall to the ground, and stood, like the rest, watching the bird in its flight.
The snowy owl (Strix nyctea) is, perhaps, the most beautiful, as it is one of the most powerful birds of its genus—of which there are more than a dozen in North America. It is a bird of the Polar regions—even the most remote—and in the dead of winter it is found within the Arctic circle, on both Continents—although at the same season it also wanders farther south. It dwells upon the Barren Grounds as well as in wooded districts. In the former it squats38 upon the snow, where its peculiar39 colour often prevents it from being noticed by the passing hunter. Nature has furnished it with every protection from the cold. Its plumage is thick, closely matted, and downy, and it is feathered to the very eyes—so that its legs appear as large as those of a good-sized dog. The bill, too, is completely hidden under a mass of feathers that cover its face, and not even a point of its whole body is exposed.
The owl is usually looked upon as a night-bird, and in Southern latitudes40 it is rarely seen by day; but the owls41 of the Northern regions differ from their congeners in this respect. They hunt by day, even during the bright hours of noon. Were it not so, how could they exist in the midst of an Arctic summer, when the days are months in duration? Here we have another example of the manner in which Nature trains her wild creatures to adapt themselves to their situation.
At least a dozen species of owls frequent the territory of the Hudson’s Bay Company—the largest of which is the cinereous owl, whose wings have a spread of nearly five feet. Some species migrate south on the approach of winter; while several, as the snowy owl, remain to prey42 upon the ptarmigan, the hares, and other small quadrupeds, who, like themselves, choose that dreary43 region for their winter home.
Our travellers, as I have said, stood watching the owl as it soared silently through the heavens. François had thrown his gun across his left arm, in hopes he might get a shot at it; but the bird—a shy one at all times—kept away out of range; and, after circling once or twice over the hill, uttered a loud cry and flew off.
Its cry resembled the moan of a human being in distress44; and its effect upon the minds of our travellers, in the state they then were, was far from being pleasant. They watched the bird with despairing looks, until it was lost against the white background of a snow-covered hill.
They had noticed that the owl appeared to be just taking flight when they first saw it. It must have risen up from the hill upon which they were; and they once more ran their eyes along the level summit, curious to know where it had been perched that they had not seen it. No doubt, reflected they, it had been near enough, but its colour had rendered it undistinguishable from the snow.
“What a pity!” exclaimed François.
While making these reflections, and sweeping45 their glances around, an object caught their eyes that caused some of them to ejaculate and suddenly raise their guns. This object was near the centre of the summit table, and at first sight appeared to be only a lump of snow; but upon closer inspection46, two little round spots of a dark colour, and above these two elongated47 black marks, could be seen. Looking steadily48, the eye at length traced the outlines of an animal, that sat in a crouching49 attitude. The round spots were its eyes, and the black marks above them were tips of a pair of very long ears. All the rest of its body was covered with a soft white fur, hardly to be distinguished50 from the snow upon which it rested.
The form and colour of the animal, but more especially its long erect51 ears, made it easy for them to tell what it was. All of them saw it was a hare.
“Hush!” continued Norman, as soon as he saw it, “keep still all of you—leave it to me.”
“What shall we do?” demanded Basil. “Can we not assist you?”
“No,” was the reply, uttered in a whisper, “stay where you are. Keep the dog quiet. I’ll manage puss, if the owl hasn’t scared her too badly. That scream has started her out of her form. I’m certain she wasn’t that way before. Maybe she’ll sit it out. Lucky the sun’s high—don’t move a step. Have the dog ready, but hold him tight, and keep a sharp look out if she bolts.”
After giving these instructions, that were all uttered quickly and in an under tone, Norman moved off, with his gun carried across his arm. He did not move in the direction of the hare, but rather as if he was going from her. His course, however, bent52 gradually into a circle of which the hare was the centre—the diameter being the full breadth of the summit level, which was about three hundred yards. In this circle he walked round and round, keeping his eye fixed53 upon the crouching animal. When he had nearly completed one circumference54, he began to shorten the diameter—so that the curve which he was now following was a spiral one, and gradually drawing nearer to the hare. The latter kept watching him as he moved—curiosity evidently mingling55 with her fears. Fortunately, as Norman had said, the sun was nearly in the vertex of the heavens, and his own body cast very little shadow upon the snow. Had it been otherwise, the hare would have been frightened at the moving shadow, and would have sprung out of her form, before he could have got within range.
When he had made some four or five circuits, Norman moved slower and slower, and then stopped nearly opposite to where the others were. These stood watching him with beating hearts, for they knew that the life of Marengo, and perhaps their own as well, depended on the shot. Norman had chosen his place, so that in case the hare bolted, she might run towards them, and give them the chance of a flying shot. His gun was already at his shoulder—his finger rested on the trigger, and the boys were expecting the report, when again the shadow of a bird flitted over the snow, a loud human-like scream sounded in their ears, and the hare was seen to spring up, and stretch her long legs in flight. At the same instant the great snowy owl was observed wheeling above, and threatening to pounce56 upon the fleeing animal!
The hare ran in a side-direction, but it brought her as she passed within range of the party by the sledge. The owl kept above her as she ran. A dozen leaps was all the hare ever made. A loud crack was heard, and she was seen to spring up and fall back upon the snow, dead as a doornail. Like an echo another crack followed—a wild scream rang through the air, and the great white owl fell fluttering to the earth. The reports were not of a rifle. They were the louder detonations57 of a shot-gun. All eyes were turned towards François, who, like a little god, stood enveloped58 in a halo of blue smoke. François was the hero of the hour.
Marengo rushed forward and seized the struggling owl, that snapped its bill at him like a watch-man’s rattle59. But Marengo did not care for that; and seizing its head in his teeth, gave it a crunch60 that at once put an end to its flapping.
Marengo was reprieved61, and he seemed to know it, as he bounded over the snow, waving his tail, and barking like a young fool.
They all ran up to the hare, which proved to be the “Polar hare” (Lepus glacialis), and one of the largest of its species—not less than fifteen pounds in weight. Its fur, soft and white like swan-down, was stained with red blood. It was not quite dead. Its little heart yet beat faintly, and the light of life was still shining from its beautiful honey-coloured eyes. Both it and the owl were taken up and carried to the sledge, which was once more attached to Marengo, as the party intended to go forward and halt under the shelter of the hill.
“There must be some wood in this quarter,” remarked Norman: “I never knew this sort of hare far from timber.”
“True,” said Lucien, “the Polar hare feeds upon willows62, arbutus, and the Labrador tea-plant. Some of these kinds must be near.”
While they were speaking, they had reached the brow of the hill, on the opposite side from where they had ascended63. On looking into the valley below, to their great joy they beheld some clumps64 of willows, and good-sized trees of poplar, birch, and spruce-pine (Pinus alba), and passing down the hill, the travellers soon stood in their midst. Presently was heard the chipping sound of an axe65 and crash of falling timber, and in a few moments after a column of smoke was seen soaring up out of the valley, and curling cheerfully towards the bright blue sky.
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1
tripe
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| n.废话，肚子, 内脏 | |
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2
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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3
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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appellation
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| n.名称，称呼 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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7
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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magpie
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| n.喜欢收藏物品的人，喜鹊，饶舌者 | |
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pouncing
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的现在分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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pilfers
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| v.偷窃（小东西），小偷( pilfer的第三人称单数 )；偷窃（一般指小偷小摸） | |
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11
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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13
shun
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| vt.避开，回避，避免 | |
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14
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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15
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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17
divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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lichen
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| n.地衣, 青苔 | |
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embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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24
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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25
declivity
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| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
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26
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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27
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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sledge
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| n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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34
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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36
milky
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| adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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38
squats
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| n.蹲坐，蹲姿( squat的名词复数 )；被擅自占用的建筑物v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的第三人称单数 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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40
latitudes
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| 纬度 | |
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41
owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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42
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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43
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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44
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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45
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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46
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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47
elongated
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| v.延长，加长( elongate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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49
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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50
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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51
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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52
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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53
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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54
circumference
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| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
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55
mingling
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| adj.混合的 | |
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56
pounce
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| n.猛扑；v.猛扑，突然袭击，欣然同意 | |
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detonations
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| n.爆炸 （声）( detonation的名词复数 ) | |
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58
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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59
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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60
crunch
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| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
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61
reprieved
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| v.缓期执行（死刑）( reprieve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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63
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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