Already darkened by clouds and snow-drift, it was rendered still more gloomy by overhanging and snow-laden branches of stunted3 pines. It was just broad enough to permit the passage of a single vehicle, being a mere4 woodman’s track, which had been extended beyond the ordinary limits of such tracks, for his personal convenience, by Jonas Bellew, a trapper who dwelt at that part of the coast already mentioned as Boulder5 Creek6. The track followed the windings7 of a streamlet which was at that time covered with snow, and only distinguishable by the absence of bushes along its course. It turned now to the right, now to the left, as rocks, or mounds8, or cliffs presented obstacles. In some places it dived precipitately9 into a hollow that necessitated10 careful driving; in others it ran straight up to the brow of a hill at an angle that obliged the travellers not only to get out and walk, but also to aid their panting pony11 by putting their shoulders to the back of the sleigh. Here and there a level patch occurred over which they trotted12 briskly, and then down they went again by a steep incline into the bed of an ice-buried stream, to find a similarly steep ascent13 on the other side. Occasionally, coming to a wall-like cliff surrounded by a tangled14 and trackless forest, they were forced to seek the shores of the sea, and there, among rocks and ice-drift, pick their way slowly along.
Fortunately this road, just opposite to Jenkins Creek, where the McLeods had commenced their squatting15 operations, ran along the shore at some distance from the entrance to the creek, so that Redding could pass without encountering the newcomers, whom he was anxious to avoid until the question of the invasion of the Fur Company’s rights was settled.
Despite their utmost efforts, night began to close upon the travellers before they reached Bellew’s shanty16 in Boulder Creek.
“Take care, Monsieur, there is von portion dangereux here,” said François Le Rue17.
“Where?” asked Redding, as he checked the pony a little and looked earnestly ahead.
“Ah! dere!” exclaimed Le Rue.
His remark was needless, for at that moment the sleigh turned over a ledge18 of rock and pitched its occupants into a snow-drift.
“Killded?” gasped19 the Canadian, as he emerged from the snow with eyes, ears, and nostrils20 stuffed full; “no—not quite!”
Satisfying himself that no bones were broken, he turned abruptly21 to look for his companion, whose motionless legs sticking out of the drift were the only visible portions of his body.
Anxiously and swiftly did François drag his master out, and great was his relief when poor Redding looked at him with a bewildered gaze and demanded to know what had happened!
“Oh! I see, capsized,” he said, rising and pressing his hand to his brow, “I believe I must have hit my head against a stump22, for I’ve been slightly stunned23. However, ‘all’s well that ends well.’ Not hurt, François?”
“No, Monsieur,—not fatever.”
“That’s right, lend a hand to lift the sleigh—hoop! there—jump in.”
Le Rue obeyed. The bear-rug was replaced around them, and the pony, which had stood as quiet as a lamb during the accident, started forward again.
“Voilà! von light,” exclaimed the Canadian.
At that moment they had rounded the corner of a high cliff, and come into view of Boulder Creek. There was just light enough to make the chaotic24 grandeur25 of the place visible in a ghostly degree. Great boulders26 and masses of rock, which had fallen from the neighbouring mountains and cliffs, lay piled about in the creek or gully in wildest confusion. Some of these masses were as large as a small hut, but they were of all sizes as well as shapes. It was a weird27 scene, and forbidding; nevertheless some human being had seen fit to take up his abode28 there, as was made apparent by the light referred to by Le Rue.
Picking their way carefully among the boulders, the travellers at last reached a log-hut which was so small, weather-worn, and grey, that, from a short distance, it might have easily been mistaken, even in daylight, for one of the rocks by which it was surrounded.
The door stood wide open, and through it streamed the light of a roaring fire of wood. So powerful was the contrast between the ruddy light and the cold grey scene without, that to the approaching travellers it appeared as if the whole interior of the hut glowed with fervent29 heat.
In the small doorway30 stood the figure of a man who was so large as almost to fill up the entrance, and so black, by contrast with the glowing background, that neither feature nor form was distinguishable save his sharp outline. The outline, however, was a remarkably31 telling one. It told of a broad chest and square shoulders, of massive limbs, and an easy air, and a sturdy attitude, and suggested difficulty in the way of entering that hut without leave asked and obtained.
“Hallo!” exclaimed the outline, in a voice so deep that it must have been unfathomable.
“How d’ee do, Bellew?” cried Reginald Redding, as he drove into the stream of light, pulled up, and sprang from the sleigh.
“Hearty32, sir, hearty, thank ’ee,” replied the outline, advancing and becoming a little more visible on the surface as he did so. “Hallo! Le Rue, how are ’ee? Glad to see you both. Step in. A good fire on a coldish night is cheery—ain’t it, Mister Redding?”
“Indeed it is, Bellew, especially when the night happens to be also darkish.”
“Ha! oui,” interposed Le Rue, bustling33 into the hut with the bear-rug, “it vas so darkish dat ve capsize under de cliff an’ a’most knock de whole affair to smattoms—sleigh, cheval, an’ peepil.”
“I’m glad to see that the ‘peepil’ is all right, however,” said Bellew, glancing at his visitors with what may be called a grave smile; “it might have bin34 worse, for that’s an ugly corner under the cliff, an’ needs careful drivin’ even in daylight.”
“I’ve not come off quite scatheless35, however,” said Redding, rubbing the top of his head tenderly, “for here is a bump that would perplex the whole college of phrenologists.”
“Skin broke, sir?” asked Bellew, advancing and examining the part. “No, all right. A good supper will be the best cure for it. If I was a phrenologist now, I’d name it the bump of top-heaviness. Sit down, sir; sit down, Le Rue, an’ look after my kettle while I see to your nag36.”
So saying, their host went out and left his unexpected, but evidently welcome, guests to make themselves comfortable.
Although Jonas Bellew was a recluse37, he was by no means an ascetic38. He was marked by deep gravity of countenance39 coupled with a kindly40 humorous disposition41. No one knew where he came from or why he had taken up his abode in such a lonely spot. Many of the rough fellows who hang on the outskirts42 of the wilderness43 had tried as they said, to “pump” him on these points, but Jonas was either a dry well or a deep one, for pumping brought forth44 nothing. He gained a livelihood45 by shooting, fishing, trapping wild animals for their skins, and, sometimes, by doing what he called “odd jobs” in the settlements.
“Your home appears to me to grow wilder every time I see it,” said Redding, as Bellew re-entered the hut, and busied himself in spreading on a rough deal table the materials of a plain but substantial meal.
“That seems to be the idea of most men who come here,” replied the trapper, “but it’s not many that favour me with a visit.”
“Ha! vraiment, dat must be true,” interposed the Canadian, “for no body vill com’ here ’xcept them as do want hims legs broke.”
“Well, I have seen a few damaged shins and broken heads since I came to this location,” said Jonas, “but such accidents occur chiefly among the Canadian French, who seem on the whole to be a clumsy set.”
“Not von half so clumsy as de Engleesh, or Irish, or Scosh,” retorted Le Rue.
“Perhaps you’re right, an’ mayhap you’re wrong, lad, anyway here is supper. The Frenchmen are always good at their victuals46, so sit in an’ go to work. Take the keg, Mister Redding. I’ve not found time yet to make chairs, but it’s wonderful how well a man gets along without such luxuries.”
“Especially when a man sits down to a venison-steak like this,” said the fur-trader, taking the offered seat, while his man sat down on a block of wood set on end, and prepared to prove the truth of the trapper’s assertion in regard to French capacity for food.
“’Taint venison,” said Bellew, assisting his companions to the meat in question, “it’s bear.”
“Indeed? and not bad food for a hungry man,” returned Redding, as he began supper. “Where got you him?”
“Down near Jenkins Creek, where the McLeods are setting up their saw-mill.”
“The McLeods!” exclaimed Redding, looking up suddenly, “have you seen the McLeods?”
“Ay, I’ve bin helpin’ them a bit wi’ the mill. Goin’ down again to-morrow. If this weather holds, the ice must give way soon, and then we’ll be able to push ahead faster.”
The trapper said this quietly and without looking up from the bear-steak with which he was busy, so that Redding’s look of surprise appeared to be lost on him. The fur-trader and his man exchanged glances.
For a few minutes the process of mastication47 completely engrossed48 the trio, but the thoughts of the fur-trader were busy, for he was disappointed to find that one whom he respected so much as Jonas Bellew should thus coolly state that he was aiding the interlopers.
Presently he laid down his knife and fork, and said:—
“Are you aware, Bellew, that these McLeods have settled themselves on the Company’s reserve lands?”
“No, sir, I wasn’t aware of it.”
“Well, then, I now tell you that they have,” said Redding, who, unfortunately for himself and others, possessed49 an easily-roused spirit and was apt to become irascible when the rights—real or supposed—of the Company which he represented appeared in danger of violation50. “At least,” he continued, in a less positive tone, “I have reason to believe that such is the case, and I am now on my way to—”
He paused abruptly, feeling the impropriety of revealing his plans to one who, although a quiet and sensible man, and not given to talk too much, was, nevertheless, by his own admission, an aider and abettor of the enemy.
“Whereabouts is the boundary line?” asked Bellew, after a short silence.
“At Jenkins Creek—that creek is the boundary,” answered the fur-trader. “On which side of the creek have they begun to build the mill?”
“They haven’t begun yet, sir, but I believe they intend to commence on the south side.”
“So far well,” replied Redding, “but if I find that they have raised a stone or planted a stake on the north side of the creek, I’ll—”
Here feeling that he was about to give way to a boastful spirit, he got himself out of the difficulty of having to finish the sentence by making a sudden and somewhat stern demand for “more bear-steak.”
“Vid pleasieur, Monsieur,” said Le Rue, placing a huge slice on his master’s plate.
“Well, sir, I hope you’ll find that they haven’t overstepped the boundary,” said Bellew, “because the McLeods look as if they’d be troublesome customers to deal with.”
The fur-trader made no reply. He felt indignant at the bare idea of his being checked in doing his duty by any man, or men, who were “troublesome,” by which expression he understood Bellew to mean that they were resolute51 and physically52 powerful in opposition53; he therefore thought it best to avoid any further tendency to boast by holding his tongue.
Not so his volatile54 retainer, who stuck his fork into a lump of meat vindictively55, as if it had been the body of a McLeod, and exclaimed:—
“Hah! vat56 you say? troblesom, eh? who care for dat? If de Macklodds do touche, by von small hinch, de lands of de Companie—ve vill—hah!”
Another stab of the fork was all that the savage57 Le Rue vouchsafed58 as an explanation of his intentions.
In this frame of mind Reginald Redding and his man started off next morning on foot at an early hour, slept that night at a place called Sam’s hut, and, the following evening, drew near to the end of their journey.
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1
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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stunted
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| adj.矮小的；发育迟缓的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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windings
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| （道路、河流等）蜿蜒的，弯曲的( winding的名词复数 )； 缠绕( wind的现在分词 )； 卷绕； 转动（把手） | |
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8
mounds
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| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
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precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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necessitated
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| 使…成为必要，需要( necessitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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13
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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15
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；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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shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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rue
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| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
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18
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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23
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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chaotic
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| adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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27
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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33
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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35
scatheless
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| adj.无损伤的，平安的 | |
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36
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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37
recluse
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| n.隐居者 | |
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38
ascetic
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| adj.禁欲的；严肃的 | |
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39
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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40
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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41
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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42
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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43
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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livelihood
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| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
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victuals
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| n.食物；食品 | |
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47
mastication
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| n.咀嚼 | |
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48
engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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49
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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50
violation
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| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
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51
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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52
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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53
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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54
volatile
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| adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质 | |
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55
vindictively
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| adv.恶毒地；报复地 | |
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56
vat
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| n.(=value added tax)增值税，大桶 | |
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57
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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58
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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