Beautifully tolerant of all things, always moved by the spirit of “live and let live,” Queen could not understand men and insects. She could easily see why one horse might kick at another when the other came along and greedily seized upon his find of grass; but the desire to attack without reason or excuse, as it seemed to be in the character of men and insects, was unfathomable and wholly foreign to her nature. Whenever men appeared there was fear and confusion and anguish10. So, too, as soon as insects arrived, there was pain and discomfort11.
Had she been a meat eater, she would have perceived some connection between the joy of eating and the tragedy of being eaten; but Queen belonged to the sweetest-tempered race on earth, whose sustenance12 required neither pain nor blood, and so she could not understand, and being unable to understand, she feared.
There followed a period of windstorms which carried the pests away. For a long time the herd13 enjoyed once more the freedom of the wilds; but another hot spell came and one day as they were eagerly seeking the higher places, they ran into a cloud of a new kind of insect, which was worse than anything they had ever experienced. This new pest settled upon them in such numbers that they changed the appearance of their heads and when in fear they tried to shake them off, the insects crept into their ears and noses, stinging viciously.
It was now the last part of the summer, the time of the year when young ants, having acquired their wings, began swarming15; and this was one of the summers when these ants were more annoying than they usually are. Queen did not remember ever having come upon this pest before, and felt that it was peculiar16 to the particular neighbourhood in which they happened to be at the time. Accordingly, when first attacked by an unusually large swarm14, she turned to the south, and the herd loped at her heels. By running, they rid themselves of the young ants and so continued running, till the cool of the evening cleared the air of all insects.
Next day, however, they ran into another swarm and again took to flight. Thus they were driven back again into the vicinity of the bowl-like valley. There because things seemed familiar they remained.
A season of constant raining followed. The cold, the excessive wetness, and the strong winds drove all pests from the plains. The rainy season passed and frosts came night after night, spreading layers of white dew on the grass and freezing the surface of the spring lake. The exhilarating days of autumn were at hand, cool, clear, and sunny. The peaceful nights scintillated17 with the colours of the aurora18 borealis and the unhindered brightness of the stars. Life became again a protracted20 festival.
They were startled one afternoon by the sudden appearance of four strange horses who came plodding21 along in single file from the south. Queen discovered them first as they were coming down the slope of a hill. Like the rest of the herd she stopped grazing and stared at them curiously22. Because she saw no men on them or near them and because they came so wearily, so unenergetically, she was not afraid of them, though she regarded them with suspicion.
When they came within a few hundred feet, the herd moved off to the side, from where they studied them curiously to learn their intentions. But the strangers did not even look toward them. Doggedly23 bobbing their weary heads, they made straight for the lake. The leader was a big, red horse with an ugly pugnacious24 face, the nose bone of which curved, very peculiarly, outward. His hip25 bones protruded26 out of deep hollows in his back and his sides, fallen in, revealed distinctly every hair covered rib27. Behind him lumbered28 a white mare29 so bent30 upon limping fast enough to keep up with him that she did not take her eyes off him. The third was a miserable-looking bay pony31 and the last was an old jade32, black as a crow. All were thin and bedraggled and two of them had sores on their necks and breasts. The white mare seemed to have suffered most, for one of her hind19 legs was swollen33 to twice its normal size, and she limped very painfully.
When the queer-looking procession caught sight of the lake, they broke the line and ran down to the water, where they drank as if they had been without water for many days. While they were drinking the herd surrounded them, intending peacefully to sniff34 noses with them and to find out who and what manner of horses they were; but the ugly leader met the first approach with a kick and an angry whinny. They soon discovered that though the other three horses were not as mean, they, too, were ill-tempered and disagreeable. The first attempt at understanding resulted in a noisy quarrel and a stampede. When they settled down to grazing, the herd was off by itself and the four strangers were in a corner of the valley not any too near each other.
Queen did not like these strangers at all. She felt that they were responsible for the unpleasant feeling that now seemed to hang in the very atmosphere. She did not know then that slavery and cruelty such as these poor creatures had endured would sour the best-tempered horse. What that slavery really meant she had yet to learn.
In spite of her feelings toward the four newcomers, there was something about the white mare that made Queen interested in her. She kept raising her head and looking toward her and one time as she did so, she saw White-black approaching her. When Queen saw them sniffing35 noses and touching36 each other eagerly, she trotted37 over to them. This time instead of limping away at her approach, the white mare waited for her. She seemed glad to touch noses with Queen; but Queen felt uncomfortable. The old kindly38 spirit that had made the white mare so lovable had given way to a disagreeable impatience39 and suspicion; and her presence set two emotions struggling with each other in Queen’s heart. The subtle odour that made Queen think of some of those distant, weary, winter nights when she lay close against her old foster mother, drew her emotionally to the old mare; while the odour of man and barn repelled40 her. Over these emotions like a black cloud in the sky, hovered41 a new-born fear as if she had discerned in the poor mare’s condition the warning: “Beware of man for thus he breaks the spirit and the body.”
At dusk Queen led the herd in a race over the plains. The poor white mare who now clung to Queen and to White-black tried to follow; but she did not go very far before in her eagerness she tripped and fell. Queen and White-back went back to her and grazed about her. They began to feel that there was something terrible going to happen to her and they watched her curiously.
That night all three of them lay near each other. White-black and Queen were fast asleep in the latter part of the cold night, when they were awakened42 by a cry from the white mare. Queen jumped up in time to get out of the black old jade’s way. The night was cold and he was very thin-blooded. Unable to keep warm he had gone in search of a warmer place and in his clumsy way had stepped upon the white mare’s swollen leg. White-black nipped him on the back and with a cry of protest he lumbered away into the darkness. When Queen went back to sleep she was very much disturbed by the white mare’s groaning43. Several times she woke up and whinnied to her, but the groaning continued at intervals44 all through the night.
Next day Queen noticed that blood was running from her swollen leg, and by nightfall the white mare was nowhere to be seen. Queen looked for her for a while and she saw that White-black too was anxious about her, but they did not find her that day nor the next, though they searched for her constantly as they went about their grazing.
The dull days of early winter came back, grey and silent and ominous45. Geese flew over them daily on their way to the south and their honking46 filled Queen with an ineffable47 sadness. Suddenly one day as she was grazing by herself she came upon the body of the white mare. She touched the cold, hard nose with her own and sprang away frightened. She did not try to sniff again. Now she knew that this was death and hurried away.
White-black was grazing almost a quarter of a mile away. Queen trotted over to him and whinnied repeatedly. He answered her, but he did not know what ailed3 her. She walked away a short distance and called him. First he replied while grazing, then at the second call, he raised his head and walked toward her. But he was no sooner pulling away at some grass there, when he discovered that she was some distance away again and calling as hard as ever. For some reason known only to her she was leading him away to the north again and though he went reluctantly at first, with the rest of the herd following him, they were soon well on their way. A few miles from the lake, they stopped, however, for fear that they might not come upon water. There were in this group no more than a dozen of them, all colts that had been brought up together, and they were glad to be by themselves, though as they moved on, the rest of the horses, miles behind, moved after them. When a snowstorm came and filled all the hollows, they began once more moving northward48 in earnest. Forces they could not understand impelled49 them. Thus they abandoned forever the scenes of their youth.
The winter passed like a night of pleasure. Protected on the north by a strip of woodland many miles long, Queen and her companions slept the long nights away. The snow, deep in many places, was not very deep near the wall of poplars and feeding came comparatively easily. On sunny days they spent as much time chasing each other through the deepest drifts as they did in pawing for grass. The dry snows made warm blankets and the howling winds, shrieking50 in the poplars, provided music for their enjoyment51 of life, often sad, but for all its sadness, sweet.
They were big and strong now. Blood flowed rich and freely through their veins52 and the hair on their bodies, which was as long as the hair on the bears that at very rare intervals showed themselves and disappeared, kept them warm. The elements, no matter how savagely53 they raged, could not become disagreeable.
A few weeks of springtime with open plains to lope over and new grass, and they grew daily stronger and fleeter. Sorrows of the dead past were forgotten and the joys of the present were so all absorbing that even man seemed to have become extinct, as far as they were concerned.
To the joy of unlimited54 space, of surging healthy blood, of plenty to eat and drink, of peaceful and constant companionship was added the aesthetic55 pleasures of love. Having first discovered in themselves preferences for members of the opposite sex, they began to see traits and characteristics in their choice which thrilled them.
There were, of course, petty quarrels now and then, since love will not come unaccompanied by strife56, and nature is not always provident57, or when she is provident, so often disorderly. There were some disappointments and the weak, helpless here as the weak are helpless everywhere, often had to give way to the strong; but the tragedy that follows love among ferocious58 and greedy animals never marred59 their happier relations; and even the weaker ones found love requited60. Life on the rim61 of love was so rich, Nature beyond love was so lavish62, hurts healed before the wounds reached the flesh.
But to Queen and White-black life was a game in which even tiredness had its delight. Strong and healthy and beautiful, admired by the rest and followed in their every whim63, they played through the uninterrupted carnival64 of laughing spring and smiling, drowsy65 summer. When winter came again, they met it without fear, willing to wade66 through deep snows, accepting the violent lashes67 of wind and blizzard68, warming their hearts in the expectant joy of another spring and another summer, looking upon life, in their innocence69, as an endlessly interesting cycle in which winter was the greatest discomfort and spring its eternal retribution.
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1
enervating
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| v.使衰弱，使失去活力( enervate的现在分词 ) | |
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countless
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| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
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ailed
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| v.生病( ail的过去式和过去分词 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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sloughs
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| n.沼泽( slough的名词复数 )；苦难的深渊；难以改变的不良心情；斯劳(Slough)v.使蜕下或脱落( slough的第三人称单数 )；舍弃；除掉；摒弃 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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discomfort
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| n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便 | |
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sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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15
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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16
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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17
scintillated
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| v.（言谈举止中）焕发才智( scintillate的过去式和过去分词 )；谈笑洒脱；闪耀；闪烁 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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plodding
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| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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pugnacious
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| adj.好斗的 | |
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hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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rib
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| n.肋骨，肋状物 | |
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lumbered
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| 砍伐（lumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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32
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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33
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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34
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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35
sniffing
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| n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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36
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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37
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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38
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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39
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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40
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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41
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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42
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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43
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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44
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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45
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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46
honking
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| v.（使）发出雁叫似的声音，鸣（喇叭），按（喇叭）( honk的现在分词 ) | |
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47
ineffable
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| adj.无法表达的，不可言喻的 | |
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48
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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49
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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51
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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52
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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53
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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54
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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55
aesthetic
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| adj.美学的，审美的，有美感 | |
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56
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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57
provident
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| adj.为将来做准备的，有先见之明的 | |
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58
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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60
requited
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| v.报答( requite的过去式和过去分词 )；酬谢；回报；报复 | |
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61
rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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62
lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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63
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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64
carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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drowsy
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| adj.昏昏欲睡的，令人发困的 | |
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66
wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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67
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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68
blizzard
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| n.暴风雪 | |
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69
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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