Chapter 14 The Canon Hotel

 Late in the afternoon of the third day subsequent a man and a boy might have been seen riding slowly through a rocky canon probably eighty miles west from San Francisco. Both were mounted on the small native horses of California, generally called mustangs. These animals possess a strength disproportioned to their size, and show great endurance. At times they have a playful habit of bucking¹, not quite agreeable to an inexperienced horseman.

 

The reader will already have guessed that the two riders are Jake Bradley and Ben. The mustangs were on a walk, being apparently² weary with the day's tramp.

 

'Well, Ben,' said Bradley, 'what do you say to camping out for the night?'

 

'I have no objection,' said Ben, 'and I don't think my horse has.'

 

'He is better off than mine, having less to carry. Are you tired?'

 

'Not very tired, but my limbs are rather stiff.'

 

'What hotel shall we put up at, Ben?' asked Bradley, with a humorous glance about him.

 

'There isn't much choice,' said Ben. 'The Canon Hotel seems to be the only one that is open hereabouts. The only objection is, that we shall have to sleep on the floor, with the windows all open.'

 

'That's about so, Ben,' assented³ Bradley, laughing. 'I shouldn't mind sleeping in a Christian⁴ bed to-night myself. Well, here goes!'

 

As he spoke⁵, he jumped from the back of his horse, and, taking out a rope, tethered it to a tree hard by.

 

Ben followed his example.

 

'Now for the grub,' said Bradley. 'I'm powerfully empty myself. This ridin' all day up and down hill is wearin' to the stomach. What do you say?'

 

'I've got a healthy appetite myself, Jake.'

 

'This yere Canon Hotel that you was talkin' about ain't first-class. It don't supply anything but cold victuals⁶. Now, ef we had a cup of coffee to wash it down, and kinder warm us up, it would go to the right spot, eh, Ben?'

 

'You are right, Jake! but please don't speak of it again. It makes my mouth water.'

 

'Stay here a few minutes, Ben, and I'll reconnoiter a little. Perhaps I can find a better place for campin'.'

 

'All right, Jake!'

 

While Bradley was absent Ben threw himself on the ground, and began to think. It was the third day of the expedition. Ben enjoyed riding through this new, unsettled country. He almost felt in the solitudes⁷ of the woods and hills as if he were the original explorer of this far-distant country. He was more than three thousand miles away from his native town, entrusted⁸ with a mission of importance. The thought was gratifying to his boyish fancy, and inspired him with a new sense of power and increased his self-reliance. He was glad, however, to have the company of Jake Bradley. He was ready to acknowledge that his chances of success, had he started alone, would have been much smaller, and certainly he would have found it exceedingly lonesome.

 

His companion was not a man of culture, nor were his tastes elevated, but there was a rough honesty about him, and a good humor, which made him an agreeable companion. Besides, he knew the country, and Ben felt secure in leaving the conduct of the trip to him.

 

'I am glad I came out here,' thought Ben, as, with his head pillowed on his knapsack, he looked up through the branches of the tall trees to the blue sky beyond. 'It's better than staying at home and working for Deacon Pitkin, or blacking boots for Sam Sturgis. Here I am my own man, free and don't need to run at anybody's bidding.'

 

Probably most boys of Ben's age share his love of independence, but it is neither practicable nor desirable that at sixteen a boy should be his own master, much as he may desire it. In the case of our hero, circumstances had thrown him upon his own resources, and it may be added that he could better be trusted with the management of himself than most boys.

 

Ben's reverie was broken in upon by the return of his companion.

 

'What are you dreamin' about, Ben?' queried⁹ Jake.

 

'I was thinking about home, Jake.'

 

'This don't look much like it, eh, Ben?'

 

'Not much.'

 

'Well, my lad, I've found something,' continued Bradley.

 

'Found something? What! a nugget?' exclaimed Ben, in excitement.

 

'Not much. This ain't the place for such a find as that.'

 

'What, then, Jake?'

 

'I've found a hotel.'

 

'Where?' asked Ben eagerly.

 

'Get up and stand by me. There! look yonder. What do you see?'

 

'It looks like smoke.'

 

'It is smoke. There's a cabin yonder. I've reconnoitered, and I seed the door open, and a woman inside. Now, I'm going to ask her to give us some supper and a bed. Won't that be fine?'

 

'Splendid, Jake!'

 

'Then unhitch that animal of yours, and we'll put our best foot forrards, and maybe we'll get a hot supper and a Christian bed to sleep in.' 

1 bucking   

v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的现在分词 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• a bucking bronco in the rodeo 牛仔竞技表演中一匹弓背跳跃的野马
• That means we'll be bucking grain bags, bustin's gut. 那就是说咱们要背这一袋袋的谷子，得把五脏都累坏。 来自辞典例句

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 assented   

同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
• "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 victuals   

n.食物；食品

参考例句：

• A plateful of coarse broken victuals was set before him.一盘粗劣的剩余饭食放到了他的面前。
• There are no more victuals for the pig.猪没有吃的啦。

7 solitudes   

n.独居( solitude的名词复数 )；孤独；荒僻的地方；人迹罕至的地方

参考例句：

• Africa is going at last to give up the secret of its vast solitudes. 非洲无边无际的荒野的秘密就要被揭穿了。 来自辞典例句
• The scientist has spent six months in the solitudes of the Antarctic. 这位科学家已经在人迹罕至的南极待了六个月了。 来自互联网

8 entrusted   

v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He entrusted the task to his nephew. 他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。
• She was entrusted with the direction of the project. 她受委托负责这项计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 queried   

v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问

参考例句：

• She queried what he said. 她对他说的话表示怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• \"What does he have to do?\" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事？”琴向觉民问道，她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）