He reached out a long arm, his hand spread like a claw and made a grab at Faith. His lips were drawn4 back from his teeth, in a grin that may or may not have been as malevolent5 as it looked.
The hand and arm hung motionless in the crevice9. Gary’s nostrils10 quivered, his eyebrows11 drew together. Then he reached again for the cat.
“I’m hearing things again—and this time I can’t kid myself I’m asleep and dreaming. Faith, it’s up to you. Either you go rustle12 me some grub like you did yesterday—only, for heck’s sake, make it a rabbit this time—or I’ll just have to eat you! A man’s got to live as long as he can make one breath pull the next one after it. That’s the game, Faith——”
“Gary! Oh, Gary!” Patricia’s voice was closer now; at least it sounded so.
“Hello, Pat!” Gary called hoarsely13, before caution warned him that it must be his fancy and no human voice.
“Literally and figuratively, I’m in a hole!” he cried recklessly, mocking the intensity16 of his desire that the voice should be real.
“What hole?” Patricia’s voice panted. “I lost—the cat! Where are you, Gary?”
Gary found himself clutching the rock with both hands. His knife had slid to the floor of the crosscut. His knees were weak, so weak that they kept buckling17 under him, letting him down so that he must pull himself up again to the opening with his hands. It was cruel, he thought, to keep thinking he heard Patricia coming to him.
“Gary!—Oh, Monty Girard! Gary is up here somewhere! I heard him! He say’s he’s in a hole! Oh, hurry up, why can’t you?”
Gary swallowed hard. That must be Pat, he thought dizzily. Bossing Monty Girard around—it must be Pat!
“This way, Pat! Be careful of the slide—I’m down underground—in a hole. If Monty’s coming, better wait for him. I’m afraid you’ll fall. That slide’s darn treacherous18.” Gary’s eyes were blazing, his whole body was shaking as if he had a chill. But he was trying his best to hold himself steady, to be sensible and to play the game. The thought flashed into his mind of men lost on the desert, who rushed crazily toward demon-painted mirages19, babbling20 rapturously at the false vision. If this were a trick of his tortured imagination—well, let it be so. He would meet realization21 when it came. But now——
He could hear Patricia panting and slipping in the loose rocks no more than a few yards away. He shouted to her, imploring22 her to be careful—to wait for Monty—to come to him—he did not know what it was he was saying. He caught himself babbling and stopped abruptly23.
After all, it was Monty who first peered down past the bowlder and into the opening, where Gary’s face showed white and staring-eyed, but with the unquenchable grin. Monty gasped24 the name of his Maker25 and turned as white as a living man may become. Then he turned; Gary saw him put up his arms. Saw two summer-shod feet with silk-clad ankles above the low shoes; saw the flicker26 of a skirt—and then Patricia was sitting on the bowlder where Faith had so often kept him company. Patricia cried out at sight of him and looked as if she were going to faint.
“Count of Monte Cristo—in his dungeon27 in the Bastille—before he did the high dive and made his get-away,” Gary cackled flippantly. “Say, folks, how about a few eats?” Then his white, smiling face with the terrible, brilliant eyes, slid down and down. They heard a slithering kind of fall.
Patricia screamed and screamed again. Monty himself gave a great, man sob7 before he pulled himself together. He put his arm around Patricia’s shoulder, patting her as he would soothe28 a child.
“He’s just fainted,” he said, his voice breaking uncertainly. “It’s the shock of seeing us. Can yuh-all stay here while I beat it down to the shack29 and get some grub? Have yuh-all got the nerve?”
Patricia held her palms tightly to her face and fought down her panic and the horror that chilled her heart. When she looked up at Monty she was Patricia-on-the-job again; efficient, thinking clearly just what must be done.
“He’s evidently nearly starved,” she said, and if her voice was not calm, it was at least as steady as Monty’s. “Bring a can of milk and plenty of water and a cup. And bread and a couple of eggs and a spoon,” she said. “Some soft-boiled eggs, after awhile, should be all right for him. But the milk is what he should have first. Oh, if you look in my grip, you’ll find a bottle of malted milk. I brought it in case the food was too bad at country hotels. That’s just what I want. And hurry!”
“Yuh-all needn’t be afraid I’ll loaf on the job,” Monty told her reproachfully; and gave her the bottle of water, and was gone before she could apologize.
Patricia crawled down to where she could look in through the opening. She could not see much of anything; just the rough wall of the crosscut where the light struck, and beyond that gloom that deepened to the darkness of night. Gary, lying directly beneath her, she could not see at all. Yet she called him again and again. Wistfully, endearingly, as women call frantically30 after the new-fled souls of their dearest.
She was still calling heart-brokenly upon Gary when Monty returned, puffing31 up the slope under a capacity load of what he thought might be needed. Slung32 upon his back, like a fantastic cross, was an old, rusted33 pick, the handle cracked and weather-checked and well-nigh useless.
“Joe’s coming along behind with a shovel34,” Monty informed her, when he could summon sufficient breath for speaking. “Don’t yuh-all take on thataway, Miss Connolly. Gary, he’s plumb35 fainted for joy and weakness, I reckon. But he’s in the shade where it’s cool, and he’ll come to himself in a little bit. I reckon we better have the malted milk beat up and ready to hand in. I don’t reckon Gary’ll feel much like waitin’ for meals—when he wakes up.”
Once more Patricia steadied herself by sheer will power, so that she might do calmly and efficiently36 the things that must be done. For an hour longer she did full penance37 for all her sins; sitting there on the bowlder with a cup of malted milk in her hands, waiting for Gary to regain38 consciousness, and fighting a terrible fear that he was dead—that they had come too late.
Joe arrived with an old shovel that was absolutely useless for their purpose. Such rocks as they could lift were quicker thrown out of the half-filled shaft39 with their hands, using the pick now and then to pry40 loose rocks that were wedged together. As for the bowlder that blocked the opening to the crosscut, they needed dynamite41 for that and would not have dared to use it if they had it; not with Gary prisoned in the small space behind it.
Monty worked the small rocks away from the bowlder first and studied the problem worriedly. A malapi bowlder, nearly the height of a man, fitted into the bottom of a ten-foot incline shaft with granite walls, is a matter difficult to handle without giant powder.
“Joe, yuh-all will have to beat it and get help. Three or four men with strong backs we’ve got to have, and block and tackle and chain—and some pinch bars. Yuh-all may have to go clear in to Vegas, I reckon—but git the help!”
Joe goggled42 wide-eyed at the narrow opening, stared curiously43 at Patricia, wiping tears from her cheeks with one hand and holding carefully the cup of malted milk in the other.
“Gosh! Kin15 he last that long in there?” he blurted44, and was propelled several feet down the bluff45 by Monty’s hand fixed46 viselike on the back of his neck.
“Uh course he’ll last—a heap sight longer than yuh-all will, if yuh-all don’t get a move on,” Monty gritted47 savagely48. “Fill up with water and take a lunch, and don’t light this side of Vegas. Not much use stopping at the ranches49 this side, they ain’t liable to have what we need.”
He stood with his legs spread apart on two rocks and watched Joe down the bluff. Whenever Joe looked back and saw Monty standing50 there, his speed was accelerated appreciably51. Whereat Monty grinned. When Joe disappeared into the grove52, Monty turned back to the shaft, the weight of Gary’s misfortune heavy upon his soul.
The first thing he saw was Patricia caressing53 a grimy hand and thin, bared forearm. She had just kissed it twice when she looked up and saw Monty. Patricia did not even blush.
“He drank every drop of the milk, and now he’s called me a wretch54 and a harpy because I won’t give him more,” she announced triumphantly55. “Do you think I’d better?”
“I reckon I better talk to him by hand,” Monty grinned relievedly. “He knows mighty56 well he kain’t bully57 me, Miss Connolly.”
“I merely asked for fried chicken and gravy58 and mashed59 potatoes and asparagus with drawn butter, and ripe olives and a fruit salad with a cherry on top, and strawberry shortcake with oodles of butter under the berries and double cream poured all over,” Gary explained, grinning like a cheerful death’s-head through the opening. “That isn’t much to ask—when a fellow’s been dieting the way I have for God knows how long.”
Monty blinked very fast, and his laugh was shaky. “Well, now, if yuh-all can compromise on boiled hen,” he drawled, “I’ll beat it back down the bluff and shoot the head off the first one I see.”
“Oh, all right—all right, if it’ll be any accommodation,” Gary yielded, “only for heck’s sake, make it snappy!”
Whereupon he forgot Monty and pulled Patricia’s hand in through the opening and began to kiss it passionately60.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
granite
|
|
| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
hopped
|
|
| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
pampered
|
|
| adj.饮食过量的，饮食奢侈的v.纵容，宠，娇养( pamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
malevolent
|
|
| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
sob
|
|
| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
crevice
|
|
| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
nostrils
|
|
| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
rustle
|
|
| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
gasping
|
|
| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
kin
|
|
| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
intensity
|
|
| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
buckling
|
|
| 扣住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
treacherous
|
|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
mirages
|
|
| n.海市蜃楼，幻景( mirage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
babbling
|
|
| n.胡说，婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 )；作潺潺声（如流水）；含糊不清地说话；泄漏秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
realization
|
|
| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
imploring
|
|
| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
gasped
|
|
| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
maker
|
|
| n.制造者，制造商 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
flicker
|
|
| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
dungeon
|
|
| n.地牢，土牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
soothe
|
|
| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
shack
|
|
| adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
frantically
|
|
| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
puffing
|
|
| v.使喷出( puff的现在分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
rusted
|
|
| v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
shovel
|
|
| n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
plumb
|
|
| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
efficiently
|
|
| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
penance
|
|
| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
pry
|
|
| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
dynamite
|
|
| n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
goggled
|
|
| adj.戴护目镜的v.睁大眼睛瞪视， （惊讶的）转动眼珠( goggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
blurted
|
|
| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
bluff
|
|
| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
gritted
|
|
| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
ranches
|
|
| 大农场， （兼种果树，养鸡等的）大牧场( ranch的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
appreciably
|
|
| adv.相当大地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
grove
|
|
| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
caressing
|
|
| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
bully
|
|
| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
gravy
|
|
| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
mashed
|
|
| a.捣烂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
passionately
|
|
| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |