the complete writings-3-第19部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


cal　picture　of　despair；　while　we　stood　and　waited　the　waning　of　the　day；　and　peered　forward　in　vain　for　any　sign　of　an　open　country。　　At　every　brook　we　encountered；　we　suggested　a　halt　for　the　night；　while　it　was　still　light　enough　to　select　a　camping…place；　but　the　plucky　old　man　wouldn't　hear　of　it：　the　trail　might　be　only　a　quarter　of　a　mile　ahead；　and　we　crawled　on　again　at　a　snail's　pace。　　His　honor　as　a　guide　seemed　to　be　at　stake；　and；　besides；　he　confessed　to　a　notion　that　his　end　was　near；　and　he　didn't　want　to　die　like　a　dog　in　the　woods。　　And　yet；　if　this　was　his　last　journey；　it　seemed　not　an　inappropriate　ending　for　the　old　woodsman　to　lie　down　and　give　up　the　ghost　in　the　midst　of　the　untamed　forest　and　the　solemn　silences　he　felt　most　at　home　in。　　There　is　a　popular　theory；　held　by　civilians；　that　a　soldier　likes　to　die　in　battle。　　I　suppose　it　is　as　true　that　a　woodsman　would　like　to　〃pass　in　his　chips；〃the　figure　seems　to　be　inevitable；　struck　down　by　illness　and　exposure；　in　the　forest　solitude；　with　heaven　in　sight　and　a　tree…root　for　his　pillow。

The　guide　seemed　really　to　fear　that；　if　we　did　not　get　out　of　the　woods　that　night；　he　would　never　go　out；　and；　yielding　to　his　dogged　resolution；　we　kept　on　in　search　of　the　trail；　although　the　gathering　of　dusk　over　the　ground　warned　us　that　we　might　easily　cross　the　trail　without　recognizing　it。　　We　were　traveling　by　the　light　in　the　upper　sky；　and　by　the　forms　of　the　tree…stems；　which　every　moment　grew　dimmer。　　At　last　the　end　came。　　We　had　just　felt　our　way　over　what　seemed　to　be　a　little　run　of　water；　when　the　old　man　sunk　down；　remarking；　〃I　might　as　well　die　here　as　anywhere；〃　and　was　silent。

Suddenly　night　fell　like　a　blanket　on　us。　　We　could　neither　see　the　guide　nor　each　other。　　We　became　at　once　conscious　that　miles　of　night　on　all　sides　shut　us　in。　　The　sky　was　clouded　over：　there　wasn't　a　gleam　of　light　to　show　us　where　to　step。　　Our　first　thought　was　to　build　a　fire；　which　would　drive　back　the　thick　darkness　into　the　woods；　and　boil　some　water　for　our　tea。　　But　it　was　too　dark　to　use　the　axe。　　We　scraped　together　leaves　and　twigs　to　make　a　blaze；　and；　as　this　failed；　such　dead　sticks　as　we　could　find　by　groping　about。　　The　fire　was　only　a　temporary　affair；　but　it　sufficed　to　boil　a　can　of　water。　　The　water　we　obtained　by　feeling　about　the　stones　of　the　little　run　for　an　opening　big　enough　to　dip　our　cup　in。　　The　supper　to　be　prepared　was　fortunately　simple。　　It　consisted　of　a　decoction　of　tea　and　other　leaves　which　had　got　into　the　pail；　and　a　part　of　a　loaf　of　bread。　　A　loaf　of　bread　which　has　been　carried　in　a　knapsack　for　a　couple　of　days；　bruised　and　handled　and　hacked　at　with　a　hunting…knife；　becomes　an　uninteresting　object。　　But　we　ate　of　it　with　thankfulness；　washed　it　down　with　hot　fluid；　and　bitterly　thought　of　the　morrow。　　Would　our　old　friend　survive　the　night？　Would　he　be　in　any　condition　to　travel　in　the　morning？　　How　were　we　to　get　out　with　him　or　without　him？

The　old　man　lay　silent　in　the　bushes　out　of　sight；　and　desired　only　to　be　let　alone。　　We　tried　to　tempt　him　with　the　offer　of　a　piece　of　toast：　it　was　no　temptation。　　Tea　we　thought　would　revive　him：　he　refused　it。　　A　drink　of　brandy　would　certainly　quicken　his　life：　he　couldn't　touch　it。　　We　were　at　the　end　of　our　resources。　　He　seemed　to　think　that　if　he　were　at　home；　and　could　get　a　bit　of　fried　bacon；　or　a　piece　of　pie；　he　should　be　all　right。　　We　knew　no　more　how　to　doctor　him　than　if　he　had　been　a　sick　bear。　　He　withdrew　within　himself；　rolled　himself　up；　so　to　speak；　in　his　primitive　habits；　and　waited　for　the　healing　power　of　nature。　　Before　our　feeble　fire　disappeared；　we　smoothed　a　level　place　near　it　for　Phelps　to　lie　on；　and　got　him　over　to　it。　　But　it　didn't　suit：　it　was　too　open。　　In　fact；　at　the　moment　some　drops　of　rain　fell。　　Rain　was　quite　outside　of　our　program　for　the　night。　　But　the　guide　had　an　instinct　about　it；　and；　while　we　were　groping　about　some　yards　distant　for　a　place　where　we　could　lie　down；　he　crawled　away　into　the　darkness；　and　curled　himself　up　amid　the　roots　of　a　gigantic　pine；　very　much　as　a　bear　would　do；　I　suppose；　with　his　back　against　the　trunk；　and　there　passed　the　night　comparatively　dry　and　comfortable；　but　of　this　we　knew　nothing　till　morning；　and　had　to　trust　to　the　assurance　of　a　voice　out　of　the　darkness　that　he　was　all　right。

Our　own　bed　where　we　spread　our　blankets　was　excellent　in　one　respect；there　was　no　danger　of　tumbling　out　of　it。　　At　first　the　rain　pattered　gently　on　the　leaves　overhead；　and　we　congratulated　ourselves　on　the　snugness　of　our　situation。　　There　was　something　cheerful　about　this　free　life。　　We　contrasted　our　condition　with　that　of　tired　invalids　who　were　tossing　on　downy　beds；　and　wooing　sleep　in　vain。　　Nothing　was　so　wholesome　and　invigorating　as　this　bivouac　in　the　forest。　　But；　somehow；　sleep　did　not　come。　　The　rain　had　ceased　to　patter；　and　began　to　fall　with　a　steady　determination；　a　sort　of　soak；　soak；　all　about　us。　　In　fact；　it　roared　on　the　rubber　blanket；　and　beat　in　our　faces。　　The　wind　began　to　stir　a　little；　and　there　was　a　moaning　on　high。　　Not　contented　with　dripping；　the　rain　was　driven　into　our　faces。　　Another　suspicious　circumstance　was　noticed。　Little　rills　of　water　got　established　along　the　sides　under　the　blankets；　cold；　undeniable　streams；　that　interfered　with　drowsiness。　Pools　of　water　settled　on　the　bed；　and　the　chaplain　had　a　habit　of　moving　suddenly；　and　letting　a　quart　or　two　inside；　and　down　my　neck。　It　began　to　be　evident　that　we　and　our　bed　were　probably　the　wettest　objects　in　the　woods。　　The　rubber　was　an　excellent　catch…all。　　There　was　no　trouble　about　ventilation；　but　we　found　that　we　had　established　our　quarters　without　any　provision　for　drainage。　　There　was　not　exactly　a　wild　tempest　abroad；　but　there　was　a　degree　of　liveliness　in　the　thrashing　limbs　and　the　creaking　of　the　tree…　branches　which　rubbed　against　each　other；　and　the　pouring　rain　increased　in　volume　and　power　of　penetration。　　Sleep　was　quite　out　of　the　question；　with　so　much　to　distract　our　attention。　　In　fine；　our　misery　became　so　perfect　that　we　both　broke　out　into　loud　and　sarcastic　laughter　over　the　absurdity　of　our　situation。　　We　had　subjected　ourselves　to　all　this　forlornness　simply　for　pleasure。　Whether　Old　Phelps　was　still　in　existence；　we　couldn't　tell：　we　could　get　no　response　from　him。　　With　daylight；　if　he　continued　ill　and　could　not　move；　our　situation　would　be　little　improved。　　Our　supplies　were　gone；　we　lay　in　a　pond；　a　deluge　of　water　was　pouring　down　on　us。　　This　was　summer　recreation。　　The　whole　thing　was　so　excessively　absurd　that　we　laughed　again；　louder　than　ever。　　We　had　plenty　of　this　sort　of　amusement。　　Suddenly　through　the　night　we　heard　a　sort　of　reply　that　started　us　bolt　upright。　　This　was　a　prolonged　squawk。　It　was　like　the　voice　of　no　beast　or　bird　with　which　we　were　familiar。　　At　first　it　was　distant；　but　it　rapidly　approached；　tearing　through　the　night　and　apparently　through　the　tree…tops；　like　the　harsh　cry　of　a　web…footed　bird　with　a　snarl　in　it；　in　fact；　as　I　said；　a　squawk。　　It　came　close　to　us；　and　then　turned；　and　as　rapidly　as　it　came　fled　away　through　the　forest；　and　we　lost　the　unearthly　noise　far　up　the　mountain…slope。

〃What　was　that；　Phelps？　〃we　cried　out。　　But　no　response　came；　and　we　wondered　if　his　spirit　had　been　rent　away；　or　if　some　evil　genius　had　sought　it；　and　then；　baffled　by　his　serene　and　philosophic　spirit；　had　shot　off　into　the　void　in　rage　and　disappointment。

The　night　had　no　other　adventure。　　The　moon　at　length　coming　up　behind　the　clouds　lent　a　spectral　aspect　to　the　forest；　and　deceived　us　for　a　time　into　the　notion　that　day　was　at　hand；　but　the　rain　never　ceased；　and　we　lay　wishful　and　waiting；　with　no　item　of　solid　misery　wanting　that　we　could　conceive。

Day　was　slow　a…coming；　and　didn't　amount　to　much　when　it　came；　so　heavy　were　the　clouds；　but　the　rain　slackened。　　We　crawled　out　of　our　water…cure　〃pack；〃　and　sought　the　guide。　　To　our　infinite　relief　he　announced　himself　not　only　alive；　but　in　a　going　condition。　　I　looked　at　my　watch。　　It　had　stopped　at　five　o'clock。　　I　poured　the　water　out　of　it；　and　shook　it；　but；　not　being　constructed　on　the　hydraulic　principle；　it　refused　to　go。　　Some　hours　later　we　encountered　a　huntsman；　from　whom　I　procured　some　gun…grease；　with　this　I　filled　the　watch；　and　heated　it　in　by　the　fire。　　This　is　a　most　effectual　way　of　treating　a　delicate　Genevan　timepiece。

The　light　disclosed　fully　the　suspected　fact　that　our　bed　had　been　made　in　a　slight　depression：　the　under　rubber　blanket　spread　in　this　had　prevented　the　rain　from　soaking　into　the　ground；　and　we　had　been　lying　in　what　was　in　fact　a　well…contrived　bathtub。　　While　Old　Phelps　was　pulling　himself　together；　and　we　were　wringing　some　gallons　of　water　out　of　our　blankets；　we　questioned　the　old　man　about　the　〃squawk；〃　and　what　bird　was　possessed　of　such　a　voice。　　It　was　not　a　bird　at　all；　he　said；　but　a　cat；　the　black…cat　of　the　woods；　larger　than　the　domestic　animal；　and　an　ugly　customer；　who　is　fond　of　fish；　and　carries　a　pelt　that　is　worth　two　or　three　dollars　in　the　market。　Occasionally　he　blunders　into　a　sable…trap；　and　he　is　altogether　hateful　in　his　ways；　and　has　the　most　uncultivated　voice　that　is　heard　in　the　woods。　　We　shall　remember　him　as　one　of　the　least　pleasant　phantoms　of　that　cheerful　night　when　we　lay　in　the　storm；　fearing　any　moment　the　advent　to　one　of　us　of　the　grimmest　messenger。

We　rolled　up　and　shouldered　our　wet　belongings；　and；　before　the　shades　had　yet　lifted　from　the　saturated　bushes；　pursued　our　march。　It　was　a　relief　to　be　again　in　motion；　although　our　progress　was　slow；　and　it　was　a　question　every　rod　whether　the　guide　could　go　on。　We　had　the　day　before　us；　but　if　we　did　not　find　a　boat　at　the　inlet　a　day　might　not　suffice；　in　the　weak　condition　of　the　guide；　to　extricate　us　from　our　ridiculous　position。　　There　was　nothing　heroic　in　it；　we　had　no　object：　it　was　merely；　as　it　must　appear　by　this　time；　a　pleasure　excursion；　and　we　might　be　lost　or　perish　in　it　without　reward　and　with　little　sympathy。　　We　had　something　like　a　hour　and　a　half　of　stumbling　through　the　swamp　when　suddenly　we　stood　in　the　little　trail！　　Slight　as　it　was；　it