the foreigner-第40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！


would。　　With　the　instinct　bred　on　the　plains；　the　ponies　had　made　for　the　shelter　of　the　Night　Hawk　ravine。　　Up　the　ravine　they　had　struggled　till　the　darkness　and　the　thick　woods　had　forced　them　to　abandon　the　ponies。

〃I　wonder　what　the　poor　things　will　do？〃　interjected　Marjorie。

〃They'll　look　after　themselves；　never　fear；〃　said　Kalman。　　〃They　live　out　all　winter　here。〃

Then　through　the　drifts　they　had　fought　their　way；　till　in　the　moment　of　their　despair　the　dogs　came　upon　them。

〃We　thought　they　were　wolves；〃　cried　Marjorie；　〃till　one　began　to　bay；　and　I　knew　it　was　the　foxhound。　　And　then　I　was　sure　that　you　would　not　be　far　away。　　We　followed　the　dogs　for　a　while；　and　I　kept　calling　and　calling；poor　Mr。　Penny　had　lost　his　voice　entirely；till　you　came　and　found　us。〃

A　sweet　confusion　checked　her　speech。　　The　heat　of　the　fire　became　suddenly　insupportable；　and　putting　up　her　hand　to　protect　her　face；　she　drew　back　into　the　shadow。

Mr。　Penny；　under　the　influence　of　a　strong　cup　of　boiling　tea　and　a　moderate　portion　of　the　bannock　and　pork；for　Kalman　would　not　allow　him　full　rations；became　more　and　more　confident　that　they　〃would　have　made　it。〃

〃Why；　Mr。　Penny；〃　cried　Marjorie；　〃you　couldn't　move　a　foot　further。　Don't　you　remember　how　often　you　sat　down；　and　I　had　just　to　pull　you　up？〃

〃Oh；〃　said　Mr。　Penny；　〃it　was　the　beastly　drift　getting　into　my　eyes　and　mouth；　don't　you　know。　　But　I　would　have　pulled　up　again　in　a　minute。　　I　was　just　getting　my　second　wind。　　By　Jove！　I'm　strong　on　my　second　wind；　don't　you　know。〃

But　Marjorie　was　quite　unconvinced；　while　Kalman　said　nothing。　Over　and　over　again　they　recounted　the　tale　of　their　terrors　and　their　struggle；　each　time　with　some　new　incident；　but　ever　and　anon　there　would　flame　up　in　Marjorie's　cheek　the　flag　of　distress；　as　if　some　memory　smote　her　with　a　sudden　blow；　and　her　hand　would　cover　her　cheek　as　if　to　ward　off　those　other　and　too　ardent　kisses　of　the　dancing　flames。　　But　at　such　times　about　her　lips　a　fitful　smile　proclaimed　her　distress　to　be　not　quite　unendurable。

At　length　Mr。　Penny　felt　sleepy；　and　stretching　himself　upon　the　dry　earth　before　the　fire；　passed　into　unconsciousness；　leaving　the　others　to　themselves。　　Over　the　bed　of　spruce　boughs　in　the　corner　Kalman　spread　his　blankets；　moving　about　with　painful　difficulty　at　his　task；　his　groans　growing　more　frequent　as　they　called　forth　from　his　companion　exclamations　of　tender　commiseration。

The　story　of　those　vigil　hours　could　not　be　told。　　How　they　sat　now　in　long　silences；　gazing　into　the　glowing　coals；　and　again　conversing　in　low　voices　lest　Mr。　Penny's　vocal　slumbers　should　be　disturbed；　how　Marjorie　told　the　short　and　simple　story　of　her　life；　to　Kalman　all　wonderful；　how　Kalman　told　the　story　of　his　life；　omitting　parts；　and　how　Marjorie's　tender　eyes　overflowed　and　her　rosy　cheeks　grew　pale　and　her　hand　crept　toward　his　arm　as　he　told　the　tragedy　of　his　mother's　death；　how　she　described　with　suppressed　laughter　the　alarms　of　her　dear　Aunt　Janet　that　morning　was　it　a　month　ago？how　he　told　of　Jack　French；　what　a　man　he　was　and　how　good；　how　she　spoke　of　her　father　and　his　strength　and　his　tenderness；　and　of　how　he　spoiled　her；　against　which　Kalman　vehemently　protested；　how　he　told　of　Brown　and　his　work　for　the　poor　ignorant　Galicians；　and　of　the　songs　they　sang　together；　how　she　made　him　sing；　at　first　in　undertones　soft　and　low；　lest　poor　Mr。　Penny's　sleep　should　be　broken；　and　then　in　tones　clear　and　full；　the　hymns　in　which　Brown　and　French　used　to　join；　and　then；　in　obedience　to　her　peremptory　commands；　his　own　favourite　Hungarian　love…song；　of　which　he　shyly　told　her；　how　her　eyes　shone　like　stars；　her　cheeks　paled；　and　her　hands　held　fast　to　each　other　in　the　ecstasy　of　her　rapture　while　he　told　her　what　it　all　meant；　at　first　with　averted　looks；　and　then　boldly　pouring　the　passion　of　his　soul　into　her　eyes；　till　they　fell　before　the　flame　in　his　as　he　sang　the　refrain；


　　　　　〃While　the　flower　blooms　in　the　meadow；　　　　　　　　　And　fishes　swim　the　sea；　　　　　　　Heart　of　my　heart；　soul　of　my　soul；　　　　　　　　　I'll　love　and　live　for　thee〃；


how　then　shyness　fell　on　her　and　she　moved　ever　so　little　to　her　own　side　of　the　fire；　how　he；　sensitive　to　her　every　emotion；　rose　at　once　to　build　the　fire；　telling　her　for　the　first　time　then　of　his　wonderful　discovery；　which　he　had　clean　forgot；　how　together　on　tiptoe　they　examined；　with　heads　in　close　proximity　and　voices　lowered　to　a　whisper；　the　black　seam　that　ran　down　a　side　of　the　cave；　how　they　discussed　the　possible　value　of　it　and　what　it　might　mean　to　Kalman；　and　then　how　they　fell　silent　again　till　Kalman　commanded　her　to　bed；　to　which　she　agreed　only　upon　condition　that　he　should　rouse　Mr。　Penny　when　his　watch　should　be　over；　how　she　woke　in　broad　daylight　to　find　him　with　breakfast　ready；　the　blizzard　nearly　done；　and　the　sun　breaking　through　upon　a　wonderful　world；　white　and　fairylike；　how　they　vainly　strove　to　simulate　an　ease　of　manner；　to　forget　some　of　the　things　that　happened　the　night　before；　and　that　neither　could　ever　forget　till　the　heart　should　cease　to　beat。

All　this　might　be　told；　had　one　the　art。　　But　no　art　or　skill　of　man　could　tell　how；　as　they　talked；　there　flew　from　eye　to　eye；　hers　brown　and　his　blue…grey；　those　swift；　fluttering　signals　of　the　heart；　how　he　watched　to　see　on　her　cheek　the　red　flush　glow　and　pale　again；　not　sure　whether　it　was　from　the　fire　upon　the　cave　floor　or　from　the　fire　that　burns　eternal　in　the　heart　of　man　and　maid；　how；　as　he　talked　and　sang；　she　feared　and　loved　to　see　the　bold　leap　of　passion　in　his　eyes；　and　how　she　speedily　learned　what　words　or　looks　of　hers　could　call　up　that　flash；　how；　as　she　slept；　he　piled　high　the　fire；　not　that　she　might　be　warm；　but　that　the　light　might　fall　upon　her　face　and　he　might　drink　and　drink　till　his　heart　could　hold　no　more；　of　her　sweet　loveliness；　how；　when　first　waking；　her　eyes　fell　on　him　moving　softly　about　the　cave；　and　then　closed　again　till　she　could　dream　again　her　dream　and　drink　in　slow　sips　its　rapture；　how　he　feared　to　meet　her　waking　glance；　lest　it　should　rebuke　his　madness　of　the　night；　how；　as　her　eyes　noted　the　haggard　look　of　sleepless　watching　and　of　pain；　her　heart　flowed　over　as　with　a　mother's　pity　for　her　child；　and　how　she　longed　to　comfort　him　but　dared　not；　how　he　thought　of　the　coming　days　and　feared　to　think　of　them；　because　in　them　she　would　have　no　place　or　part；　how　she　looked　into　the　future　and　wondered　what　like　would　be　a　life　in　this　new　and　wonderful　landall　this；　no　matter　what　his　skill　or　art；　no　man　could　tell。

It　was　still　morning　when　Jack　French　and　Brown　rode　up　the　Night　Hawk　ravine；　driving　two　saddled　ponies　before　them。　　Their　common　anxiety　had　furnished　the　occasion　for　the　healing　of　the　breach　that　for　a　year　and　more　had　held　these　friends　apart。

With　voluble　enthusiasm　Mr。　Penny　welcomed　them；　plunging　into　a　graphic　account　of　their　struggle　with　the　storm　till　happily　they　came　upon　the　dogs；　who　led　them　to　Kalman　and　his　camp。　　But　French；　brushing　him　aside；　strode　past　to　where；　trembling　and　speechless；　Marjorie　stood；　and　then；　taking　her　in　his　arms；　he　whispered　many　times　in　her　ears；　〃Thank　God；　little　girl；　you　are　safe。〃

And　Margaret；　putting　her　arms　around　Jack's　neck；　whispered　through　radiant　tears；　〃It　was　Kalman；　Jack。　　Don't　listen　to　yon　gommeril。　　It　was　Kalman　saved　us；　and　oh；　Jack；　he　is　just　lovely！〃

And　Jack；　patting　her　cheek；　said；　〃I　know　all　about　him。〃

〃Do　you；　indeed？〃　she　answered；　with　a　knowing　smile。　　〃I　doubt。　But　oh！　he　has　broken　his　foot　or　something。　　And　oh；　Jack；　he　has　got　a　mine！〃

And　Jack；　not　knowing　what　she　meant；　looked　curiously　into　her　face　and　wondered；　till　Brown；　examining　Kalman's　foot　and　finding　a　broken　bone；　exclaimed　wrathfully；　〃Say；　boy；　you　don't　tell　me　you　have　been　walking　on　this　foot？〃

But　Kalman　answered　nothing。

〃He　came　for　mefor　us；　Mr。　Brown；　through　that　awful　storm；〃　cried　Marjorie　penitently；　〃and　is　it　broken？　　Oh；　Kalman；　how　could　you？〃

But　Kalman　still　answered　nothing。　　His　dream　was　passing　from　him。　She　was　restored　to　her　world　and　was　no　longer　in　his　care。

〃And　here's　his　mine；〃　cried　Marjorie；　turning　Jack　toward　the　black　seam。

〃By　Jove！〃　cried　Mr。　Penny；　〃and　I　never　saw　it。　　You　never　showed　it　to　me。〃

But　during　those　hours　spent　in　the　cave　Kalman　and　Marjorie　had　something　other　to　occupy　their　minds　than　mines。　　Jack　French　examined　the　seam　closely　and　in　growing　excitement。

〃By　the　Lord　Harry！　Kalman；　did　you　find　this？〃

Kalman　nodded　indifferently。　　Mines　were　nothing　to　him　now。

〃How　did　you　light　upon　it？〃

And　Kalman　told　him　how。

〃He's　just　half　dead　and　starved；〃　said　Marjorie　in　a　voice　that　broke　with　pity。　　〃He　watched　all　last　night　while　we　slept　away　like　a　pair　o'　stirks。〃

At　the　tone　in　her　voice；　Jack　French　turned　and　gave　her　a　searching　look。　　The　quick；　hot　blood　flamed　into　her　cheeks；　and　in　her　eyes　dawned　a　frank　shyness　as　she　gave　him　back　his　look。

〃I　don't　care；〃　she　said　at　length；　〃he's　fair　dune　oot。〃

But　Jack　only　nodded　his　head　sagely　while　he　whispered　to　her；　〃Happy　boy；　happy　boy！　　Two　mines　in　one　night！〃

At　which　the　red　flamed　up　again　and　she　fell　to　examining　with　greater　diligence　the　seam　of　black　running　athwart　the　cave　side。

In　a　few　minutes　they　were　mounted　and　away；　Brown　riding　hard　to　bring　the　great　news　to　the　engineer's　camp　and　recall　the　hunting　parties；　the　rest　to　make　the　ranch；　Marjorie　in　front　in　happy　sparkling　converse　with　Jack　French；　and　Kalman；　haggard　and　gloomy；　bringing　up　the　rear。　　A　new　man　was　being　brought　to　birth　within　him；　and　sore　were　the　parturition　pangs。　　For　one　brief　night　she　had　been　his；　now　back　to　her　world；　she　was　his　no　more。

It　was　quite　two　days　before　the　shining　sun　and　the　eager　air　had　licked　up　from　earth　the　drifts　of　snow；　and　two　days　before　Marjorie　felt　quite　sure　she　was　able　to　bear　again　the　rigours　of　camp　life；　and　two　days　before　Aunt　Janet　woke　up　to　the　fact　that　that　foreign　young　man　was　altogether　too　handsome　to　be　riding　from　morning　till　night　with　her　niece。　　For　Jack；　meanwhile；　was　attending　with　assiduou