贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > the silverado squatters >

第12章

the silverado squatters-第12章

小说: the silverado squatters 字数: 每页4000字

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!




sounds; and colours up the emptiest building with better than 

frescoes。  For a while it was even pleasant in the forge; 

with the blaze in the midst; and a look over our shoulders on 

the woods and mountains where the day was dying like a 

dolphin。



It was between seven and eight before Hanson arrived; with a 

waggonful of our effects and two of his wife's relatives to 

lend him a hand。  The elder showed surprising strength。  He 

would pick up a huge packing…case; full of books of all 

things; swing it on his shoulder; and away up the two crazy 

ladders and the breakneck spout of rolling mineral; 

familiarly termed a path; that led from the cart…track to our 

house。  Even for a man unburthened; the ascent was toilsome 

and precarious; but Irvine sealed it with a light foot; 

carrying box after box; as the hero whisks the stage child up 

the practicable footway beside the waterfall of the fifth 

act。  With so strong a helper; the business was speedily 

transacted。  Soon the assayer's office was thronged with our 

belongings; piled higgledy…piggledy; and upside down; about 

the floor。  There were our boxes; indeed; but my wife had 

left her keys in Calistoga。  There was the stove; but; alas! 

our carriers had forgot the chimney; and lost one of the 

plates along the road。  The Silverado problem was scarce 

solved。



Rufe himself was grave and good…natured over his share of 

blame; he even; if I remember right; expressed regret。  But 

his crew; to my astonishment and anger; grinned from ear to 

ear; and laughed aloud at our distress。  They thought it 

〃real funny〃 about the stove…pipe they had forgotten; 〃real 

funny〃 that they should have lost a plate。  As for hay; the 

whole party refused to bring us any till they should have 

supped。  See how late they were!  Never had there been such a 

job as coming up that grade!  Nor often; I suspect; such a 

game of poker as that before they started。  But about nine; 

as a particular favour; we should have some hay。



So they took their departure; leaving me still staring; and 

we resigned ourselves to wait for their return。  The fire in 

the forge had been suffered to go out; and we were one and 

all too weary to kindle another。  We dined; or; not to take 

that word in vain; we ate after a fashion; in the nightmare 

disorder of the assayer's office; perched among boxes。  A 

single candle lighted us。  It could scarce be called a 

housewarming; for there was; of course; no fire; and with the 

two open doors and the open window gaping on the night; like 

breaches in a fortress; it began to grow rapidly chill。  Talk 

ceased; nobody moved but the unhappy Chuchu; still in quest 

of sofa…cushions; who tumbled complainingly among the trunks。  

It required a certain happiness of disposition to look 

forward hopefully; from so dismal a beginning; across the 

brief hours of night; to the warm shining of to…morrow's sun。



But the hay arrived at last; and we turned; with our last 

spark of courage; to the bedroom。  We had improved the 

entrance; but it was still a kind of rope…walking; and it 

would have been droll to see us mounting; one after another; 

by candle…light; under the open stars。



The western door … that which looked up the canyon; and 

through which we entered by our bridge of flying plank … was 

still entire; a handsome; panelled door; the most finished 

piece of carpentry in Silverado。  And the two lowest bunks 

next to this we roughly filled with hay for that night's use。  

Through the opposite; or eastern…looking gable; with its open 

door and window; a faint; disused starshine came into the 

room like mist; and when we were once in bed; we lay; 

awaiting sleep; in a haunted; incomplete obscurity。  At first 

the silence of the night was utter。  Then a high wind began 

in the distance among the tree…tops; and for hours continued 

to grow higher。  It seemed to me much such a wind as we had 

found on our visit; yet here in our open chamber we were 

fanned only by gentle and refreshing draughts; so deep was 

the canyon; so close our house was planted under the 

overhanging rock。







THE HUNTER'S FAMILY







THERE is quite a large race or class of people in America; 

for whom we scarcely seem to have a parallel in England。  Of 

pure white blood; they are unknown or unrecognizable in 

towns; inhabit the fringe of settlements and the deep; quiet 

places of the country; rebellious to all labour; and pettily 

thievish; like the English gipsies; rustically ignorant; but 

with a touch of wood…lore and the dexterity of the savage。  

Whence they came is a moot point。  At the time of the war; 

they poured north in crowds to escape the conscription; lived 

during summer on fruits; wild animals; and petty theft; and 

at the approach of winter; when these supplies failed; built 

great fires in the forest; and there died stoically by 

starvation。  They are widely scattered; however; and easily 

recognized。  Loutish; but not ill…looking; they will sit all 

day; swinging their legs on a field fence; the mind seemingly 

as devoid of all reflection as a Suffolk peasant's; careless 

of politics; for the most part incapable of reading; but with 

a rebellious vanity and a strong sense of independence。  

Hunting is their most congenial business; or; if the occasion 

offers; a little amateur detection。  In tracking a criminal; 

following a particular horse along a beaten highway; and 

drawing inductions from a hair or a footprint; one of those 

somnolent; grinning Hodges will suddenly display activity of 

body and finesse of mind。  By their names ye may know them; 

the women figuring as Loveina; Larsenia; Serena; Leanna; 

Orreana; the men answering to Alvin; Alva; or Orion; 

pronounced Orrion; with the accent on the first。  Whether 

they are indeed a race; or whether this is the form of 

degeneracy common to all back…woodsmen; they are at least 

known by a generic byword; as Poor Whites or Low…downers。



I will not say that the Hanson family was Poor White; because 

the name savours of offence; but I may go as far as this … 

they were; in many points; not unsimilar to the people 

usually so…cared。  Rufe himself combined two of the 

qualifications; for he was both a hunter and an amateur 

detective。  It was he who pursued Russel and Dollar; the 

robbers of the Lake Port stage; and captured them the very 

morning after the exploit; while they were still sleeping in 

a hayfield。  Russel; a drunken Scotch carpenter; was even an 

acquaintance of his own; and he expressed much grave 

commiseration for his fate。  In all that he said and did; 

Rufe was grave。  I never saw him hurried。  When he spoke; he 

took out his pipe with ceremonial deliberation; looked east 

and west; and then; in quiet tones and few words; stated his 

business or told his story。  His gait was to match; it would 

never have surprised you if; at any step; he had turned round 

and walked away again; so warily and slowly; and with so much 

seeming hesitation did he go about。  He lay long in bed in 

the morning … rarely indeed; rose before noon; he loved all 

games; from poker to clerical croquet; and in the Toll House 

croquet ground I have seen him toiling at the latter with the 

devotion of a curate。  He took an interest in education; was 

an active member of the local school…board; and when I was 

there; he had recently lost the schoolhouse key。  His waggon 

was broken; but it never seemed to occur to him to mend it。  

Like all truly idle people; he had an artistic eye。  He chose 

the print stuff for his wife's dresses; and counselled her in 

the making of a patchwork quilt; always; as she thought; 

wrongly; but to the more educated eye; always with bizarre 

and admirable taste … the taste of an Indian。  With all this; 

he was a perfect; unoffending gentleman in word and act。  

Take his clay pipe from him; and he was fit for any

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的