a mountain europa-第5章

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！


d；　the　turkey　bobbed　its　head　unhurt；　and　the　marksman　sprang　to　his　feet　with　an　exclamation　of　surprise　and　chagrin。　　As　he　loaded　the　gun　and　gravely　handed　it　to　the　girl；　the　excitement　grew　intense。　The　crowd　pressed　close。　　The　stolid　faces　of　the　mountaineer　women；　thrust　from　their　bonnets；　became　almost　eager　with　interest。　　Raines；　quiet　and　composed　as　he　was；　looked　anxious。　All　eyes　followed　every　movement　of　the　girl　as　she　coolly　stretched　her　long；　active　figure　on　the　ground；　drew　her　dress　close　about　it；　and；　throwing　her　yellow　hair　over　her　face　to　shade　her　eyes　from　the　slanting　sunlight；　placed　her　cheek　against　the　stock　of　the　gun。　A　long　suspense　followed。　　A　hush　almost　of　solemnity　fell　upon　the　crowd。

〃Why　don't　the　gal　shoot？〃　asked　a　voice；　impatiently。

Clayton　saw　what　the　matter　was；　and；　stepping　toward　her；　said　quietly；　〃You　forgot　to　set　the　trigger。〃

The　girl's　face　colored。　　Again　her　eye　glanced　along　the　barrel；　a　puff　of　smoke　flew　from　the　gun；　and　a　shout　came　from　every　pair　of　lips　as　the　turkey　leaped　into　the　air　and　fell；　beating　the　ground　with　its　wings。　In　an　instant　a　young　mountaineer　had　rushed　forward　and　seized　it；　and；　after　a　glance；　dropped　it　with　a　yell　of　triumph。

〃Shot　plum'　through　the　eyes！〃　he　shouted。　〃Shot　plum'　through　the　eyes！

The　girl　arose；　and　handed　the　gun　back　to　Raines。

Keep　hit；〃　he　said；　steadily。　　〃　Hit's　yourn。〃

〃I　don't　want　the　gun；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　did　want　that　turkey…'　n'　〃…a　little　tauntingly…〃I　did　want　to　beat　you；　Sherd　Raines。〃

The　mountaineer's　face　flushed　and　darkened；　but　he　said　nothing。　　He　took　no　part　in　the　shooting　that　followed；　and　when；　after　the　match　was　over；　the　girl；　with　her　rifle　on　one　shoulder　and　the　turkey　over　the　other；　turned　up　the　mountain　path；　Clayton　saw　him　follow　her。

IV

A　FORTNIGHT　later　Clayton；　rifle　in　hand；　took　the　same　path。　　It　was　late　in　May。　　The　'leafage　was　luxuriant；　and　the　mountains；　wooded　to　the　tops；　seemed　overspread　with　great；　shaggy　rugs　of　green。　The　woods　were　resonant　with　song…birds；　and　the　dew　dripped　and　sparkled　wherever　a　shaft　of　sunlight　pierced　the　thick　leaves。　　Late　violets　hid　shyly　under　canopies　of　May…apple；　bunches　of　blue　and　of　white　anemone　nodded　from　under　fallen　trees；　and　water　ran　like　hidden　music　everywhere。　　Slowly　the　valley　and　the　sound　of　its　life…the　lowing　of　cattle；　the　clatter　at　the　mines；　the　songs　of　the　negroes　at　work…sank　beneath　him。　The　chorus　of　birds　dwindled　until　only　the　cool；　flute…like　notes　of　a　wood…　thrush　rose　faintly　from　below。　　Up　he　went；　winding　around　great　oaks；　fallen　trunks；　loose　bowlders；　and　threatening　cliffs　until　light　glimmered　whitely　between　the　boles　of　the　trees。　　From　a　gap　where　he　paused　to　rest；　a　fire…scald　〃　was　visible　close　to　the'　crest　of　the　adjoining　mountain。　　It　was　filled　with　the　charred；　ghost…like　trunks　of　trees　that　had　been　burned　standing。　　Easter's　home　must　be　near　that；　Clayton　thought；　and　he　turned　toward　it　by　a　path　that　ran　along　the　top　of　the　mountain。　　After　a　few　hundred　yards　the　path　swerved　sharply　through　a　dense　thicket；　and　Clayton　stopped　in　wonder。

Some　natural　agent　had　hollowed　the　mountain；　leaving　a　level　plateau　of　several　acres。　The　earth　had　fallen　away　from　a　great　sombre　cliff　of　solid　rock；　and　clinging　like　a　swallow's　nest　in　a　cleft　of　this　was　the　usual　rude　cabin　of　a　mountaineer。　The　face　of　the　rock　was　dark　with　vines；　and　the　cabin　was　protected　as　by　a　fortress。　But　one　way　of　approach　was　possible；　and　that　straight　to　the　porch。　　From　the　cliff　the　vines　had　crept　to　roof　and　chimney；　and　were　waving　their　tendrils　about　a　thin　blue　spiral　of　smoke。　　The　cabin　was　gray　and　tottering　with　age。　　Above　the　porch　on　the　branches　of　an　apple…tree　hung　leaves　that　matched　in　richness　of　tint　the　thick　moss　on　the　rough　shingles。　　Under　it　an　old　woman　sat　spinning；　and　a　hound　lay　asleep　at　her　feet。　Easter　was　nowhere　to　be　seen；　but　her　voice　came　from　below　him　in　a　loud　tone　of　command；　and　presently　she　appeared　from　behind　a　knoll；　above　which　the　thatched　roof　of　a　stable　was　visible；　and　slowly　ascended　the　path　to　the　house。　She　had　evidently　just　finished　work；　　for　a　plough　stood　in　the　last　furrow　of　the　field；　and　the　fragrance　　of　freshly　turned　earth　was　in　the　air。　On　the　porch　she　sank　wearily　　into　a　low　chair；　and；　folding　her　hands；　looked　away　to　the　mountains。

Clayton　climbed　the　crumbling　fence。　A　dead　twig　snapped；　and；　startled　by　the　sound；　the　girl　began　to　rise；　but；　giving　him　one　quick；　sharp　look；　dropped　her　eyes　to　her　hands；　and　remained　motionless。

〃Good　morning；〃　said　Clayton；　lifting　his　hat。　The　girl　did　not　raise　her　face。　The　wheel　stopped；　and　the　spinner　turned　her　head。

How　air　ye？　〃　she　said；　with　ready　hospitality。　〃　Come　in　an'　hev　a　cheer。〃

〃No；　thank　you；〃　he　answered；　a　little　embarrassed　by　Easter's　odd　behavior。　　〃　May　I　get　some　water？

〃Sartinly；〃　said　the　old　woman；　looking　him　over　curiously。　　〃　Easter；　go　git　some　fresh。〃

The　girl　started　to　rise；　but　Clayton；　picking　up　the　bucket；　said；　quickly：

〃Oh　no；　I　won't　trouble　you。　　I　see　the　spring；〃　he　added；　noticing　a　tiny　stream　that　trickled　from　a　fissure　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。

Who　air　that　feller；　Easter？　〃　the　mother　asked；　in　a　low　voice；　when　Clayton　was　out　of　hearing。

〃One　o'　them　furriners　who　hev　come　into　Injun　Creek；〃　was　the　indifferent　reply。

That's　splendid　water；〃　said　Clayton；　returning。　　〃May　I　give　you　some？〃　　The　old　woman　shook　her　head。　Easter's　eyes　were　still　on　the　mountains；　and　apparently　she　had　not　heard　him。

〃Hit　air　good　water；〃　said　the　mother。　〃That　spring　never　does　go　dry。　　You　better　come　in　and　rest　a　spell。　I　suppose　ye　air　from　the　mines？〃　she　added；　as　she　turned　to　resume　spinning。

Yes；〃　answered　Clayton。　〃There　is　good　hunting　around　here；　isn't　there？　〃　he　went　on；　feeling　that　some　explanation　was　due　for　his　sudden　arrival　away　up　in　that　lone　spot。

There　was　no　answer。　　Easter　did　not　look　toward　him；　and　the　spinning　stopped。

〃Whut　d'you　say？〃　asked　the　old　woman。

Clayton　repeated　his　question。

〃Thar　used　to　be　prime　huntin'　in　these　parts　when　my　dad　cleared　off　this　spot　more'n　fifty　year　ago；　but　the　varmints　hev　mostly　been　killed　out。　　But　Easter　kin　tell　you　better'n　I　kin；　for　she　does　all　our　huntin'；　'n'　she　kin　outshoot　'mos'　any　man　in　the　mountains。〃

Yes；　I　saw　her　shoot　at　the　match　the　other　day　down　at　the　mines。〃

Did　ye？　〃…a　smile　of　pleasure　broke　over　the　old　woman's　face…〃　whar　she　beat　Sherd　Raines？　Sherd　wanted　to　mortify　her；　but　she　mortified　him；　I　reckon。〃

The　girl　did　not　join　in　her　mother's　laugh；　though　the　corners　of　her　mouth　twitched　faintly。

I　like　shooting；　myself；〃　said　Clayton。　〃I　would　go　into　a　match；　but　I'm　afraid　I　wouldn't　have　much　chance。〃

〃I　reckon　not；　with　that　short　thing？　〃　said　the　old　woman；　pointing　at　his　repeating…rifle。　〃Would　ye　shoot　with　that？〃

Oh；　yes；〃　answered　Clayton；　smiling；　〃it　shoots　very　well。〃

〃How　fer？〃

〃Oh；　a　long　way。〃

A　huge　shadow　swept　over　the　house；　thrown　by　a　buzzard　sailing　with　magnificent　ease　high　above　them。　　Thinking　that　he　might　disturb　its　flight；　Clayton　rose　and　cocked　his　rifle。

〃Ye're　not　going　to　shoot　at　that？〃　said　the　old　woman；　grinning。　The　girl　had　looked　toward　him　at　last；　with　a　smile　of　faint　dension。

Clayton　took　aim　quickly　and　fired。　　The　huge　bird　sank　as　though　hit；　curved　downward；　and　with　one　flap　of　his　great　wings　sailed　on。

〃Well；　ef　I　didn't　think　ye　had　hit　him！〃said　the　old　woman；　in　amazement。　〃You　kin　shoot；　fer　a　fac'。〃

Easter's　attention　was　gained　at　last。　For　the　first　time　she　looked　straight　at　him；　and　her　little　smile　of　derision　had　given　way　to　a　look　of　mingled　curiosity　and　respect。

〃I　expected　only　to　scare　him；〃　said　Clayton。

The　gun　will　carry　twice　that　far。〃

Hit's　jest　as　well　ye　didn't　hit　him；〃　said　the　old　woman。　　'Hit　air　five　dollars　fine　to　kill　a　buzzard　around　hyeh。　I'd　never　thought　that　little　thing　could　shoot。〃

〃It　shoots　several　times；〃　said　Clayton。　〃Hit　does　whut？〃

Like　a　pistol；〃　he　explained；　and；　rising；　he　directed　s