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！
rabbit； then we overtook a cayote； and were gaining on an antelope when
the rotten girth let go and threw me about thirty yards off to the left；
and as the saddle went down over the horse's rump he gave it a lift with
his heels that sent it more than four hundred yards up in the air； I wish
I may die in a minute if he didn't。 I fell at the foot of the only
solitary tree there was in nine counties adjacent （as any creature could
see with the naked eye）； and the next second I had hold of the bark with
four sets of nails and my teeth； and the next second after that I was
astraddle of the main limb and blaspheming my luck in a way that made my
breath smell of brimstone。 I had the bull； now； if he did not think of
one thing。 But that one thing I dreaded。 I dreaded it very seriously。
There was a possibility that the bull might not think of it； but there
were greater chances that he would。 I made up my mind what I would do in
case he did。 It was a little over forty feet to the ground from where I
sat。 I cautiously unwound the lariat from the pommel of my saddle〃
〃Your saddle？ Did you take your saddle up in the tree with you？〃
〃Take it up in the tree with me？ Why； how you talk。 Of course I didn't。
No man could do that。 It fell in the tree when it came down。〃
〃Ohexactly。〃
〃Certainly。 I unwound the lariat； and fastened one end of it to the
limb。 It was the very best green raw…hide； and capable of sustaining
tons。 I made a slip…noose in the other end； and then hung it down to see
the length。 It reached down twenty…two feethalf way to the ground。
I then loaded every barrel of the Allen with a double charge。 I felt
satisfied。 I said to myself； if he never thinks of that one thing that I
dread； all rightbut if he does； all right anyhowI am fixed for him。
But don't you know that the very thing a man dreads is the thing that
always happens？ Indeed it is so。 I watched the bull； now； with anxiety
anxiety which no one can conceive of who has not been in such a
situation and felt that at any moment death might come。 Presently a
thought came into the bull's eye。 I knew it！ said Iif my nerve fails
now； I am lost。 Sure enough； it was just as I had dreaded； he started in
to climb the tree〃
〃What； the bull？〃
〃Of coursewho else？〃
〃But a bull can't climb a tree。〃
〃He can't； can't he？ Since you know so much about it； did you ever see a
bull try？〃
〃No！ I never dreamt of such a thing。〃
〃Well； then； what is the use of your talking that way； then？ Because you
never saw a thing done； is that any reason why it can't be done？〃
〃Well； all rightgo on。 What did you do？〃
〃The bull started up； and got along well for about ten feet； then slipped
and slid back。 I breathed easier。 He tried it againgot up a little
higherslipped again。 But he came at it once more； and this time he was
careful。 He got gradually higher and higher； and my spirits went down
more and more。 Up he camean inch at a timewith his eyes hot； and his
tongue hanging out。 Higher and higherhitched his foot over the stump
of a limb； and looked up； as much as to say； 'You are my meat； friend。'
Up againhigher and higher； and getting more excited the closer he got。
He was within ten feet of me！ I took a long breath；and then said I；
'It is now or never。' I had the coil of the lariat all ready； I paid it
out slowly； till it hung right over his head； all of a sudden I let go of
the slack； and the slipnoose fell fairly round his neck！ Quicker than
lightning I out with the Allen and let him have it in the face。 It was
an awful roar； and must have scared the bull out of his senses。 When the
smoke cleared away； there he was； dangling in the air； twenty foot from
the ground； and going out of one convulsion into another faster than you
could count！ I didn't stop to count； anyhowI shinned down the tree and
shot for home。〃
〃Bemis； is all that true； just as you have stated it？〃
〃I wish I may rot in my tracks and die the death of a dog if it isn't。〃
〃Well； we can't refuse to believe it； and we don't。 But if there were
some proofs〃
〃Proofs！ Did I bring back my lariat？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did I bring back my horse？〃
〃No。〃
〃Did you ever see the bull again？〃
〃No。〃
〃Well； then； what more do you want？ I never saw anybody as particular as
you are about a little thing like that。〃
I made up my mind that if this man was not a liar he only missed it by
the skin of his teeth。 This episode reminds me of an incident of my
brief sojourn in Siam； years afterward。 The European citizens of a town
in the neighborhood of Bangkok had a prodigy among them by the name of
Eckert； an Englishmana person famous for the number； ingenuity and
imposing magnitude of his lies。 They were always repeating his most
celebrated falsehoods； and always trying to 〃draw him out〃 before
strangers； but they seldom succeeded。 Twice he was invited to the house
where I was visiting； but nothing could seduce him into a specimen lie。
One day a planter named Bascom； an influential man； and a proud and
sometimes irascible one； invited me to ride over with him and call on
Eckert。 As we jogged along； said he：
〃Now； do you know where the fault lies？ It lies in putting Eckert on his
guard。 The minute the boys go to pumping at Eckert he knows perfectly
well what they are after； and of course he shuts up his shell。 Anybody
might know he would。 But when we get there； we must play him finer than
that。 Let him shape the conversation to suit himselflet him drop it or
change it whenever he wants to。 Let him see that nobody is trying to
draw him out。 Just let him have his own way。 He will soon forget
himself and begin to grind out lies like a mill。 Don't get impatient
just keep quiet； and let me play him。 I will make him lie。 It does seem
to me that the boys must be blind to overlook such an obvious and simple
trick as that。〃
Eckert received us heartilya pleasant…spoken； gentle…mannered creature。
We sat in the veranda an hour； sipping English ale； and talking about the
king； and the sacred white elephant； the Sleeping Idol； and all manner of
things； and I noticed that my comrade never led the conversation himself
or shaped it； but simply followed Eckert's lead； and betrayed no
solicitude and no anxiety about anything。 The effect was shortly
perceptible。 Eckert began to grow communicative； he grew more and more
at his ease； and more and more talkative and sociable。 Another hour
passed in the same way； and then all of a sudden Eckert said：
〃Oh； by the way！ I came near forgetting。 I have got a thing here to
astonish you。 Such a thing as neither you nor any other man ever heard
ofI've got a cat that will eat cocoanut！ Common green cocoanutand
not only eat the meat； but drink the milk。 It is soI'll swear to it。〃
A quick glance from Bascoma glance that I understoodthen：
〃Why； bless my soul； I never heard of such a thing。 Man； it is
impossible。〃
〃I knew you would say it。 I'll fetch the cat。〃
He went in the house。 Bascom said：
〃Therewhat did I tell you？ Now； that is the way to handle Eckert。 You
see； I have petted him along patiently； and put his suspicions to sl