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！
There was a pause。 The curtain was suddenly drawn aside； and a
charming little head and shoulders； furred to the throat and topped
with a bewitching velvet cap； were thrust out。 In the obscurity
little could be seen of the girl's features； but there was a
certain willfulness and impatience in her attitude。 Being in the
shadow； she had the advantage of the others； particularly of Jack；
as his figure was fully revealed in the moonlight against the
snowbank。 Her eyes rested for a moment on his high boots； his
heavy mustache； so long as to mingle with the unkempt locks which
fell over his broad shoulders； on his huge red hands streaked with
black grease from the wagon wheels； and some blood； stanched with
snow； drawn from bruises in cutting out brambles in the brush； on
more awful than alla monstrous； shiny 〃specimen〃 gold ring
encircling one of his fingers；on the whiskey bottle that
shamelessly bulged from his side pocket； and thenslowly dropped
her dissatisfied eyelids。
〃Why can't I stay HERE？〃 she said languidly。 〃It's quite nice and
comfortable。〃
〃Because we can't leave you alone； and we must go with this
gentleman to help him。〃
Miss Amy let the tail of her eye again creep shudderingly over this
impossible Jack。 〃I thought thethe gentleman was going to help
US；〃 she said dryly。
〃Nonsense； Amy； you don't understand；〃 said her father impatiently。
〃This gentleman is kind enough to offer to make some sledge…runners
for us at his cabin； and we must help him。〃
〃But I can stay here while you go。 I'm not afraid。〃
〃Yes； but you're ALONE here； and something might happen。〃
〃Nothing could happen；〃 interrupted Jack； quickly and cheerfully。
He had flushed at first； but he was now considering that the
carrying of a lady as expensively attired and apparently as
delicate and particular as this one might be somewhat difficult。
〃There's nothin' that would hurt ye here；〃 he continued； addressing
the velvet cap and furred throat in the darkness； 〃and if there was
it couldn't get at ye； bein'； so to speak； in the same sort o' fix
as you。 So you're all right；〃 he added positively。
Inconsistently enough； the young lady did not accept this as
gratefully as might have been imagined； but Jack did not see the
slight flash of her eye as； ignoring him； she replied markedly to
her father； 〃I'd much rather stop here； papa。〃
〃And；〃 continued Jack； turning also to her father； 〃you can keep
the wagon and the whole gorge in sight from the trail all the way
up。 So you can see that everything's all right。 Why； I saw YOU
from the first。〃 He stopped awkwardly； and added； 〃Come along； the
sooner we're off the quicker the job's over。〃
〃Pray don't delay the gentleman andthe job；〃 said Miss Amy
sweetly。
Reassured by Jack's last suggestion； her father followed him with
the driver and the second man of the party； a youngish and somewhat
undistinctive individual； but to whose gallant anxieties Miss Amy
responded effusively。 Nevertheless； the young lady had especially
noted Jack's confession that he had seen them when they first
entered the gorge。 〃And I suppose；〃 she added to herself mentally；
〃that he sat there with his boozing companions； laughing and
jeering at our struggles。〃
But when the sound of her companions' voices died away； and their
figures were swallowed up in the darkness behind the snow； she
forgot all this； and much else that was mundane and frivolous； in
the impressive and majestic solitude which seemed to descend upon
her from the obscurity above。
At first it was accompanied with a slight thrill of vague fear； but
this passed presently into that profound peace which the mountains
alone can give their lonely or perturbed children。 It seemed to
her that Nature was never the same； on the great plains where men
and cities always loomed into such ridiculous proportions； as when
the Great Mother raised herself to comfort them with smiling
hillsides； or encompassed them and drew them closer in the loving
arms of her mountains。 The long white canada stretched before her
in a purity that did not seem of the earth； the vague bulk of the
mountains rose on either side of her in a mystery that was not of
this life。 Yet it was not oppressive； neither was its restfulness
and quiet suggestive of obliviousness and slumber； on the contrary；
the highly rarefied air seemed to give additional keenness to her
senses； her hearing had become singularly acute； her eyesight
pierced the uttermost extremity of the gorge； lit by the full moon
that occasionally shone through slowly drifting clouds。 Her nerves
thrilled with a delicious sense of freedom and a strange desire to
run or climb。 It seemed to her； in her exalted fancy； that these
solitudes should be peopled only by a kingly race； and not by such
gross and material churls as this mountaineer who helped them。
And； I grieve to say；writing of an idealist that WAS； and a
heroine that IS to be；she was getting outrageously hungry。
There were a few biscuits in her traveling…bag； and she remembered
that she had been presented with a small jar of California honey at
San Jose。 This she took out and opened on the seat before her； and
spreading the honey on the biscuits； ate them with a keen schoolgirl
relish and a pleasant suggestion of a sylvan picnic in spite of the
cold。 It was all very strange； quite an experience for her to speak
of afterwards。 People would hardly believe that she had spent an
hour or two； all alone； in a deserted wagon in a mountain snow pass。
It was an adventure such as one reads of in the magazines。 Only
something was lacking which the magazines always supplied；something
heroic； something done by somebody。 If that awful…looking
mountaineerthat man with the long hair and mustache； and that
horrible gold ring；why such a ring？was only different！ But he
was probably gorging beefsteak or venison with her father and Mr。
Waterhouse；men were always such selfish creatures！and had quite
forgotten all about her。 It would have been only decent for them to
have brought her down something hot； biscuits and honey were
certainly cloying； and somehow didn't agree with the temperature。
She was really half starved！ And much they cared！ It would just
serve them right if something DID happen to her；or SEEM to happen
to her；if only to frighten them。 And the pretty face that was
turned up in the moonlight wore a charming but decided pout。
Good gracious； what was that？ The horses were either struggling or
fighting in their snow shelters。 Then one with a frightened neigh
broke from its halter and dashed into the road； only to be plunged
snorting and helpless into the drifts。 Then the other followed。
How silly！ Something had frightened them。 Perhaps only a rabbit
or a mole； horses were such absurdly nervous creatures！ However；
it is just as well； somebody would see them or hear them；that
neigh was quite human and awfu