drift from two shores(漂流)-第12章
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suspended frivolity； it scattered reverie； it paralyzed action。 It was
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omnipotent。 More wonderful and characteristic than all； the very existence
of this tremendous organ was unknown to the camp for six months after
the arrival of its modest owner； and only revealed to them under
circumstances that seemed to point more conclusively than ever to her rare
discretion。
It was the beginning of a warm night and the middle of a heated
political discussion。 Sawyer's Bar had gathered in force at the Crossing；
and by the light of flaring pine torches； cheered and applauded the rival
speakers who from a rude platform addressed the excited multitude。
Partisan spirit at that time ran high in the foot…hills； crimination and
recrimination； challenge； reply； accusation； and retort had already inflamed
the meeting； and Colonel Bungstarter； after a withering review of his
opponent's policy； culminated with a personal attack upon the career and
private character of the eloquent and chivalrous Colonel Culpepper
Starbottle of Siskiyou。 That eloquent and chivalrous gentleman was
known to be present； it was rumored that the attack was expected to
provoke a challenge from Colonel Starbottle which would give
Bungstarter the choice of weapons； and deprive Starbottle of his advantage
as a dead shot。 It was whispered also that the sagacious Starbottle； aware
of this fact； would retaliate in kind so outrageously as to leave Bungstarter
no recourse but to demand satisfaction on the spot。 As Colonel Starbottle
rose； the eager crowd drew together； elbowing each other in rapt and
ecstatic expectancy。 〃He can't get even on Bungstarter； onless he allows
his sister ran off with a nigger； or that he put up his grandmother at draw
poker and lost her；〃 whispered the Quartz Crusher； 〃kin he？〃 All ears
were alert； particularly the very long and hairy ones just rising above the
railing of the speaker's platform； for Jinny； having a feminine distrust of
solitude and a fondness for show； had followed her master to the meeting
and had insinuated herself upon the platform； where way was made for her
with that frontier courtesy always extended to her age and sex。
Colonel Starbottle； stertorous and purple； advanced to the railing。
There he unbuttoned his collar and laid his neckcloth aside； then with his
eye fixed on his antagonist he drew off his blue frock coat； and thrusting
one hand into his ruffled shirt front； and raising the other to the dark
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canopy above him； he opened his vindictive lips。 The action； the attitude；
were Starbottle's。 But the voice was not。 For at that supreme moment；
a brayso profound； so appalling； so utterly soul…subduing； so paralyzing
that everything else sank to mere insignificance beside itfilled woods；
and sky； and air。 For a moment only the multitude gasped in speechless
astonishmentit was a moment onlyand then the welkin roared with their
shouts。 In vain silence was commanded； in vain Colonel Starbottle； with
a ghastly smile； remarked that he recognized in the interruption the voice
and the intellect of the opposition； the laugh continued； the more as it was
discovered that Jinny had not yet finished； and was still recurring to her
original theme。 〃Gentlemen；〃 gasped Starbottle； 〃any attempt by ＇Hee…
haw！ from Jinny＇ brutal buffoonery to restrict the right of free speech to all
＇a prolonged assent from Jinny＇ is worthy only the dastardly〃but here a
diminuendo so long drawn as to appear a striking imitation of the
Colonel's own apoplectic sentences drowned his voice with shrieks of
laughter。
It must not be supposed that during this performance a vigorous
attempt was not made to oust Jinny from the platform。 But all in vain。
Equally demoralizing in either extremity； Jinny speedily cleared a circle
with her flying hoofs； smashed the speaker's table and water pitcher； sent
the railing flying in fragments over the cheering crowd； and only
succumbed to two blankets； in which； with her head concealed； she was
finally dragged； half captive； half victor； from the field。 Even then a
muffled and supplemental bray that came from the woods at intervals drew
half the crowd away and reduced the other half to mere perfunctory
hearers。 The demoralized meeting was adjourned； Colonel Starbottle's
withering reply remained unuttered； and the Bungstarter party were
triumphant。
For the rest of the evening Jinny was the heroine of the hour； but no
cajolery nor flattery could induce her to again exhibit her powers。 In
vain did Dean of Angel's extemporize a short harangue in the hope that
Jinny would be tempted to reply； in vain was every provocation offered
that might sting her sensitive nature to eloquent revolt。 She replied only
with her heels。 Whether or not this was simple caprice； or whether she
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was satisfied with her maiden effort； or indignant at her subsequent
treatment； she remained silent。 〃She made her little game；〃 said Dan；
who was a political adherent of Starbottle's； and who yet from that day
enjoyed the great speaker's undying hatred； 〃and even if me and her don't
agree on politicsYOU let her alone。〃 Alas； it would have been well for
Dan if he could have been true to his instincts； but the offer of one
hundred dollars from the Bungstarter party proved too tempting。 She
passed irrevocably from his hands into those of the enemy。 But any
reader of these lines will； I trust； rejoice to hear that this attempt to restrain
free political expression in the foot…hills failed signally。 For； although
she was again covertly introduced on the platform by the Bungstarters； and
placed face to face with Colonel Starbottle at Murphy's Camp； she was
dumb。 Even a brass band failed to excite her emulation。 Either she had
become disgusted with politics or the higher prices paid by the party to
other and less effective speakers aroused her jealousy and shocked her
self…esteem； but she remained a passive spectator。 When the Hon。
Sylvester Rourback； who received； for the use of his political faculties for
a single night； double the sum for which she was purchased outright；
appeared on the same platform with herself； she forsook it hurriedly and
took to the woods。 Here she might have starved but for the intervention
of one McCarty； a poor market gardener； who found her； and gave her
food and shelter under the implied contract that she should forsake politics
and go to work。 The latter she for a long time resisted； but as she was
considered large enough by this time to draw a cart； McCarty broke her to
single harness； with a severe fracture of his leg and the loss of four teeth
and a small spring wagon。 At length； when she could be trusted to carry
his wares to Murphy's Camp； and could be checked from entering a shop
with the cart attached to her；a fact of which she always affected perfect
disbelief；her education was considered as complete as that of the average
California donkey。 It was still unsafe to leave her alone； as she disliked
solitude； and always made it a point to join any group of loungers with her
unnecessary cart； and even to follow some good…looking miner to his
cabin。 The first time this peculiarity was discovered by her owner was
on his return to the street after driving a bargain within the walls of the
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Temperance Hotel。 Jinny was nowhere to be seen。 Her devious course；
however； was pleasingly indicated by vegetables that strewed the road
until she was at last tracked to the veranda of the Arcade saloon； where she
was found looking through the window at a game of euchre； and only
deterred by the impeding cart from entering the building。 A visit one
Sunday to the little Catholic chapel at French Camp； where she attempted
to introduce an antiphonal service and the cart； brought shame and
disgrace upon her unlucky master。 For the cart contained freshly…
gathered vegetables； and the fact that McCarty had been Sabbath…breaking
was painfully evident。 Father Sullivan was quick to turn an incident that
provoked only the risibilities of his audience into a moral lesson。 〃It's the
poor dumb beast that has a more Christian sowl than Michael；〃 he
commented； but here Jinny assented so positively that they were fain to
drag her away by main force。
To her eccentric and thoughtless youth succeeded a calm maturity in
which her conservative sagacity was steadily developed。 She now
worked for her living； subject； however； to a nice discrimination by which
she limited herself to a certain amount of work； beyond which neither
threats； beatings； nor cajoleries would force her。 At certain hours she
would start for the stable with or without the incumbrances of the cart or
Michael； turning two long and deaf ears on all expostulation or entreaty。
〃Now； God be good to me；〃 said Michael； one day picking himself out
from a ditch as
