the complete writings-3-第7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！
until she reached the more open forest of hard…wood。 It was freer going here； and the cry of the pack echoed more resoundingly in the great spaces。 She was going due east； when （judging by the sound； the hounds were not far off； though they were still hidden by a ridge） she turned short away to the north； and kept on at a good pace。 In five minutes more she heard the sharp； exultant yelp of discovery； and then the deep…mouthed howl of pursuit。 The hounds had struck her trail where she turned； and the fawn was safe。
The doe was in good running condition； the ground was not bad； and she felt the exhilaration of the chase。 For the moment； fear left her； and she bounded on with the exaltation of triumph。 For a quarter of an hour she went on at a slapping pace； clearing the moose…bushes with bound after bound； flying over the fallen logs； pausing neither for brook nor ravine。 The baying of the hounds grew fainter behind her。 But she struck a bad piece of going； a dead…wood slash。 It was marvelous to see her skim over it； leaping among its intricacies； and not breaking her slender legs。 No other living animal could do it。 But it was killing work。 She began to pant fearfully； she lost ground。 The baying of the hounds was nearer。 She climbed the hard…wood hill at a slower gait； but； once on more level； free ground； her breath came back to her； and she stretched away with new courage； and maybe a sort of contempt of her heavy pursuers。
After running at high speed perhaps half a mile farther； it occurred to her that it would be safe now to turn to the west； and； by a wide circuit； seek her fawn。 But； at the moment； she heard a sound that chilled her heart。 It was the cry of a hound to the west of her。 The crafty brute had made the circuit of the slash； and cut off her retreat。 There was nothing to do but to keep on； and on she went； still to the north； with the noise of the pack behind her。 In five minutes more she had passed into a hillside clearing。 Cows and young steers were grazing there。 She heard a tinkle of bells。 Below her； down the mountain slope； were other clearings； broken by patches of woods。 Fences intervened； and a mile or two down lay the valley； the shining Au Sable； and the peaceful farmhouses。 That way also her hereditary enemies were。 Not a merciful heart in all that lovely valley。 She hesitated： it was only for an instant。 She must cross the Slidebrook Valley if possible； and gain the mountain opposite。 She bounded on； she stopped。 What was that？ From the valley ahead came the cry of a searching hound。 All the devils were loose this morning。 Every way was closed but one； and that led straight down the mountain to the cluster of houses。 Conspicuous among them was a slender white wooden spire。 The doe did not know that it was the spire of a Christian chapel。 But perhaps she thought that human pity dwelt there； and would be more merciful than the teeth of the hounds。
〃The hounds are baying on my track： O white man！ will you send me back？〃
In a panic； frightened animals will always flee to human…kind from the danger of more savage foes。 They always make a mistake in doing so。 Perhaps the trait is the survival of an era of peace on earth； perhaps it is a prophecy of the golden age of the future。 The business of this age is murder；the slaughter of animals； the slaughter of fellow…men； by the wholesale。 Hilarious poets who have never fired a gun write hunting…songs；Ti…ra…la： and good bishops write war…songs；；Ave the Czar！
The hunted doe went down the 〃open；〃 clearing the fences splendidly； flying along the stony path。 It was a beautiful sight。 But consider what a shot it was！ If the deer； now； could only have been caught I No doubt there were tenderhearted people in the valley who would have spared her life； shut her up in a stable； and petted her。 Was there one who would have let her go back to her waiting…fawn？ It is the business of civilization to tame or kill。
The doe went on。 She left the sawmill on John's Brook to her right； she turned into a wood…path。 As she approached Slide Brook； she saw a boy standing by a tree with a raised rifle。 The dogs were not in sight； but she could hear them coming down the hill。 There was no time for hesitation。 With a tremendous burst of speed she cleared the stream； and； as she touched the bank； heard the 〃ping〃 of a rifle bullet in the air above her。 The cruel sound gave wings to the poor thing。 In a moment more she was in the opening： she leaped into the traveled road。 Which way？ Below her in the wood was a load of hay： a man and a boy； with pitchforks in their hands； were running towards her。 She turned south； and flew along the street。 The town was up。 Women and children ran to the doors and windows； men snatched their rifles； shots were fired； at the big boarding…houses； the summer boarders； who never have anything to do； came out and cheered； a campstool was thrown from a veranda。 Some young fellows shooting at a mark in the meadow saw the flying deer； and popped away at her； but they were accustomed to a mark that stood still。 It was all so sudden！ There were twenty people who were just going to shoot her； when the doe leaped the road fence； and went away across a marsh toward the foothills。 It was a fearful gauntlet to run。 But nobody except the deer considered it in that light。 Everybody told what he was just going to do； everybody who had seen the performance was a kind of hero；everybody except the deer。 For days and days it was the subject of conversation； and the summer boarders kept their guns at hand； expecting another deer would come to be shot at。
The doe went away to the foothills； going now slower； and evidently fatigued； if not frightened half to death。 Nothing is so appalling to a recluse as half a mile of summer boarders。 As the deer entered the thin woods； she saw a rabble of people start across the meadow in pursuit。 By this time； the dogs； panting； and lolling out their tongues； came swinging along； keeping the trail； like stupids； and consequently losing ground when the deer doubled。 But； when the doe had got into the timber； she heard the savage brutes howling across the meadow。 （It is well enough； perhaps； to say that nobody offered to shoot the dogs。）
The courage of the panting fugitive was not gone： she was game to the tip of her high…bred ears。 But the fearful pace at which she had just been going told on her。 Her legs trembled； and her heart beat like a trip…hammer。 She slowed her speed perforce； but still fled industriously up the right bank of the stream。 When she had gone a couple of miles； and the dogs were evidently gaining again； she crossed the broad； deep brook； climbed the steep left bank； and fled on in the direction of the Mount…Marcy trail。 The fording of the river threw the hounds off for a time。 She knew； by their uncertain yelping up and down the opposite bank； that she had a little respite： she used it； however； to push on until the baying was faint in her ears； and then she dropped； exhausted； upon the ground。
This rest； brief as it was； saved her life。 Roused again by the baying pack； she leaped forward with better speed； though without that keen feeling of exhilarating flight that she had in the morning。 It was still a race for life； but the odds were in herfavor； she thought。 She did not appreciate the dogged persistence of the hounds； nor had any inspiration told her that the race is not to the swift。
She was a little confused in her mind where to go； but an instinct kept her course to the left； and consequently farther away from her fawn。 Going now slower； and now faster； as the pursuit seemed more distant or nearer； she kept to the southwest； crossed the stream again； left Panther Gorge on her right； and ran on by Haystack and Skylight in the direction of the Upper Au Sable Pond。 I do not know her exact course through this maze of mountains； swamps； ravines； and frightful wildernesses。 I only know that the poor thing worked her way along painfully； with sinking heart and unsteady limbs； lying down 〃dead beat〃 at intervals； and then spurred on by the cry of the remorseless dogs； until； late in the afternoon； she staggered down the shoulder of Bartlett； and stood upon the shore of the lake。 If she could put that piece of water between her and her pursuers； she would be safe。 Had she strength to swim it？
At her first step into the water she saw a sight that sent her back with a bound。 There was a boat mid…lake： two men were in it。 One was rowing： the other had a gun in his hand。 They were looking towards her： they had seen her。 （She did not know that they had heard the baying of hounds on the mountains； and had been lying in wait for her an hour。） What should she do？ The hounds were drawing near。 No escape that way； even if she could still run。 With only a moment's hesitation she plunged into the lake； and struck obliquely across。 Her tired legs could not propel the tired body rapidly。 She saw the boat headed for her。 She turned toward the centre of the lake。 The boat turned。 She could hear the rattle of the oarlocks。 It was gaining on her。 Then there was a silence。 Then there was a splash of the water just ahead of her； followed by a roar round the lake； the words 〃Confound it all！〃 and a rattle of the oars again。 The doe saw the boat nearing her。 She turned irresolutely to the shore whence she came： the dogs were lapping the water； and howling there。 She turned again to the center of the lake。
The brave； pretty creature was quite exhausted now。 In a moment more； with a rush of water； the boat was on her； and the man at the oars had leaned over and caught her by the tail。
〃Knock her on the head with that paddle！〃 he shouted to the gentleman in the stern。
The gentleman was a gentleman； with a kind； smooth…shaven face； and might have been a minister of some sort of everlasting gospel。 He took the paddle in his hand。 Just then the doe turned her head； and looked at him with her great； appealing eyes。
〃I can't do it！ my soul； I can't do it！〃 and he dropped the paddle。 〃Oh； let her go！〃
〃Let H。 go！〃 was the only response of the guide as he slung the deer round； whipped out his hunting…knife； and made a pass that severed her jugular。
And the gentleman ate that night of the venison。
The buck returned about the middle of the afternoon。 The fawn was bleating piteously； hungry and lonesome。 The buck was surprised。 He looked about in the forest。 He took a circuit； and came back。 His doe was nowhere to be seen。 He looked down at the fawn in a helpless sort of way。 The fawn appealed for his supper。 The buck had nothing whatever to give his child；nothing but his sympathy。 If he said anything； this is what he said： 〃I'm the head of this family； but； really； this is a novel case。 I've nothing whatever for you。 I don't know what to do。 I've the feelings of a father； but you can't live on them。 Let us travel。〃
The buck walked away： the little one toddled after him。 They disappeared in the forest。
V
A CHARACTER STUDY
There has been a lively inquiry after the primeval man。 Wanted； a man who would satisfy the conditions of the miocene environment； and yet would be good enoug
