°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > roughing it >

µÚ9ÕÂ

roughing it-µÚ9ÕÂ

С˵£º roughing it ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



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£º

¡¨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£º

¡¨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£º

¡¨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£º

¡¨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¡¡sleep¡£
I¡¡am¡¡glad¡¡we¡¡came¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡tell¡¡the¡¡boys¡¡about¡¡it¡¡when¡¡you¡¡go¡¡back¡£¡¡¡¡Cat¡¡eat
a¡¡cocoanutoh£»¡¡my£¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡just¡¡his¡¡way£»¡¡exactlyhe¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡the
absurdest¡¡lie£»¡¡and¡¡trust¡¡to¡¡luck¡¡to¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡¡again¡£

Cat¡¡eat¡¡a¡¡cocoanutthe¡¡innocent¡¡fool£¡¡¨

Eckert¡¡approached¡¡with¡¡his¡¡cat£»¡¡sure¡¡enough¡£

Bascom¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¡Said¡¡he£º

¡¨I'll¡¡hold¡¡the¡¡catyou¡¡bring¡¡a¡¡cocoanut¡£¡¨

Eckert¡¡split¡¡one¡¡open£»¡¡and¡¡chopped¡¡up¡¡some¡¡pieces¡£¡¡¡¡Bascom¡¡smuggled¡¡a
wink¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡proffered¡¡a¡¡slice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fruit¡¡to¡¡puss¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡snatched¡¡it£»
swallowed¡¡it¡¡ravenously£»¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡more£¡

We¡¡rode¡¡our¡¡two¡¡miles¡¡in¡¡silence£»¡¡and¡¡wide¡¡apart¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡least¡¡I¡¡was¡¡silent£»
though¡¡Bascom¡¡cuffed¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡cursed¡¡him¡¡a¡¡good¡¡deal£»
notwithstanding¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡behaving¡¡well¡¡enough¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡I¡¡branched¡¡off
homeward£»¡¡Bascom¡¡said£º

¡¨Keep¡¡the¡¡horse¡¡till¡¡morning¡£¡¡¡¡Andyou¡¡need¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡this
foolishness¡¡to¡¡the¡¡boys¡£¡¨




CHAPTER¡¡VIII¡£

In¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while¡¡all¡¡interest¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡up¡¡in¡¡stretching¡¡our¡¡necks¡¡and
watching¡¡for¡¡the¡¡¡¨pony¡­rider¡¨the¡¡fleet¡¡messenger¡¡who¡¡sped¡¡across¡¡the
continent¡¡from¡¡St¡£¡¡Joe¡¡to¡¡Sacramento£»¡¡carrying¡¡letters¡¡nineteen¡¡hundred
miles¡¡in¡¡eight¡¡days£¡¡¡¡¡Think¡¡of¡¡that¡¡for¡¡perishable¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡human¡¡flesh
and¡¡blood¡¡to¡¡do£¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡pony¡­rider¡¡was¡¡usually¡¡a¡¡little¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man£»
brimful¡¡of¡¡spirit¡¡and¡¡endurance¡£¡¡¡¡No¡¡matter¡¡what¡¡time¡¡of¡¡the¡¡day¡¡or¡¡night
his¡¡watch¡¡came¡¡on£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡matter¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡was¡¡winter¡¡or¡¡summer£»
raining£»¡¡snowing£»¡¡hailing£»¡¡or¡¡sleeting£»¡¡or¡¡whether¡¡his¡¡¡¨beat¡¨¡¡was¡¡a¡¡level
straight¡¡road¡¡or¡¡a¡¡crazy¡¡trail¡¡over¡¡mountain¡¡crags¡¡and¡¡precipices£»¡¡or
whether¡¡it¡¡led¡¡through¡¡peaceful¡¡regions¡¡or¡¡regions¡¡that¡¡swarmed¡¡with
hostile¡¡Indians£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡be¡¡always¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡leap¡¡into¡¡the¡¡saddle¡¡and¡¡be
off¡¡like¡¡the¡¡wind£¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡idling¡­time¡¡for¡¡a¡¡pony¡­rider¡¡on¡¡duty¡£
He¡¡rode¡¡fifty¡¡miles¡¡without¡¡stopping£»¡¡by¡¡daylight£»¡¡moonlight£»¡¡starlight£»
or¡¡through¡¡the¡¡blackness¡¡of¡¡darknessjust¡¡as¡¡it¡¡happened¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡rode¡¡a
splendid¡¡horse¡¡that¡¡was¡¡born¡¡for¡¡a¡¡racer¡¡and¡¡fed¡¡and¡¡lodged¡¡like¡¡a
gentleman£»¡¡kept¡¡him¡¡at¡¡his¡¡utmost¡¡speed¡¡for¡¡ten¡¡miles£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡as¡¡he
came¡¡crashing¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡station¡¡where¡¡stood¡¡two¡¡men¡¡holding¡¡fast¡¡a¡¡fresh£»
impatient¡¡steed£»¡¡the¡¡transfer¡¡of¡¡rider¡¡and¡¡mail¡­bag¡¡was¡¡made¡¡in¡¡the
twinkling¡¡of¡¡an¡¡eye£»¡¡and¡¡away¡¡flew¡¡the¡¡eager¡¡pair¡¡and¡¡were¡¡out¡¡of¡¡sight
before¡¡the¡¡spectator¡¡could¡¡get¡¡hardly¡¡the¡¡ghost¡¡of¡¡a¡¡look¡£¡¡¡¡Both¡¡rider
and¡¡horse¡¡went¡¡¡¨flying¡¡light¡£¡¨¡¡The¡¡rider's¡¡dress¡¡was¡¡thin£»¡¡and¡¡fitted
close£»¡¡he¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡¡¨round¡­about£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡a¡¡skull¡­cap£»¡¡and¡¡tucked¡¡his
pantaloons¡¡into¡¡his¡¡boot¡­tops¡¡like¡¡a¡¡race¡­rider¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡carried¡¡no¡¡armshe
carried¡¡nothing¡¡that¡¡was¡¡not¡¡absolutely¡¡necessary£»¡¡for¡¡even¡¡the¡¡postage
on¡¡his¡¡literary¡¡freight¡¡was¡¡worth¡¡five¡¡dollars¡¡a¡¡letter¡£

He¡¡got¡¡but¡¡little¡¡frivolous¡¡correspondence¡¡to¡¡carryhis¡¡bag¡¡had¡¡business
letters¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡mostly¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡stripped¡¡of¡¡all¡¡unnecessary¡¡weight£»
too¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡little¡¡wafer¡¡of¡¡a¡¡racing¡­saddle£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡visible¡¡blanket¡£
He¡¡wore¡¡light¡¡shoes£»¡¡or¡¡none¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡little¡¡flat¡¡mail¡­pockets
strapped¡¡under¡¡the¡¡rider's¡¡thighs¡¡would¡¡each¡¡hold¡¡about¡¡the¡¡bulk¡¡of¡¡a
child's¡¡primer¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡held¡¡many¡¡and¡¡many¡¡an¡¡important¡¡business¡¡chapter
and¡¡newspaper¡¡letter£»¡¡but¡¡these¡¡were¡¡written¡¡on¡¡paper¡¡as¡¡airy¡¡and¡¡thin¡¡as
gold¡­leaf£»¡¡nearly£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡bulk¡¡and¡¡weight¡¡were¡¡economized¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡stage¡­
coach¡¡traveled¡¡about¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡to¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡twenty¡­five¡¡miles¡¡a¡¡day
£¨twenty¡­four¡¡hours£©£»¡¡the¡¡pony¡­rider¡¡about¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡£¡¡¡¡There
were¡¡about¡¡eighty¡¡pony¡­riders¡¡in¡¡the¡¡saddle¡¡all¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡night¡¡and¡¡day£»
stretching¡¡in¡¡a¡¡long£»¡¡scattering¡¡procession¡¡from¡¡Missouri¡¡to¡¡California£»
forty¡¡flying¡¡eastward£»¡¡and¡¡forty¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡west£»¡¡and¡¡among¡¡them¡¡making
four¡¡hundred¡¡gallant¡¡horses¡¡earn¡¡a¡¡stirring¡¡livelihood¡¡and¡¡see¡¡a¡¡deal¡¡of
scenery¡¡every¡¡single¡¡day¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year¡£

We¡¡had¡¡had¡¡a¡¡consuming¡¡desire£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡beginning£»¡¡to¡¡see¡¡a¡¡pony¡­rider£»
but¡¡somehow¡¡or¡¡other¡¡all¡¡that¡¡passed¡¡us¡¡and¡¡all¡¡that¡¡met¡¡us¡¡managed¡¡to
streak¡¡by¡¡in¡¡the¡¡night£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡we¡¡heard¡¡only¡¡a¡¡whiz¡¡and¡¡a¡¡hail£»¡¡and¡¡the
swift¡¡phantom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡desert¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡before¡¡we¡¡could¡¡get¡¡our¡¡heads¡¡out¡¡of
the¡¡windows¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡now¡¡we¡¡were¡¡expecting¡¡one¡¡along¡¡every¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡would
see¡¡him¡¡in¡¡broad¡¡daylight¡£¡¡¡¡Presently¡¡the¡¡driver¡¡exclaims£º

¡¨HERE¡¡HE¡¡COMES£¡¡¨

Every¡¡neck¡¡is¡¡stretched¡¡further£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡eye¡¡strained¡¡wider¡£¡¡¡¡Away
across¡¡the¡¡endless¡¡dead¡¡level¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prairie¡¡a¡¡black¡¡speck¡¡appears
against¡¡the¡¡sky£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡plain¡¡that¡¡it¡¡moves¡£¡¡¡¡Well£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡think¡¡so£¡

In¡¡a¡¡second¡¡or¡¡two¡¡it¡¡becomes¡¡a¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡rider£»¡¡rising¡¡and¡¡falling£»
rising¡¡and¡¡fallingsweeping¡¡toward¡¡us¡¡nearer¡¡and¡¡nearergrowing¡¡more
and¡¡more¡¡distinct£»¡¡more¡¡and¡¡more¡¡sharply¡¡definednearer¡¡and¡¡still
nearer£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flutter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hoofs¡¡comes¡¡faintly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡earanother
instant¡¡a¡¡whoop¡¡and¡¡a¡¡hurrah¡¡from¡¡our¡¡upper¡¡deck£»¡¡a¡¡wave¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rider's
hand£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡reply£»¡¡and¡¡man¡¡and¡¡horse¡¡burst¡¡past¡¡our¡¡excited¡¡faces£»¡¡and
go¡¡winging¡¡away¡¡like¡¡a¡¡belated¡¡fragment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡storm£¡

So¡¡sudden¡¡is¡¡it¡¡all£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡like¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡of¡¡unreal¡¡fancy£»¡¡that¡¡but¡¡for
the¡¡flake¡¡of¡¡white¡¡foam¡¡left¡¡quivering¡¡and¡¡perishing¡¡on¡¡a¡¡mail¡­sack¡¡after
the¡¡vision¡¡had¡¡flashed¡¡by¡¡and¡¡disappeared£»¡¡we¡¡might¡¡have¡¡doubted¡¡whether
we¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡any¡¡actual¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡man¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡maybe¡£

We¡¡rattled¡¡through¡¡Scott's¡¡Bluffs¡¡Pass£»¡¡by¡¡and¡¡by¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡along¡¡here
somewhere¡¡that¡¡we¡¡first¡¡came¡¡across¡¡genuine¡¡and¡¡unmistakable¡¡alkali¡¡water
in¡¡the¡¡road£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡cordially¡¡hailed¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡first¡­class¡¡curiosity£»¡¡and¡¡a
thing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡mentioned¡¡with¡¡eclat¡¡in¡¡letters¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ignorant¡¡at¡¡home¡£
This¡¡water¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡road¡¡a¡¡soapy¡¡appearance£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡many¡¡places¡¡the
ground¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡whitewashed¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡alkali
water¡¡excited¡¡us¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡any¡¡wonder¡¡we¡¡had¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡yet£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know
we¡¡felt¡¡very¡¡complacent¡¡and¡¡conceited£»¡¡and¡¡better¡¡satisfied¡¡with¡¡life
after¡¡we¡¡had¡¡added¡¡it¡¡to¡¡our¡¡list¡¡of¡¡things¡¡which¡¡we¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡and¡¡some
other¡¡people¡¡had¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡small¡¡way¡¡we¡¡were¡¡the¡¡same¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡simpletons
as¡¡those¡¡who¡¡climb¡¡unnecessarily¡¡the¡¡perilous¡¡peaks¡¡of¡¡Mont¡¡Blanc¡¡and¡¡the
Matterhorn£»¡¡and¡¡derive¡¡no¡¡pleasure¡¡from¡¡it¡¡except¡¡the¡¡reflection¡¡that¡¡it
isn't¡¡a¡¡common¡¡experience¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡once¡¡in¡¡a¡¡while¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡parties
trips¡¡and¡¡comes¡¡darting¡¡down¡¡the¡¡long¡¡mountain¡­crags¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sitting
posture£»¡¡making¡¡the¡¡crusted¡¡snow¡¡smoke¡¡behind¡¡him£»¡¡flitting¡¡from¡¡bench¡¡to
bench£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡terrace¡¡to¡¡terrace£»¡¡jarring¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡where¡¡he¡¡strikes£»
and¡¡still¡¡glancing¡¡and¡¡flitting¡¡on¡¡again£»¡¡sticking¡¡an¡¡iceberg¡¡into
himself¡¡every¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡and¡¡tearing¡¡his¡¡clothes£»¡¡snatching¡¡at¡¡things
to¡¡save¡¡himself£»¡¡taking¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡trees¡¡and¡¡fetching¡¡them¡¡along¡¡with¡¡him£»
roots¡¡and¡¡all£»¡¡starting¡¡little¡¡rocks¡¡now¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡then¡¡big¡¡boulders£»
then¡¡acres¡¡of¡¡ice¡¡and¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡patches¡¡of¡¡forest£»¡¡gathering¡¡and¡¡still
gathering¡¡as¡¡he¡¡goes£»¡¡adding¡¡and¡¡still¡¡adding¡¡to¡¡his¡¡massed¡¡and¡¡sweeping
grandeur¡¡as¡¡he¡¡nears¡¡a¡¡three¡¡thousand¡­foot¡¡precipice£»¡¡till¡¡at¡¡last¡¡he
waves¡¡his¡¡hat¡¡magnificently¡¡and¡¡rides¡¡into¡¡eternity¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡a
raging¡¡and¡¡tossing¡¡avalanche£¡

This¡¡is¡¡all¡¡very¡¡fine£»¡¡but¡¡let¡¡us¡¡not¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡away¡¡by¡¡excitement£»¡¡but
ask¡¡calmly£»¡¡how¡¡does¡¡this¡¡person¡¡feel¡¡about¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡cooler¡¡moments¡¡next
day£»¡¡with¡¡six¡¡or¡¡seven¡¡thousand¡¡feet¡¡of¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡stuff¡¡on¡¡top¡¡of¡¡him£¿

We¡¡crossed¡¡the¡¡sand¡¡hills¡¡near¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Indian¡¡mail¡¡robbery¡¡and
massacre¡¡of¡¡1856£»¡¡wherein¡¡the¡¡driver¡¡and¡¡conductor¡¡perished£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡all
the¡¡passengers¡¡but¡¡one£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡supposed£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡a
mistake£»¡¡for¡¡at¡¡different¡¡times¡¡afterward¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Pacific¡¡coast¡¡I¡¡was
personally¡¡acquainted¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡thirty¡­three¡¡or¡¡four¡¡people¡¡who
were¡¡wounded¡¡during¡¡that¡¡massacre£»¡¡and¡¡barely¡¡escaped¡¡with¡¡their¡¡lives¡£
There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡of¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡of¡¡itI¡¡had¡¡it¡¡from¡¡their¡¡own¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡¡One
of¡¡these¡¡parties¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡coming¡¡across¡¡arrow¡­heads¡¡in¡¡his
system¡¡for¡¡nearly¡¡seven¡¡years¡¡after¡¡the¡¡massacre£»¡¡and¡¡another¡¡of¡¡them
told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡struck¡¡so¡¡literally¡¡full¡¡of¡¡arrows¡¡that¡¡after¡¡the
Indians¡¡were¡¡gone¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡raise¡¡up¡¡and¡¡examine¡¡himself£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not
restrain¡¡his¡¡tears£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡clothes¡¡were¡¡completely¡¡ruined¡£

The¡¡most¡¡trustworthy¡¡tradition¡¡avers£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡only¡¡one¡¡man£»¡¡a
person¡¡named¡¡Babbitt£»¡¡survived¡¡the¡¡massacre£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡desperately
wounded¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡dragged¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡knee¡¡£¨for¡¡one¡¡leg¡¡was
broke

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ