animal heroes(动物英雄)-第22节
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Corney had had every other a 〃well day；〃 but with these three there
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were no 〃well days〃 and the house became an abode of misery。
Seven days passed； and now Margat could not leave her bed and Loo
was barely able to walk around the house。 She was a brave girl with a fund
of drollery which did much toward keeping up all their spirits； but her
merriest jokes fell ghastly from her wan； pinched face。 Thor； though weak
and ill； was the strongest and did for the others； cooking and serving each
day a simple meal； for they could eat very little； fortunately； perhaps； as
there was very little； and Corney could not return for another week。
Soon Thor was the only one able to rise； and one morning when he
dragged himself to cut the little usual slice of their treasured bacon he
found； to his horror； that the whole piece was gone。 It had been stolen；
doubtless by some wild animal； from the little box on the shady side of the
house； where it was kept safe from flies。 Now they were down to flour and
tea。 He was in despair； when his eye lighted on the Chickens about the
stable； but what's the use？ In his feeble state he might as well try to catch a
Deer or a Hawk。 Suddenly he remembered his gun and very soon was
preparing a fat Hen for the pot。 He boiled it whole as the easiest way to
cook it； and the broth was the first really tempting food they had had for
some time。
They kept alive for three wretched days on that Chicken； and when it
was finished Thor again took down his gunit seemed a much heavier gun
now。 He crawled to the barn； but he was so weak and shaky that he missed
several times before he brought down a fowl。 Corney had taken the rifle
away with him and three charges of gun ammunition were all that now
remained。
Thor was surprised to see how few Hens there were now； only three or
four。 There used to be over a dozen。 Three days later he made another raid。
He saw but one Hen and he used up his last ammunition to get that。
His daily routine now was a monotony of horror。 In the morning；
which was his 〃well time；〃 he prepared a little food for the household and
got ready for the night of raging fever by putting a bucket of water on a
block at the head of each bunk。 About one o'clock； with fearful regularity；
the chills would come on； with trembling from head to foot and chattering
teeth； and cold； cold； within and without。 Nothing seemed to give any
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warmthfire seemed to have lost its power。 There was nothing to do but to
lie and shake and suffer all the slow torture of freezing to death and
shaking to pieces。 For six hours it would keep up； and to the torture；
nausea lent its horrid aid throughout； then about seven or eight o'clock in
the evening a change would come； a burning fever set in； no ice could
have seemed cool to him then； waterwaterwas all he craved； and drank
and drank until three or four in the morning； when the fever would abate；
and a sleep of total exhaustion followed。
〃If you run out of food take the canoe to Ellerton's；〃 was the brother's
last word。 Who was to take the canoe？
There was but half a Chicken now between them and starvation； and
no sign of Corney。
For three interminable weeks the deadly program dragged along。 It
went on the same yet worse； as the sufferers grew weakera few days
more and the Boy also would be unable to leave his couch。 Then what？
Despair was on the house and the silent cry of each was； 〃Oh； God！
will Corney never come？〃
V
THE HOME OF THE BOY
On the day of that last Chicken； Thor was all morning carrying water
enough for the coming three fevers。 The chill attacked him sooner than it
was due and his fever was worse than ever before。
He drank deeply and often from the bucket at his head。 He had filled it；
and it was nearly emptied when about two in the morning the fever left
him and he fell asleep。
In the gray dawn he was awakened by a curious sound not far awaya
splashing of water。 He turned his head to see two glaring eyes within a
foot of his facea great Beast lapping the water in the bucket by his bed。
Thor gazed in horror for a moment； then closed his eyes； sure that he
was dreaming； certain that this was a nightmare of India with a Tiger by
his couch； but the lapping continued。 He looked up； yes； it still was there。
He tried to find his voice but uttered only a gurgle。 The great furry head
quivered； a sniff came from below the shining eyeballs； and the creature；
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whatever it was； dropped to its front feet and went across the hut under the
table。 Thor was fully awake now； he rose slowly on his elbow and feebly
shouted 〃Sssh…hi；〃 at which the shining eyes reappeared under the table
and the gray form came forth。 Calmly it walked across the ground and
glided under the lowest log at a place where an old potato pit left an
opening and disappeared。 What was it？ The sick boy hardly knewsome
savage Beast of prey； undoubtedly。 He was totally unnerved。 He shook
with fear and a sense of helplessness； and the night passed in fitful sleep
and sudden starts awake to search the gloom again for those fearful eyes
and the great gray gliding form。 In the morning he did not know whether it
were not all a delirium； yet he made a feeble effort to close the old cellar
hole with some firewood。
The three had little appetite； but even that they restrained since now
they were down to part of a Chicken； and Corney； evidently he supposed
they had been to Ellerton's and got all the food they needed。
Again that night； when the fever left him weak and dozing； Thor was
awakened by a noise in the room； a sound of crunching bones。 He looked
around to see dimly outlined against the little window； the form of a large
animal on the table。 Thor shouted； he tried to hurl his boot at the intruder。
It leaped lightly to the ground and passed out of the hole； again wide open。
It was no dream this time； he knew； and the women knew it； too； not
only had they heard the creature； but the Chicken； the last of their food；
was wholly gone。
Poor Thor barely left his couch that day。 It needed all the querulous
complaints of the sick women to drive him forth。 Down by the spring he
found a few berries and divided them with the others。 He made his usual
preparations for the chills and the thirst； but he added thisby the side of
his couch he put an old fish…spearthe only weapon he could find； now
the gun was uselessa pine…root candle and some matches。 He knew the
Beast was coming back againwas coming hungry。 It would find no food；
what more natural； he thought； than take the living prey lying there so
helpless？ And a vision came of the limp brown form of the little Fawn；
borne off in those same cruel jaws。
Once again he barricaded the hole with firewood； and the night passed
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as usual； but without any fierce visitor。 Their food that day was flour and
water； and to cook it Thor was forced to use some of his barricade。 Loo
attempted some feeble joke； guessed she was light enough to fly now and
tried to rise； but she got no farther than the edge of the bunk。 The same
preparations were made； and the night wore on； but early in the morning；
Thor was again awakened rudely by the sound of lapping water by his bed；
and there； as before； were the glowing eyeballs； the great head； the gray
form relieved by the dim light from the dawning window。
Thor put all his strength into what was meant for a bold shout； but it
was merely a feeble screech。 He rose slowly and called out： 〃Loo； Margat！
The Lynxhere's the Lynx again！〃
〃May God help ye； for we can't；〃 was the answer。
〃Sssh…hi！〃 Thor tried again to drive the Beast away。 It leaped on to the
table by the windo
