animal heroes(动物英雄)-第23节
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〃Sssh…hi！〃 Thor tried again to drive the Beast away。 It leaped on to the
table by the window and stood up growling under the useless gun。 Thor
thought it was going to leap through the glass as it faced the window a
moment； but it turned and glared toward the Boy； for he could see both
eyes shining。 He rose slowly to the side of his bunk and he prayed for help；
for he felt it was kill or be killed。 He struck a match and lighted his pine…
root candle； held that in his left hand and in his right took the old fish…
spear； meaning to fight； but he was so weak he had to use the fish…spear as
a crutch。 The great Beast stood on the table still； but was crouching a little
as though for a spring。 Its eyes glowed red in the torchlight。 Its short tail
was switching from side to side and its growling took a higher pitch。
Thor's knees were smiting together； but he levelled the spear and made a
feeble lunge toward the brute。 It sprang at the same moment； not at him； as
he first thoughtthe torch and the boy's bold front had had effectit went
over his head to drop on the ground beyond and at once to slink under the
bunk。
This was only a temporary repulse。 Thor set the torch on a ledge of the
logs； then took the spear in both hands。 He was fighting for his life； and he
knew it。 He heard the voices of the women feebly praying。 He saw only
the glowing eyes under the bed and heard the growling in higher pitch as
the Beast was nearing action。 He steadied himself by a great effort and
plunged the spear with all the force he could give it。
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It struck something softer than the logs： a hideous snarl came forth。
The boy threw all his weight on the weapon； the Beast was struggling to
get at him； he felt its teeth and claws grating on the handle； and in spite of
himself it was coming on； its powerful arms and claws were reaching for
him now； he could not hold out long。 He put on all his force； just a little
more it was than before； the Beast lurched； there was a growling； a crack；
and a sudden yielding； the rotten old spear…head had broken off； the Beast
sprang outat himpast him never touched him； but across through the
hole and away； to be seen no more。
Thor fell on the bed and lost all consciousness。
He lay there he knew not how long； but was awakened in broad
daylight by a loud； cheery voice：
〃Hello！ Hello！are ye all dead？ Loo！ Thor！ Margat！〃
He had no strength to answer； but there was a trampling of horses
outside； a heavy step； the door was forced open； and in strode Corney；
handsome and hearty as ever。 But what a flash of horror and pain came
over his face on entering the silent shanty！
〃Dead？〃 he gasped。 〃Who's deadwhere are you？ Thor？〃 Then； 〃Who
is it？ Loo？ Margat？〃
〃CorneyCorney；〃 came feebly from the bunk。 〃They're in there。
They're awful sick。 We have nothing to eat。〃
〃Oh； what a fool I be！〃 said Corney again and again。 〃I made sure ye'd
go to Ellerton's and get all ye wanted。〃
〃We had no chance； Corney； we were all three brought down at once；
right after you left。 Then the Lynx came and cleared up the Hens； and all
in the house； too。〃
〃Well； ye got even with her；〃 and Corney pointed to the trail of blood
across the mud floor and out under the logs。
Good food； nursing； and medicine restored them all。
A month or two later； when the women wanted a new leaching…barrel；
Thor said： 〃I know where there is a hollow basswood as big as a
hogshead。〃
He and Corney went to the place； and when they cut off what they
needed； they found in the far end of it the dried…up bodies of two little
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Lynxes with that of the mother； and in the side of the old one was the head
of a fish…spear broken from the handle。
LITTLE WARHORSE
The History of a Jack…rabbit
I
The Little Warhorse knew practically all the Dogs in town。 First； there
was a very large brown Dog that had pursued him many times； a Dog that
he always got rid of by slipping through a hole in a board fence。 Second；
there was a small active Dog that could follow through that hole； and him
he baffled by leaping a twenty…foot irrigation ditch that had steep sides and
a swift current。 The Dog could not make this leap。 It was 〃sure medicine〃
for that foe； and the boys still call the place 〃Old Jacky's Jump。〃 But there
was a Greyhound that could leap better than the Jack； and when he could
not follow through a fence； he jumped over it。 He tried the Warhorse's
mettle more than once； and Jacky only saved himself by his quick dodging；
till they got to an Osage hedge； and here the Greyhound had to give it up。
Besides these； there was in town a rabble of big and little Dogs that were
troublesome； but easily left behind in the open。
In the country there was a Dog at each farm…house； but only one that
the Warhorse really feared； that was a long…legged； fierce； black Dog； a
brute so swift and pertinacious that he had several times forced the
Warhorse almost to the last extremity。
For the town Cats he cared little； only once or twice had he been
threatened by them。 A huge Tom…cat flushed with many victories came
crawling up to where he fed one moonlight night。 Jack Warhorse saw the
black creature with the glowing eyes； and a moment before the final rush；
he faced it； raised up on his haunches；his hind legs；at full length on his
toes；with his broad ears towering up yet six inches higher； then letting
out a loud churrr…churrr； his best attempt at a roar； he sprang five feet
forward and landed on the Cat's head； driving in his sharp hind nails； and
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the old Tom fled in terror from the weird two…legged giant。 This trick he
had tried several times with success； but twice it turned out a sad failure：
once； when the Cat proved to be a mother whose Kittens were near； then
Jack Warhorse had to flee for his life； and the other time was when he
made the mistake of landing hard on a Skunk。
But the Greyhound was the dangerous enemy； and in him the Warhorse
might have found his fate； but for a curious adventure with a happy ending
for Jack。
He fed by night； there were fewer enemies about then； and it was
easier to hide； but one day at dawn in winter he had lingered long at an
alfalfa stack and was crossing the open snow toward his favorite form；
when； as ill…luck would have it； he met the Greyhound prowling outside
the town。 With open snow and growing daylight there was no chance to
hide； nothing but a run in the open with soft snow that hindered the Jack
more than it did the Hound。
Off they wentsuperb runners in fine fettle。 how they skimmed across
the snow； raising it in little puff…puff…puffs； each time their nimble feet
went down。 This way and that； swerving and dodging； went the chase。
Everything favored the Dog；his empty stomach； the cold weather； the
soft snow；while the Rabbit was handicapped by his heavy meal of alfalfa。
But his feet went puffpuff so fast that a dozen of the little snow…jets were
in view at once。 The chase continued in the open； no friendly hedge was
near； and every attempt to reach a fence was cleverly stopped by the
Hound。 Jack's ears were losing their bold up…cock； a sure sign of failing
heart or wind； when all at once these flags went stiffly up； as under sudden
renewal of strength。 The Warhorse put forth all his power； not to reach the
hedge to the north； but over the open prairie eastward。 The Greyhound
followed； and within fifty yards the Jack dodged to foil his fierce pursuer；
but on the next tack he was on his eastern course again； and so tacking and
dodging； he kept the line direct for the next farm…house； where was a very
high board fence with a hen…hole； and where also there dwelt his other
