the house of pride(傲慢之家)-第7节
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could win to the gorge save by advancing across a knife…edged ridge。
This passage was a hundred yards in length。 At best； it was a scant
twelve inches wide。 On either side yawned the abyss。 A slip； and to
right or left the man would fall to his death。 But once across he would
find himself in an earthly paradise。 A sea of vegetation laved the
landscape； pouring its green billows from wall to wall； dripping from the
cliff…lips in great vine…masses； and flinging a spray of ferns and air…
plants in to the multitudinous crevices。 During the many months of
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Koolau's rule； he and his followers had fought with this vegetable sea。
The choking jungle； with its riot of blossoms； had been driven back from
the bananas； oranges； and mangoes that grew wild。 In little clearings
grew the wild arrowroot； on stone terraces； filled with soil scrapings；
were the taro patches and the melons； and in every open space where the
sunshine penetrated were papaia trees burdened with their golden fruit。
Koolau had been driven to this refuge from the lower valley by the
beach。 And if he were driven from it in turn； he knew of gorges among
the jumbled peaks of the inner fastnesses where he could lead his
subjects and live。 And now he lay with his rifle beside him； peering
down through a tangled screen of foliage at the soldiers on the beach。
He noted that they had large guns with them； from which the sunshine
flashed as from mirrors。 The knife…edged passage lay directly before
him。 Crawling upward along the trail that led to it he could see tiny
specks of men。 He knew they were not the soldiers； but the police。
When they failed； then the soldiers would enter the game。
He affectionately rubbed a twisted hand along his rifle barrel and
made sure that the sights were clean。 He had learned to shoot as a
wild…cattle hunter on Niihau； and on that island his skill as a marksman
was unforgotten。 As the toiling specks of men grew nearer and larger；
he estimated the range； judged the deflection of the wind that swept at
right angles across the line of fire； and calculated the chances of
overshooting marks that were so far below his level。 But he did not
shoot。 Not until they reached the beginning of the passage did he make
his presence known。 He did not disclose himself； but spoke from the
thicket。
〃What do you want？〃 he demanded。
〃We want Koolau； the leper；〃 answered the man who led the native
police； himself a blue…eyed American。
〃You must go back；〃 Koolau said。
He knew the man； a deputy sheriff； for it was by him that he had
been harried out of Niihau； across Kauai； to Kalalau Valley； and out of
the valley to the gorge。
〃Who are you？〃 the sheriff asked。
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〃I am Koolau； the leper；〃 was the reply。
〃Then come out。 We want you。 Dead or alive； there is a thousand
dollars on your head。 You cannot escape。〃
Koolau laughed aloud in the thicket。
〃Come out！〃 the sheriff commanded； and was answered by silence。
He conferred with the police； and Koolau saw that they were
preparing to rush him。
〃Koolau；〃 the sheriff called。 〃Koolau； I am coming across to get
you。〃
〃Then look first and well about you at the sun and sea and sky； for it
will be the last time you behold them。〃
〃That's all right； Koolau；〃 the sheriff said soothingly。 〃I know
you're a dead shot。 But you won't shoot me。 I have never done you
any wrong。〃
Koolau grunted in the thicket。
〃I say； you know； I've never done you any wrong； have I？〃 the sheriff
persisted。
〃You do me wrong when you try to put me in prison；〃 was the reply。
〃And you do me wrong when you try for the thousand dollars on my
head。 If you will live； stay where you are。〃
〃I've got to come across and get you。 I'm sorry。 But it is my
duty。〃
〃You will die before you get across。〃
The sheriff was no coward。 Yet was he undecided。 He gazed into
the gulf on either side and ran his eyes along the knife…edge he must
travel。 Then he made up his mind。
〃Koolau；〃 he called。
But the thicket remained silent。
〃Koolau； don't shoot。 I am coming。〃
The sheriff turned； gave some orders to the police； then started on his
perilous way。 He advanced slowly。 It was like walking a tight rope。
He had nothing to lean upon but the air。 The lava rock crumbled under
his feet； and on either side the dislodged fragments pitched downward
through the depths。 The sun blazed upon him； and his face was wet
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with sweat。 Still he advanced； until the halfway point was reached。
〃Stop！〃 Koolau commanded from the thicket。 〃One more step and I
shoot。〃
The sheriff halted； swaying for balance as he stood poised above the
void。 His face was pale； but his eyes were determined。 He licked his
dry lips before he spoke。
〃Koolau； you won't shoot me。 I know you won't。〃
He started once more。 The bullet whirled him half about。 On his
face was an expression of querulous surprise as he reeled to the fall。
He tried to save himself by throwing his body across the knife…edge； but
at that moment he knew death。 The next moment the knife…edge was
vacant。 Then came the rush； five policemen； in single file； with superb
steadiness； running along the knife…edge。 At the same instant the rest of
the posse opened fire on the thicket。 It was madness。 Five times
Koolau pulled the trigger； so rapidly that his shots constituted a rattle。
Changing his position and crouching low under the bullets that were
biting and singing through the bushes； he peered out。 Four of the
police had followed the sheriff。 The fifth lay across the knife…edge still
alive。 On the farther side； no longer firing； were the surviving police。
On the naked rock there was no hope for them。 Before they could
clamber down Koolau could have picked off the last man。 But he did
not fire； and； after a conference； one of them took off a white undershirt
and waved it as a flag。 Followed by another； he advanced along the
knife…edge to their wounded comrade。 Koolau gave no sign； but
watched them slowly withdraw and become specks as they descended
into the lower valley。
Two hours later； from another thicket； Koolau watched a body of
police trying to make the ascent from the opposite side of the valley。
He saw the wild goats flee before them as they climbed higher and
higher； until he doubted his judgment and sent for Kiloliana； who
crawled in beside him。
〃No； there is no way；〃 said Kiloliana。
〃The goats？〃 Koolau questioned。
〃They come over from the next valley； but they cannot pass to this。
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There is no way。 Those men ar
