carmen(卡门)-第12节
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whenever Garcia turned his head away。
〃I was disgusted； and never spoke a word to her all night。 The next
morning we had made up our packs； and had already started； when we
became aware that we had a dozen horsemen on our heels。 The braggart
Andalusians； who had been boasting they would murder every one who
came near them； cut a pitiful figure at once。 There was a general rout。 /El
Dancaire/； Garcia； a good…looking fellow from Ecija； who was called /El
Remendado/； and Carmen herself； kept their wits about them。 The rest
forsook the mules and took to the gorges； where the horses could not
follow them。 There was no hope of saving the mules； so we hastily
unstrapped the best part of our booty； and taking it on our shoulders； we
tried to escape through the rocks down the steepest of the slopes。 We
threw our packs down in front of us and followed them as best we could；
slipping along on our heels。 Meanwhile the enemy fired at us。 It was the
first time I had ever heard bullets whistling around me and I didn't mind it
very much。 When there's a woman looking on； there's no particular merit
in snapping one's fingers at death。 We all escaped except the poor
/Remendado/； who received a bullet wound in the loins。 I threw away my
pack and tried to lift him up。
〃 'Idiot！' shouted Garcia； 'what do we want with offal！ Finish him off；
and don't lose the cotton stockings！'
〃 'Drop him！' cried Carmen。
〃I was so exhausted that I was obliged to lay him down for a moment
under a rock。 Garcia came up； and fired his blunderbuss full into his face。
'He'd be a clever fellow who recognised him now！' said he； as he looked at
the face； cut to pieces by a dozen slugs。
〃There； sir； that's the delightful sort of life I've led！ That night we
found ourselves in a thicket； worn out with fatigue； with nothing to eat；
and ruined by the loss of our mules。 What do you think that devil Garcia
did？ He pulled a pack of cards out of his pocket and began playing games
with /El Dancaire/ by the light of a fire they kindled。 Meanwhile I was
lying down； staring at the stars； thinking of /El Remendado/； and telling
myself I would just as lief be in his place。 Carmen was squatting down
near me； and every now and then she would rattle her castanets and hum a
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tune。 Then； drawing close to me； as if she would have whispered in my ear；
she kissed me two or three times over almost against my will。
〃 'You are a devil；' said I to her。
〃 'Yes；' she replied。
〃After a few hours' rest； she departed to Gaucin； and the next morning
a little goatherd brought us some food。 We stayed there all that day； and in
the evening we moved close to Gaucin。 We were expecting news from
Carmen； but none came。 After daylight broke we saw a muleteer attending
a well…dressed woman with a parasol； and a little girl who seemed to be
her servant。 Said Garcia； 'There go two mules and two women whom St。
Nicholas has sent us。 I would rather have had four mules； but no matter。
I'll do the best I can with these。'
〃He took his blunderbuss； and went down the pathway； hiding himself
among the brushwood。
〃We followed him； /El Dancaire/ and I keeping a little way behind。 As
soon as the woman saw us； instead of being frightenedand our dress
would have been enough to frighten any oneshe burst into a fit of loud
laughter。 'Ah！ the /lillipendi/！ They take me for an /erani/！'*
* 〃The idiots； they take me for a smart lady！〃
〃It was Carmen； but so well disguised that if she had spoken any other
language I should never have recognised her。 She sprang off her mule； and
talked some time in an undertone with /El Dancaire/ and Garcia。 Then she
said to me：
〃 'Canary…bird； we shall meet again before you're hanged。 I'm off to
Gibraltar on gipsy businessyou'll soon have news of me。'
〃We parted； after she had told us of a place where we should find
shelter for some days。 That girl was the providence of our gang。 We soon
received some money sent by her； and a piece of news which was still
more useful to usto the effect that on a certain day two English lords
would travel from Gibraltar to Granada by a road she mentioned。 This was
a word to the wise。 They had plenty of good guineas。 Garcia would have
killed them； but /El Dancaire/ and I objected。 All we took from them；
besides their shirts； which we greatly needed； was their money and their
watches。
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〃Sir； a man may turn rogue in sheer thoughtlessness。 You lose your
head over a pretty girl； you fight another man about her； there is a
catastrophe； you have to take to the mountains； and you turn from a
smuggler into a robber before you have time to think about it。 After this
matter of the English lords； we concluded that the neighbourhood of
Gibraltar would not be healthy for us； and we plunged into the /Sierra de
Ronda/。 You once mentioned Jose…Maria to me。 Well； it was there I made
acquaintance with him。 He always took his mistress with him on his
expeditions。 She was a pretty girl； quiet； modest； well… mannered； you
never heard a vulgar word from her； and she was quite devoted to him。 He；
on his side； led her a very unhappy life。 He was always running after other
women； he ill…treated her； and then sometimes he would take it into his
head to be jealous。 One day he slashed her with a knife。 Well； she only
doted on him the more！ That's the way with women； and especially with
Andalusians。 This girl was proud of the scar on her arm； and would
display it as though it were the most beautiful thing in the world。 And then
Jose…Maria was the worst of comrades in the bargain。 In one expedition
we made with him； he managed so that he kept all the profits； and we had
all the trouble and the blows。 But I must go back to my story。 We had no
sign at all from Carmen。 /El Dancaire/ said： 'One of us will have to go to
Gibraltar to get news of her。 She must have planned some business。 I'd go
at once； only I'm too well known at Gibraltar。' /El Tuerto/ said：
〃 'I'm well known there too。 I've played so many tricks on the
crayfish*and as I've only one eye； it is not overeasy for me to disguise
myself。'
* Name applied by the Spanish populace to the British soldiers； on
account of the colour of their uniform。
〃 'Then I suppose I must go；' said I； delighted at the very idea of seeing
Carmen again。 'Well； how am I to set about it？'
〃The others answered：
〃 'You must either go by sea； or you must get through by San Rocco；
whichever you like the best； once you are in Gibraltar； inquire in the port
where a chocolate…seller called /La Rollona/ lives。 When you've found her；
she'll tell you everything that's happening。'
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〃It was settled that we were all to start for the Sierra； that I was to
leave my two companions there； and take my way to Gibraltar； in the
character of a fruit…seller。 At Ronda one of our men procured me a
passport； at Gaucin I was provided with a donkey。 I loaded it with oranges
and melons； and started forth。 When I reached Gibraltar I found that many
people knew /La Rollona/； but that she was either dead or had gone /ad
finibus terroe/；* and； to my mind； her disappearance explained the failure
of our correspondence with Carmen。 I stabled my donkey； and began to
move about the town； carrying my oranges as though to sell them； but in
reality looking to see whether I could not come across any face I knew。
The place is full of ragamuffins from every country in the world； and it
really is like the Tower of Babel； for you can't go ten paces along a street
without hearing as many languages。 I did see some gipsies； but I
