animal heroes(动物英雄)-第21节
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hemlock； some thirty feet from the ground。 A Bear！ At last； this was the
test of nerve he had half expected all summer； had been wondering how
that mystery 〃himself〃 would act under this very trial。 He stood still； his
right hand dived into his pocket and； bringing out three or four buckshot；
which he carried for emergency； he dropped them on top of the birdshot
already in the gun； then rammed a wad to hold them down。
The Bear had not moved and the boy could not see its head； but now
he studied it carefully。 It was not such a large oneno； it was a small one；
yes； very smalla cub。 A cub！ That meant a mother Bear at hand； and Thor
looked about with some fear； but seeing no signs of any except the little
one； he levelled the gun and fired。
Then to his surprise down crashed the animal quite dead； it was not a
Bear； but a large Porcupine。 As it lay there he examined it with wonder
and regret； for。 he had no wish to kill such a harmless creature。 On its
grotesque face he found two or three long scratches which proved that he
had not been its only enemy。 As he turned away he noticed some blood on
his trousers； then saw that his left hand was bleeding。 He had wounded
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Animal Heroes
himself quite severely on the quills of the animal without knowing it。 He
was sorry to leave the specimen there； and Loo； when she learned of it；
said it was a shame not to skin it when she 〃needed a fur…lined cape for the
winter。〃
On another day Thor had gone without a gun； as he meant only to
gather some curious plants he had seen。 They were close to the clearing；
he knew the place by a fallen elm。 As he came to it he heard a peculiar
sound。 Then on the log his eye caught two moving things。 He lifted a
bough and got a clear view。 They were the head and tail of an enormous
Lynx。 It had seen him and was glaring and grumbling； and under its foot
on the log was a white bird that a second glance showed to be one of their
own precious hens。 How fierce and cruel the brute looked！ How Thor
hated it！ and fairly gnashed his teeth with disgust that now； when his
greatest chance was come； he for once was without his gun。 He was in not
a little fear； too； and stood wondering what to do。 The Lynx growled
louder； its stumpy tail twitched viciously for a minute； then it picked up its
victim； and leaping from the log was lost to view。
As it was a very rainy summer； the ground was soft everywhere； and
the young hunter was led to follow tracks that would have defied an expert
in dryer times。 One day he came on piglike footprints in the woods。 He
followed them with little difficulty； for they were new； and a heavy rain
two hours before had washed out all other trails。 After about half a mile
they led him to an open ravine； and as he reached its brow he saw across it
a flash of white； then his keen young eyes made out the forms of a Deer
and a spotted Fawn gazing at him curiously。 Though on their trail he was
not a little startled。 He gazed at them open…mouthed。 The mother turned
and raised the danger flag； her white tail； and bounded lightly away； to be
followed by the youngster； clearing low trunks with an effortless leap； or
bending down with catlike suppleness when they came to a log upraised so
that they might pass below。
He never again got a chance to shoot at them； though more than once
he saw the same two tracks； or believed they were the same； as for some
cause never yet explained； Deer were scarcer in that unbroken forest than
they were in later years when clearings spread around。
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Animal Heroes
He never again saw them； but he saw the mother oncehe thought it
was the sameshe was searching the woods with her nose； trying the
ground for trails； she was nervous and anxious； evidently seeking。 Thor
remembered a trick that Corney had told him。 He gently stooped； took up
a broad blade of grass； laid it between the edges of his thumbs； then
blowing through this simple squeaker he made a short； shrill bleat； a fair
imitation of a Fawn's cry for the mother； and the Deer； though a long way
off； came bounding toward him。 He snatched his gun； meaning to kill her；
but the movement caught her eye。 She stopped。 Her mane bristled a little；
she sniffed and looked inquiringly at him。 Her big soft eyes touched his
heart； held back his hand； she took a cautious step nearer； got a full whiff
of her mortal enemy； bounded behind a big tree and away before his
merciful impulse was gone。 〃Poor thing；〃 said Thor； 〃I believe she has lost
her little one。〃
Yet once more the Boy met a Lynx in the woods。 Half an hour after
seeing the lonely Deer he crossed the long ridge that lay some miles north
of the shanty。 He had passed the glade where the great basswood lay when
a creature like a big bob…tailed Kitten appeared and looked innocently at
him。 His gun went up； as usual； but the Kitten merely cocked its head on
one side and fearlessly surveyed him。 Then a second one that he had not
noticed before began to play with the first； pawing at its tail and inviting
its brother to tussle。
Thor's first thought to shoot was stayed as he watched their gambols；
but the remembrance of his feud with their race came back。 He had almost
raised the gun when a fierce rumble close at hand gave him a start； and
there； not ten feet from him； stood the old one； looking big and fierce as a
Tigress。 It was surely folly to shoot at the young ones now。 The boy
nervously dropped some buckshot on the charge while the snarling growl
rose and fell； but before he was ready to shoot at her the old one had
picked up something that was by her feet； the boy got a glimpse of rich
brown with white spotsthe limp form of a newly killed Fawn。 Then she
passed out of sight。 The Kittens followed； and he saw her no more until
the time when； life against life； they were weighed in the balance together。
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IV
THE TERROR OF THE WOODS
Six weeks had passed in daily routine when one day the young giant
seemed unusually quiet as he went about。 His handsome face was very
sober and he sang not at all that morning。
He and Thor slept on a hay…bunk in one corner of the main room； and
that night the Boy awakened more than once to hear his companion
groaning and tossing in his sleep。 Corney arose as usual in the morning
and fed the horses； but lay down again while the sisters got breakfast。 He
roused himself by an effort and went back to work； but came home early。
He was trembling from head to foot。 It was hot summer weather； but he
could not be kept warm。 After several hours a reaction set in and Corney
was in a high fever。 The family knew well now that he had the dreaded
chills and fever of the backwoods。 Margat went out and gathered a lapful
of pipsissewa to make tea； of which Corney was encouraged to drink
copiously。
But in spite of all their herbs and nursing the young man got worse。 At
the end of ten days he was greatly reduced in flesh and incapable of work；
so on one of the 〃well days〃 that are usual in the course of the disease he
said：
〃Say； gurruls； I can't stand it no longer。 Guess I better go home。 I'm
well enough to drive to…day； for a while anyway； if I'm took down I'll lay
in the wagon； and the horses will fetch me home。 Mother'll have me all
right in a week or so。 If you run out of grub before I come back take the
canoe to Ellerton's。〃
So the girls harnessed the horses； the wagon was partly filled with hay；
and Corney； weak and white…faced； drove away on the long rough road；
and left them feeling much as though they were on a desert island and
their only boat had been taken from them。
Half a week had scarcely gone before all three of them； Margat； Loo；
and Thor； were taken down with a yet more virulent form of chills and
fever。
Corney had had every other a 〃well day；〃 but with these three there
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