stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第22节
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store utterly gave out under the sudden strain that was put upon them。 In
every direction grimy； unkempt men might be seen attempting to beautify
themselves。 Here was one enduring agonies from a razor that would
scarcely whittle a stick； here another recalling the feel of a cake of soap；
there a great fellow pulling faces as he struggled to get the teeth of a comb
into his shock of hair； there another brushing the clay from his moleskin
trousers with a tuft of stiff grass。
It seemed to these men ages since they had last seen a woman in the
flesh；Kaffir women don't count； they are not women； merely Kaffirs；
and； with the natural instinct of males of every species； they set about
pluming their feathers。
These operations； though speedy as might be； were necessarily
prolonged； for most of the men required several buckets of water over the
head before they felt fit for such unaccustomed exercises； and they were
scarcely finished before the creaking of wheels and the cries of the
voorlooper as he urged his oxen announced that the wagon was within
earshot。 Up it came； the great tilt gleaming white in the moonlight； and
every eye was fixed expectantly on the dark chasm within。 The driver；
puffed up with his own importance； cracked his long whip and deigned not
to notice the men whom he usually greeted with a friendly hail； and the
Hottentot boy ahead； imitating his master； vouchsafed no explanation。
With more deathly slowness than usual did the lumbering vehicle crawl
along until the tired cattle pulled up before the door of the American Bar。
Then there was a rush and a bit of a scuffle for the honour of handing the
woman out。 The Cripple was the fortunate man； and； after assisting her to
the ground； waved his tattered hat toward the gleaming open doorway。 But
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he did not speak。 Words were beyond him。 Indeed； the diggers； who were
none of them particularly remarkable for taciturnity as a general thing；
seemed； with one exception； to be stricken dumb。 But the Scholar proved
himself equal to the occasion； and with courtly phrase bade the new…comer
welcome to the camp。 He had always been a popular man among women
in his palmier days； though openly holding rather a poor opinion of them；
and as the one before him now was neat of speech and comely of form； he
was not at all averse to enjoying her society and conversation。
〃I should be much obliged if you would direct me to a hotel；〃 she said；
after taking a look around the cheap gaudiness of the saloon。
〃I'm sorry to say that we have no hotel here as yet； Misser？〃
〃Musgrave。 Miss Mary Musgrave〃with a little bow。 〃But I heard that
a German had started a hotel here。〃
〃No； there is nothing but this。 That〃pointing to Herr Gustave； who
was regarding the newcomer with an evil eye〃that is the German。〃
Miss Musgrave appeared distressed。
〃Then where can I go？〃 she asked。 〃Are there any lodgings to be had？〃
〃The lady may have my place；〃 chorused three eager voices； and every
man in the room repeated the offer。
She thanked them with a pretty smile and one comprehensive bow； and
looked up at the Scholar for help。
〃I would offer you my hut if it were not such a wretched one。 But； as it
is； I should advise you to take this man's〃and he pointed to Tommy
Dartmoor。
〃Why； mine's twenty carats better than hisn！〃 exclaimed the Cripple。
〃And mine better 'n either；〃 growled Dan。
〃Mine's the best of the lot。〃
〃No； it isn't； mine is；〃 yelled others； till there was a general roar； which
caused Miss Musgrave to look frightened and shrink nearer to the Scholar；
and that gentleman to raise his hand for silence。
〃Look here；〃 said he； 〃we'll pick out the twelve best； and their owners
can cut with one another from a pack of cards。〃
After some discussion twelve were settled upon； but the number was
immediately raised to thirteen to prevent Jockey Bill disgracing the camp
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by shooting before a lady。 A pack of cards was placed on the bar； and each
man chose one； holding his selection face downward till all were ready。
Then the Scholar said； 〃Turn；〃 and there were exhibited five aces； two
kings； a queen； three knaves； and two smaller cards。 This was awkward； to
say the least of it； and； while sarcastic laughter rippled among the
spectators； there was an instinctive movement of right hands toward the
back of the belt on the part of each of the thirteen。
But the Scholar's voice； full of remonstrance； said； 〃Boys； you're being
looked at；〃 and there was a regretful sigh or two； but no bloodshed。
Miss Musgrave gazed inquiringly from one to another； and the Scholar；
laying his hand on her arm； whispered something in her ear。 She smiled；
whispered back； and was answered； and then； stripping off a pair of well…
fitting fawn gloves； she took the cards in a pretty little white hand； and
dealt out one to each of the competitors with charming clumsiness。
〃Ain't touched a keard afore； bless her；〃 whispered Euchre Buck；
giving his neighbor Dan a nudge in the ribs to call attention to this
wonderful piece of girlish innocence。 〃Square a deal es George
Washington mought ha' made。〃 Then； as the greasy pasteboards were
turned up； and his neighbour was handed the ace of clubs； he raised his
voice and yelled out； 〃Bully for you； Dan！ Cut away an' clar yer cabin
out。〃
Away scampered Dan out into the darkness； with the rest of the crew at
his heels。 Their home comforts were very small； poor fellows； but each
gave of his best； though the gifts were often incongruous enough。 In half
an hour the cabin was fitted out with a small cracked looking… glass； two
combs； an old hair…brush；still wet from the wash；a pail； a frying…pan；
three kettles； two three…legged stools； and so many blankets that some
were requisitioned to carpet the floor。 The whole crowd accompanied Miss
Musgrave to her door and gave her a cheer by way of good…night。 She
bowed to them； smiling her thanks； and looking； as they thought；
entrancingly lovely as she stood there； with the pale moonbeams falling
full on her。
Then she turned to go in； but as Euchre Buck stepped forward with an
admonishing cough； she waited and looked round at him。
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〃Miss；〃 said he； holding out a big revolver in his hard fist； 〃you take
this yer gun； an' ef any one whistles； or otherwise disturbs you； let a hole
into him straight away； an' we'll see him buried decent。〃
But Miss Musgrave courteously； and with profuse thanks； refused the
offer； and； saying that she had perfect confidence in all who were around
her； gave Euchre Buck a bewitching smile； went inside； and closed the
door after he。
Then the diggers returned to Gustav Werstein's American Bar and
discussed the new arrival。
〃I known Noomarket an' Hascot an' Hepson； an' all the places where
swells goes in England；〃 said Jockey Bill； enthusiastically； 〃but never one
come there as pretty as she； stop my license if ther' did。〃
〃Grand eyes； hain't she？〃 said Tommy Dartmoor。 〃Regular fust…water
'uns。 Here's to 'em！〃
〃And…a…hoof！ See it peep below her gownd。 S' welp me ef it wer' es
big as my 'bacca…box！〃
〃An' 'er close； gentlemen！ Made to measure； every thread on 'em； I
allow。〃
〃She's a lady； boys；〃 exclaimed he who had offered to see after a
funeral； 〃a reg'lar slap…up； high…toned； blow…yer…eyes…don't…touch…me lady；
an' as she sees fit to do the civil to this fellar〃striking himself on the
chest〃he's just going to drop his professional name； an' arsk yer to call
him Mister Samuel K。 Gregson； Esquire。 Play on that。〃
Next morning the inhabitants of Big Stone Hole were startled by
reading this announcement outside the cabin
