stories by english authors in africa(旅非英国作家的故事)-第23节
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reading this announcement outside the cabin which Dan had resigned to
Miss Musgrave：
SINGING AND MUSIC TAUGHT。 LITERARY WORK DONE。
It was printed on a card； which was affixed to the door by means of a
drawing…pin； and from within came the sound of a contralto voice singing
to a guitar accompaniment。 One by one the male residents of Big Stone
Hole drew near to that iron…roofed hut and stopped to listen； but after
commenting on the innovation in gleeful whispers for guitar had never
twanged in that part of Africa beforethey moved on to their work。 No
consideration could cause them to neglect that。 They might fritter away the
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dull； rough gems when they had found them； but the lust of handling
diamonds once was the strongest passion they knew。 And so the day's toil
was not curtailed； but at the conclusion Miss Musgrave had an application
for instruction in music from every man in the camp； with one exception。
This one defaulter was Euchre Buck。 He owned to having no ear for
musicthereby exhibiting more honesty than many of the othersand
confessed to knowing only two tunes； one of which was 〃Hail Columbia；〃
and the otherwasn't； and so he said he wanted some 〃literary work done。〃
He proposed to Miss Musgrave that she should write a history of his life at
half a guinea a page； therebycute Yankee that he wasthinking to
appropriate the whole of her time。
But embarrassed by all these calls upon her； and obviously unable to
satisfy each of them； Miss Musgrave turned for help to the Scholar； whom
she appeared to regard as her special adviser； and he； promising a solution
of the difficulty in half an hour； drew off the whole crowd to the American
Bar； where the question was thrashed out in all its points。
It was clearly evident that Miss Musgrave could not surrender to each
individual the whole of her evening； even if any one had been willing to
let his neighbor monopolise it； which no one was； and therefore it was
necessary to formulate some scheme by which her talents might be
distributed over a larger area。 But what the scheme should be was not
settled all in a minute。 One man wanted to hear her sing； another to hear
her talk； another was willing to give five pounds an hour for the privilege
of talking to her。 After a lengthened discussion； which was excited
throughout； and at times verged on the warlike； it was decided to effect a
compromisesubject； of course； to Miss Musgrave's inclinations； and a
deputation was sent to learn her views on the subject。
There was no assembly…room in the place； excepting Werstein's saloon；
which； of course； was not available for such a purpose；and so it was
proposed to her； with much humility； that she should take up her position
in the evenings on a chair outside her hut； and there discourse such vocal
and instrumental music as she saw fit； interlarding the same with friendly
conversation。 What was she to talk about？ Anythingabsolutely anything。
They didn't mind what it was； so long as they heard her voice。 Five
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shillings； the committee had decided； was to be paid by every man who
came within earshot。 And any one who wanted a free list was requested to
argue the matter out with Euchre Buck。
This call upon her powers seemed to take Miss Musgrave aback。
〃I have never sung in public；〃 she pleaded； rather nervously。 〃Indeed；
my voice is not good enough for it； really it isn't。 Only I thought I could
teach a little perhaps； and that is why I came here。 You see； mother； is an
invalid； and we were so very poor that〃
〃Miss；〃 broke in Jockey Bill； 〃call it ten bob a 'ead； an' just 'um to us。〃
〃Oh no； Mr。 William； it was not the money that I thought about； indeed；
five shillings would be far too much。 But if you think that I should be able
to amuse you at all； I would do my very bestbelieve me； I would。〃
〃Miss；〃 growled Dan； with a clumsy endeavour to chase away her
diffidence； 〃all we asks is fer you to sit near us fer a spell。 Ef you sings or
plays； we'd be proud； ef you just looks an' talks； we'd be pleased。〃
So in the end Miss Musgrave yielded to the wishes of the community；
and the nightly conclave in the American Bar became so much a thing of
the past that Gustav Werstein was heard to threaten another emigration。
The songs were to the diggers new； and yet not new。 There was nothing of
the music…hall type about them； they were nearly all old…fashioned ditties。
She sang to them of 〃Barbara Allen〃 and 〃Sally in our Alley〃； she gave
them 〃Cheer； Boys； Cheer；〃 and called for a chorus； she sang 〃The
Message；〃 〃The Arrow and the Song〃； and she brought back memories of
other days when Africa was to them a mere geographical expressionof
days when that something had not happened which had sent them away
from home。
Sunday came； the fifth day after her arrival； and it differed from the
usual Sabbath of Big Stone Hole。 Sunday had been observed before by the
biggest drinking bout of the week； and a summary settlement of the
previous six days' disputes。 Now； to the huge surprise of the Kaffirs； and to
the still greater surprise of themselves； these diamond…diggers sang hymns
at intervals during the day； and refrained from indulging in the orthodox
carouse till after Miss Musgrave had retired for the night。 It was a
wonderful change。
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During the next week a fall of earth took place in Tommy Dartmoor's
claim。 Two Kaffirs were killed； and when the proprietor himself was
extricated from the debris of blue clay which held him down； he was
found to have a broken arm； besides other serious injuries。
〃Don't let on to her；〃 he managed to gasp out to his rescuers； wishing
to spare Miss Musgrave's nerves a shock。
But she saw the men bearing him to his hut； joined them； and insisted
on being installed as sole nurse forthwith。
Twenty other men would willingly have broken an arm for such a
reward； and the recklessness displayed during the next few days was
something awful。 But she saw that too；little escaped those big blue eyes；…
… and； ascribing it to drink； gave a pretty strong lecture on the bibulous
habits of Big Stone Hole； at her next concert。
There was an earnest meeting in the American Bar that night； at which
the following motion was put and carried unanimously： 〃On and after this
date； any drunken man is liable to be shot at sight； unless his friends can
prove that he has dug over three carats of diamonds during the day。〃 And
then； like other reformers； they went on to more sweeping measures：
〃Only knife…fighting to take place in the camp。 All disputes with pistols；
unless of a very pressing nature； to be settled out of earshot of Dan's
house。〃 There were even some hints of appointing a closing…time for the
saloon〃it would make the place so much more like home。〃 But the
promoter eventually withdrew his suggestion； as it was justly felt that such
a motion would interfere with the liberty of the subject too much。 But a
storm of cheers burst forth when it was proposed to transfer the diamond…
safe from Werstein's keeping to a corner of the new goddess's shrine。
Even Satan； the cat； joined in the general adoration； and； more
favoured than the rest； enjoyed at times a chaste salute from Miss
Musgrave's ripe…red lips。
Never； in so short a space of time； had a community been more
changed for the better than was that of Big Stone Hole。 Never had
woman's humanising influence made itself more clearly felt。 The azure
cloud of blasphemy that hung over the workings and the rest of the camp
was replaced again by the normal dust。 Each man tried to beautify the
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