the red one(红色的那人)-第30节
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take a square…face along to refresh himself by the way; while I was set
against running any chance of wasting the gin。 Besides; he had more than
he could carry then; and he wobbled and staggered as he walked。
〃Same thing; only there was a whole lot of him left for me to bury;
because he'd prepared only half a stick。 I managed to last it out till next
day; when; after duly fortifying myself; I got sufficient courage to tackle
the dynamite。 I used only a third of a stick … you know; short fuse; with
the end split so as to hold the head of a safety match。 That's where I
mended my predecessors' methods。 Not using the match…head; they'd too…
long fuses。 Therefore; when they spotted a school of mullet; and lighted
the fuse; they had to hold the dynamite till the fuse burned short before
they threw it。 If they threw it too soon; it wouldn't go off the instant it hit
the water; while the splash of it would frighten the mullet away。 Funny
stuff dynamite。 At any rate; I still maintain mine was the safer method。
〃I picked up a school of mullet before I'd been rowing five minutes。
Fine big fat ones they were; and I could smell them over the fire。 When I
stood up; fire…stick in one hand; dynamite stick in the other; my knees
were knocking together。 Maybe it was the gin; or the anxiousness; or the
weakness and the hunger; and maybe it was the result of all of them; but at
any rate I was all of a shake。 Twice I failed to touch the fire…stick to the
dynamite。 Then I did; heard the match…head splutter; and let her go。
〃Now I don't know what happened to the others; but I know what I did。
I got turned about。 Did you ever stem a strawberry and throw the
strawberry away and pop the stem into your mouth? That's what I did。
I threw the fire…stick into the water after the mullet and held on to the
dynamite。 And my arm went off with the stick when it went off。 。 。 。 〃
Slim investigated the tomato…can for water to mix himself a drink; but
found it empty。 He stood up。
〃Heigh ho;〃 he yawned; and started down the path to the river。
In several minutes he was back。 He mixed the due quantity of river
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THE RED ONE
slush with the alcohol; took a long; solitary drink; and stared with bitter
moodiness into the fire。
〃Yes; but 。 。 。 〃 Fatty suggested。 〃What happened then?〃
〃Oh;〃 sad Slim。 〃Then the princess married me; of course。〃
〃But you were the only person left; and there wasn't any princess 。 。 。 〃
Whiskers cried out abruptly; and then let his voice trail away to
embarrassed silence。
Slim stared unblinkingly into the fire。
Percival Delaney and Chauncey Delarouse looked at each other。
Quietly; in solemn silence; each with his one arm aided the one arm of the
other in rolling and tying his bundle。 And in silence; bundles slung on
shoulders; they went away out of the circle of firelight。 Not until they
reached the top of the railroad embankment did they speak。
〃No gentleman would have done it;〃 said Whiskers。
〃No gentleman would have done it;〃 Fatty agreed。
Glen Ellen; California; SEPTEMBER 26; 1916。
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