drift from two shores(漂流)-第14节
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out。 〃I hadn't the least idee wot woz comin'；〃 said Dan； 〃but about
midnight I seemed to hear hail onto the roof； and a shower of rocks and
stones like to a blast started in the canyon。 When I got up and struck a
light； thar was suthin' like onto a cord o' kindlin' wood and splinters whar
she'd stood asleep； and a hole in the side o' the shanty； andno Jinny！
Lookin' at them hoofs o' hernand mighty porty they is to look at； too
you would allow she could do it！〃 I fear that this performance laid the
foundation of her later infelicitous reputation； and perhaps awakened in
her youthful breast a misplaced ambition； and an emulation which might at
that time have been diverted into a nobler channel。 For the fame of this
juvenile performanceand its possible promise in the futurebrought at
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once upon her the dangerous flattery and attention of the whole camp。
Under intelligently directed provocation she would repeat her misguided
exercise； until most of the scanty furniture of the cabin was reduced to a
hopeless wreck； and sprains and callosities were developed upon the limbs
of her admirers。 Yet even at this early stage of her history； that
penetrating intellect which was in after years her dominant quality was
evident to all。 She could not be made to kick at quartz tailings； at a barrel
of Boston crackers； or at the head or shin of 〃Nigger Pete。〃 An artistic
discrimination economized her surplus energy。 〃Ef you'll notiss；〃 said
Dan； with a large parental softness； 〃she never lets herself out to onst like
them mules or any jackass ez I've heerd of； but kinder holds herself in； and；
so to speak； takes her bearingssorter feels round gently with that off foot；
takes her distance and her rest； and then with that ar' foot hoverin' round in
the air softly； like an angel's wing； and a gentle； dreamy kind o' look in
them eyes； she lites out！ Don't ye； Jinny？ Thar！ jist ez I told ye；〃
continued Dan； with an artist's noble forgetfulness of self； as he slowly
crawled from the splintered ruin of the barrel on which he had been sitting。
〃Thur！ did ye ever see the like！ Did ye dream that all the while I was
talkin' she was a meditatin' that？〃
The same artistic perception and noble reticence distinguished her bray。
It was one of which a less sagacious animal would have been foolishly
vain or ostentatiously prodigal。 It was a contralto of great compass and
profundityreaching from low G to high C perhaps a trifle stronger in
the lower register； and not altogether free from a nasal falsetto in the upper。
Daring and brilliant as it was in the middle notes； it was perhaps more
musically remarkable for its great sustaining power。 The element of
surprise always entered into the hearer's enjoyment； long after any
ordinary strain of human origin would have ceased； faint echoes of Jinny's
last note were perpetually recurring。 But it was as an intellectual and
moral expression that her bray was perfect。 As far beyond her size as
were her aspirations； it was a free and running commentary of scorn at all
created things extant； with ironical and sardonic additions that were
terrible。 It reviled all human endeavor； it quenched all sentiment； it
suspended frivolity； it scattered reverie； it paralyzed action。 It was
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omnipotent。 More wonderful and characteristic than all； the very existence
of this tremendous organ was unknown to the camp for six months after
the arrival of its modest owner； and only revealed to them under
circumstances that seemed to point more conclusively than ever to her rare
discretion。
It was the beginning of a warm night and the middle of a heated
political discussion。 Sawyer's Bar had gathered in force at the Crossing；
and by the light of flaring pine torches； cheered and applauded the rival
speakers who from a rude platform addressed the excited multitude。
Partisan spirit at that time ran high in the foot…hills； crimination and
recrimination； challenge； reply； accusation； and retort had already inflamed
the meeting； and Colonel Bungstarter； after a withering review of his
opponent's policy； culminated with a personal attack upon the career and
private character of the eloquent and chivalrous Colonel Culpepper
Starbottle of Siskiyou。 That eloquent and chivalrous gentleman was
known to be present； it was rumored that the attack was expected to
provoke a challenge from Colonel Starbottle which would give
Bungstarter the choice of weapons； and deprive Starbottle of his advantage
as a dead shot。 It was whispered also that the sagacious Starbottle； aware
of this fact； would retaliate in kind so outrageously as to leave Bungstarter
no recourse but to demand satisfaction on the spot。 As Colonel Starbottle
rose； the eager crowd drew together； elbowing each other in rapt and
ecstatic expectancy。 〃He can't get even on Bungstarter； onless he allows
his sister ran off with a nigger； or that he put up his grandmother at draw
poker and lost her；〃 whispered the Quartz Crusher； 〃kin he？〃 All ears
were alert； particularly the very long and hairy ones just rising above the
railing of the speaker's platform； for Jinny； having a feminine distrust of
solitude and a fondness for show； had followed her master to the meeting
and had insinuated herself upon the platform； where way was made for her
with that frontier courtesy always extended to her age and sex。
Colonel Starbottle； stertorous and purple； advanced to the railing。
There he unbuttoned his collar and laid his neckcloth aside； then with his
eye fixed on his antagonist he drew off his blue frock coat； and thrusting
one hand into his ruffled shirt front； and raising the other to the dark
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canopy above him； he opened his vindictive lips。 The action； the attitude；
were Starbottle's。 But the voice was not。 For at that supreme moment；
a brayso profound； so appalling； so utterly soul…subduing； so paralyzing
that everything else sank to mere insignificance beside itfilled woods；
and sky； and air。 For a moment only the multitude gasped in speechless
astonishmentit was a moment onlyand then the welkin roared with their
shouts。 In vain silence was commanded； in vain Colonel Starbottle； with
a ghastly smile； remarked that he recognized in the interruption the voice
and the intellect of the opposition； the laugh continued； the more as it was
discovered that Jinny had not yet finished； and was still recurring to her
original theme。 〃Gentlemen；〃 gasped Starbottle； 〃any attempt by ＇Hee…
haw！ from Jinny＇ brutal buffoonery to restrict the right of free speech to all
＇a prolonged assent from Jinny＇ is worthy only the dastardly〃but here a
diminuendo so long drawn as to appear a striking imitation of the
Colonel's own apoplectic sentences drowned his voice with shrieks of
laughter。
It must not be supposed that during this performance a vigorous
attempt was not made to oust Jinny from the platform。 But all in vain。
Equally demoralizing in either extremity； Jinny speedily cleared a circle
with her flying hoofs； smashed the speaker's table and water pitcher； sent
the railing flying in fragments over the cheering crowd； and only
succumbed to two blankets； in which； with her head concealed； she was
finally dragged； half captive； half victor； from the field。 Even then a
muffled and supplemental bray that came from the woods a
