drift from two shores(漂流)-第15节
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muffled and supplemental bray that came from the woods at intervals drew
half the crowd away and reduced the other half to mere perfunctory
hearers。 The demoralized meeting was adjourned； Colonel Starbottle's
withering reply remained unuttered； and the Bungstarter party were
triumphant。
For the rest of the evening Jinny was the heroine of the hour； but no
cajolery nor flattery could induce her to again exhibit her powers。 In
vain did Dean of Angel's extemporize a short harangue in the hope that
Jinny would be tempted to reply； in vain was every provocation offered
that might sting her sensitive nature to eloquent revolt。 She replied only
with her heels。 Whether or not this was simple caprice； or whether she
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was satisfied with her maiden effort； or indignant at her subsequent
treatment； she remained silent。 〃She made her little game；〃 said Dan；
who was a political adherent of Starbottle's； and who yet from that day
enjoyed the great speaker's undying hatred； 〃and even if me and her don't
agree on politicsYOU let her alone。〃 Alas； it would have been well for
Dan if he could have been true to his instincts； but the offer of one
hundred dollars from the Bungstarter party proved too tempting。 She
passed irrevocably from his hands into those of the enemy。 But any
reader of these lines will； I trust； rejoice to hear that this attempt to restrain
free political expression in the foot…hills failed signally。 For； although
she was again covertly introduced on the platform by the Bungstarters； and
placed face to face with Colonel Starbottle at Murphy's Camp； she was
dumb。 Even a brass band failed to excite her emulation。 Either she had
become disgusted with politics or the higher prices paid by the party to
other and less effective speakers aroused her jealousy and shocked her
self…esteem； but she remained a passive spectator。 When the Hon。
Sylvester Rourback； who received； for the use of his political faculties for
a single night； double the sum for which she was purchased outright；
appeared on the same platform with herself； she forsook it hurriedly and
took to the woods。 Here she might have starved but for the intervention
of one McCarty； a poor market gardener； who found her； and gave her
food and shelter under the implied contract that she should forsake politics
and go to work。 The latter she for a long time resisted； but as she was
considered large enough by this time to draw a cart； McCarty broke her to
single harness； with a severe fracture of his leg and the loss of four teeth
and a small spring wagon。 At length； when she could be trusted to carry
his wares to Murphy's Camp； and could be checked from entering a shop
with the cart attached to her；a fact of which she always affected perfect
disbelief；her education was considered as complete as that of the average
California donkey。 It was still unsafe to leave her alone； as she disliked
solitude； and always made it a point to join any group of loungers with her
unnecessary cart； and even to follow some good…looking miner to his
cabin。 The first time this peculiarity was discovered by her owner was
on his return to the street after driving a bargain within the walls of the
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Temperance Hotel。 Jinny was nowhere to be seen。 Her devious course；
however； was pleasingly indicated by vegetables that strewed the road
until she was at last tracked to the veranda of the Arcade saloon； where she
was found looking through the window at a game of euchre； and only
deterred by the impeding cart from entering the building。 A visit one
Sunday to the little Catholic chapel at French Camp； where she attempted
to introduce an antiphonal service and the cart； brought shame and
disgrace upon her unlucky master。 For the cart contained freshly…
gathered vegetables； and the fact that McCarty had been Sabbath…breaking
was painfully evident。 Father Sullivan was quick to turn an incident that
provoked only the risibilities of his audience into a moral lesson。 〃It's the
poor dumb beast that has a more Christian sowl than Michael；〃 he
commented； but here Jinny assented so positively that they were fain to
drag her away by main force。
To her eccentric and thoughtless youth succeeded a calm maturity in
which her conservative sagacity was steadily developed。 She now
worked for her living； subject； however； to a nice discrimination by which
she limited herself to a certain amount of work； beyond which neither
threats； beatings； nor cajoleries would force her。 At certain hours she
would start for the stable with or without the incumbrances of the cart or
Michael； turning two long and deaf ears on all expostulation or entreaty。
〃Now； God be good to me；〃 said Michael； one day picking himself out
from a ditch as he gazed sorrowfully after the flying heels of Jinny； 〃but
it's only the second load of cabbages I'm bringin' the day； and if she's
shtruck NOW； it's ruined I am entoirely。〃 But he was mistaken； after two
hours of rumination Jinny returned of her own free will； having evidently
mistaken the time； and it is said even consented to draw an extra load to
make up the deficiency。 It may be imagined from this and other
circumstances that Michael stood a little in awe of Jinny's superior
intellect； and that Jinny occasionally； with the instinct of her sex；
presumed upon it。 After the Sunday episode； already referred to； she was
given her liberty on that day； a privilege she gracefully recognized by
somewhat unbending her usual austerity in the indulgence of a saturnine
humor。 She would visit the mining camps； and； grazing lazily and
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thoughtfully before the cabins； would； by various artifices and coquetries
known to the female heart； induce some credulous stranger to approach
her with the intention of taking a ride。 She would submit hesitatingly to
a halter； allow him to mount her back； and； with every expression of timid
and fearful reluctance； at last permit him to guide her in a laborious trot
out of sight of human habitation。 What happened then was never clearly
known。 In a few moments the camp would be aroused by shouts and
execrations； and the spectacle of Jinny tearing by at a frightful pace； with
the stranger clinging with his arms around her neck； afraid to slip off； from
terror of her circumvolving heels； and vainly imploring assistance。 Again
and again she would dash by the applauding groups； adding the
aggravation of her voice to the danger of her heels； until suddenly
wheeling； she would gallop to Carter's Pond； and deposit her luckless
freight in the muddy ditch。 This practical joke was repeated until one
Sunday she was approached by Juan Ramirez； a Mexican vaquero； booted
and spurred； and carrying a riata。 A crowd was assembled to see her
discomfiture。 But； to the intense disappointment of the camp； Jinny； after
quietly surveying the stranger； uttered a sardonic bray； and ambled away to
the little cemetery on the hill； whose tangled chapparal effectually
prevented all pursuit by her skilled antagonist。 From that day she
forsook the camp； and spent her Sabbaths in mortuary reflections among
the pine head…boards and cold 〃hic jacets〃 of the dead。
Happy would i
