sketches new and old-第4节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


curiousest　man　about　always　betting　on　anything　that　turned　up　you　ever
see；　if　he　could　get　anybody　to　bet　on　the　other　side；　and　if　he　couldn't
he'd　change　sides。　　Any　way　that　suited　the　other　man　would　suit　him　any
way　just　so's　he　got　a　bet；　he　was　satisfied。　　But　still　he　was　lucky；
uncommon　lucky；　he　most　always　come　out　winner。　　He　was　always　ready　and
laying　for　a　chance；　there　couldn't　be　no　solit'ry　thing　mentioned　but
that　feller'd　offer　to　bet　on　it；　and　take　any　side　you　please；　as　I　was
just　telling　you。　　If　there　was　a　horse…race；　you'd　find　him　flush　or
you'd　find　him　busted　at　the　end　of　it；　if　there　was　a　dog…fight；　he'd
bet　on　it；　if　there　was　a　cat…fight；　he'd　bet　on　it；　if　there　was　a
chicken…fight；　he'd　bet　on　it；　why；　if　there　was　two　birds　setting　on　a
fence；　he　would　bet　you　which　one　would　fly　first；　or　if　there　was　a
camp…meeting；　he　would　be　there　reg'lar　to　bet　on　Parson　Walker；　which　he
judged　to　be　the　best　exhorter　about　here；　and　so　he　was　too；　and　a　good
man。　　If　he　even　see　a　straddle…bug　start　to　go　anywheres；　he　would　bet
you　how　long　it　would　take　him　to　get　toto　wherever　he　was　going　to；
and　if　you　took　him　up；　he　would　foller　that　straddle…bug　to　Mexico　but
what　he　would　find　out　where　he　was　bound　for　and　how　long　he　was　on　the
road。　　Lots　of　the　boys　here　has　seen　that　Smiley；　and　can　tell　you　about
him。　　Why；　it　never　made　no　difference　to　himhe'd　bet　on　any　thingthe
dangdest　feller。　　Parson　Walker's　wife　laid　very　sick　once；　for　a　good
while；　and　it　seemed　as　if　they　warn't　going　to　save　her；　but　one　morning
he　come　in；　and　Smiley　up　and　asked　him　how　she　was；　and　he　said　she　was
considerable　betterthank　the　Lord　for　his　inf'nite　mercyand　coming　on
so　smart　that　with　the　blessing　of　Prov'dence　she'd　get　well　yet；　and
Smiley；　before　he　thought；　says；　'Well；　I'll　resk　two…and…a…half　she
don't　anyway。'

〃Thish…yer　Smile）　had　a　marethe　boys　called　her　the　fifteen…minute　nag；
but　that　was　only　in　fun；　you　know；　because　of　course　she　was　faster　than
thatand　he　used　to　win　money　on　that　horse；　for　all　she　was　so　slow　and
always　had　the　asthma；　or　the　distemper；　or　the　consumption；　or　something
of　that　kind。　　They　used　to　give　her　two　or　three　hundred　yards'　start；
and　then　pass　her　under　way；　but　always　at　the　fag　end　of　the　race　she
get　excited　and　desperate　like；　and　come　cavorting　and　straddling　up；
and　scattering　her　legs　around　limber；　sometimes　in　the　air；　and
sometimes　out　to　one　side　among　the　fences；　and　kicking　up　m…o…r…e　dust
and　raising　m…o…r…e　racket　with　her　coughing　and　sneezing　and　blowing　her
noseand　always　fetch　up　at　the　stand　just　about　a　neck　ahead；　as　near
as　you　could　cipher　it　down。

〃And　he　had　a　little　small　bull…pup；　that　to　look　at　him　you'd　think　he
warn't　worth　a　cent　but　to　set　around　and　look　ornery　and　lay　for　a
chance　to　steal　something。　　But　as　soon　as　money　was　up　on　him　he　was　a
different　dog；　his　under…jaw'd　begin　to　stick　out　like　the　fo'castle　of
a　steamboat；　and　his　teeth　would　uncover　and　shine　like　the　furnaces。
And　a　dog　might　tackle　him　and　bully…rag　him；　and　bite　him；　and　throw　him
over　his　shoulder　two　or　three　times；　and　Andrew　Jacksonwhich　was　the
name　of　the　pupAndrew　Jackson　would　never　let　on　but　what　he　was
satisfied；　and　hadn't　expected　nothing　elseand　the　bets　being　doubled
and　doubled　on　the　other　side　all　the　time；　till　the　money　was　all　up；
and　then　all　of　a　sudden　he　would　grab　that　other　dog　jest　by　the　j'int
of　his　hind　leg　and　freeze　to　itnot　chaw；　you　understand；　but　only　just
grip　and　hang　on　till　they　throwed　up　the　sponge；　if　it　was　a　year。
Smiley　always　come　out　winner　on　that　pup；　till　he　harnessed　a　dog　once
that　didn't　have　no　hind　legs；　because　they'd　been　sawed　off　in　a
circular　saw；　and　when　the　thing　had　gone　along　far　enough；　and　the　money
was　all　up；　and　he　come　to　make　a　snatch　for　his　pet　holt；　he　see　in　a
minute　how　he'd　been　imposed　on；　and　how　the　other　dog　had　him　in　the
door；　so　to　speak；　and　he　'peared　surprised；　and　then　he　looked　sorter
discouraged…like　and　didn't　try　no　more　to　win　the　fight；　and　so　he　got
shucked　out　bad。　　He　give　Smiley　a　look；　as　much　as　to　say　his　heart　was
broke；　and　it　was　his　fault；　for　putting　up　a　dog　that　hadn't　no　hind
legs　for　him　to　take　holt　of；　which　was　his　main　dependence　in　a　fight；
and　then　he　limped　off　a　piece　and　laid　down　and　died。　　It　was　a　good
pup；　was　that　Andrew　Jackson；　and　would　have　made　a　name　for　hisself　if
he'd　lived；　for　the　stuff　was　in　him　and　he　had　geniusI　know　it；
because　he　hadn't　no　opportunities　to　speak　of；　and　it　don't　stand　to
reason　that　a　dog　could　make　such　a　fight　as　he　could　under　them
circumstances　if　he　hadn't　no　talent。　It　always　makes　me　feel　sorry　when
I　think　of　that　last　fight　of　his'n；　and　the　way　it　turned　out。

〃Well；　thish…yer　Smiley　had　rat…tarriers；　and　chicken　cocks；　and　tomcats
and　all　them　kind　of　things；　till　you　couldn't　rest；　and　you　couldn't
fetch　nothing　for　him　to　bet　on　but　he'd　match　you。　　He　ketched　a　frog
one　day；　and　took　him　home；　and　said　he　cal'lated　to　educate　him；　and　so
he　never　done　nothing　for　three　months　but　set　in　his　back　yard　and　learn
that　frog　to　jump。　And　you　bet　you　he　did　learn　him；　too。　He'd　give　him　a
little　punch　behind；　and　the　next　minute　you'd　see　that　frog　whirling　in
the　air　like　a　doughnutsee　him　turn　one　summerset；　or　maybe　a　couple；
if　he　got　a　good　start；　and　come　down　flat…footed　and　all　right；　like　a
cat。　He　got　him　up　so　in　the　matter　of　ketching　flies；　and　kep'　him　in
practice　so　constant；　that　he'd　nail　a　fly　every　time　as　fur　as　he　could
see　him。　Smiley　said　all　a　frog　wanted　was　education；　and　he　could　do
'most　anythingand　I　believe　him。　　Why；　I've　seen　him　set　Dan'l　Webster
down　here　on　this　floorDan'1　Webster　was　the　name　of　the　frogand　sing
out；　'Flies；　Dan'l；　flies！'　and　quicker'n　you　could　wink　he'd　spring
straight　up　and　snake　a　fly　off'n　the　counter　there；　and　flop　down　on　the
floor　ag'in　as　solid　as　a　gob　of　mud；　and　fall　to　scratching　the　side　of
his　head　with　his　hind　foot　as　indifferent　as　if　he　hadn't　no　idea　he'd
been　doin'　any　more'n　any　frog　might　do。　You　never　see　a　frog　so　modest
and　straightfor'ard　as　he　was；　for　all　he　was　so　gifted。　　And　when　it
come　to　fair　and　square　jumping　on　a　dead　level；　he　could　get　over　more
ground　at　one　straddle　than　any　animal　of　his　breed　you　ever　see。
Jumping　on　a　dead　level　was　his　strong　suit；　you　understand；　and　when　it
come　to　that；　Smiley　would　ante　up　money　on　him　as　long　as　he　had　a　red。
Smiley　was　monstrous　proud　of　his　frog；　and　well　he　might　be；　for　fellers
that　had　traveled　and　been　everywheres　all　said　he　laid　over　any　frog
that　ever　they　see。

〃Well；　Smiley　kep'　the　beast　in　a　little　lattice　box；　and　he　used　to
fetch　him　down…town　sometimes　and　lay　for　a　bet。　　One　day　a　feller
a　stranger　in　the　camp；　he　wascome　acrost　him　with　his　box；　and　says：

〃'What　might　it　be　that　you've　got　in　the　box？'

〃And　Smiley　says；　sorter　indifferent…like；　'It　might　be　a　parrot；　or　it
might　be　a　canary；　maybe；　but　it　ain'tit's　only　just　a　frog。'

〃And　the　feller　took　it；　and　looked　at　it　careful；　and　turned　it　round
this　way　and　that；　and　says；　'H'mso　'tis。　　Well；　what's　HE　good　for。

〃'Well；'　Smiley　says；　easy　and　careless；　'he's　good　enough　for　one　thing；
I　should　judgehe　can　outjump　any　frog　in　Calaveras　County。

〃The　feller　took　the　box　again；　and　took　another　long；　partiular　look；
and　give　it　back　to　Smiley；　and　says；　very　deliberate；　　'Well；'　he　says；
'I　don't　see　no　pints　about　that　frog　that's　any　better'n　any　other
frog。'

〃'Maybe　you　don't；'　Smiley　says。　　'Maybe　you　understand　frogs　and　maybe
you　don't　understand　'em；　maybe　you've　had　experience；　and　maybe　you
ain't　only　a　amature；　as　it　were。　　Anyways；　I've　got　my　opinion；　and　I'll
resk　forty　dollars　the　he　can　outjump　any　frog　in　Calaveras　County。'

〃And　the　feller　studied　a　minute；　and　then　says；　kinder　sad…like；　'Well；
I'm　only　a；　stranger　here；　and　I　ain't　got　no　frog；　but　if　I　had　a　frog；
I'd　bet　you。

〃And　then　Smiley　says；　'That's　all　right0…that's　all　right　if　you'll　hold
my　box　a　minute；　I'll　go　and　get　you　a　frog。'　　Any　so　the　feller　took　the
box；　and　put　up　his　forty　dollars　along　with　Smiley's；　and　set　down　to
wait。

〃So　he　set　there　a　good　while　thinking　and　thinking　to　himself　and　then
he　got　the　frog　out　and　prized　his　mouth　open　and　took　a　teaspoon　and
filled　him　full　of　quail…shot…filled　him　pretty　near　up　to　his　chinand
set　him　on　the　floor。　　Smiley　he　went　to　the　swamp　and　slopped　around　in
the　mud　for　a　long　time；　and　finally　he　ketched　a　frog；　and　fetched　him
in；　and　give　him　to　this　feller　and　says：

〃'Now；　if　you're　ready；　set　him　alongside　of　Dan'l；　with　his　fore　paws
just　even　with　Dan'l's；　and　I'll　give　the　word。'　Then　he　says；　'One…two…
threegit'　and　him　and　the　feller　touches　up　the　frogs　from　behind；　and
the　new　frog　hopped　off　lively　but　Dan'l　give　a　heave；　and　hysted　up　his
shoulders…so…like　a　Frenchman；　but　it　warn't　no　usehe　couldn't　budge；
he　was　planted　as　solid　as　a　church；　and　he　couldn't　no　more　stir　than　if
he　was　anchored　out。　　Smiley　was　a　good　deal　surprised；　and　he　was
disgusted　too；　but　he　didn'