condensed novels(压缩小说)-第6节
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the snail above that of the crisp and oleaginous bacon？ Delicious are the
grasshoppers that sport on the hillside；are they better than the dried
apples of the Pale Faces？ Pleasant is the gurgle of the torrent； Kish…Kish；
but is it better than the cluck…cluck of old Bourbon from the old stone
bottle？〃
〃Ugh！〃 said the Indian；〃ugh！ good。 The White Rabbit is wise。 Her
words fall as the snow on Tootoonolo； and the rocky heart of Muck…a…
Muck is hidden。 What says my brother the Gray Gopher of Dutch Flat？〃
〃She has spoken； Muck…a…Muck；〃 said the Judge； gazing fondly on his
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daughter。 〃It is well。 Our treaty is concluded。 No； thank you； you need
NOT dance the Dance of Snow Shoes； or the Moccasin Dance； the Dance
of Green Corn； or the Treaty Dance。 I would be alone。 A strange sadness
overpowers me。〃
〃I go；〃 said the Indian。 〃Tell your great chief in Washington； the
Sachem Andy； that the Red Man is retiring before the footsteps of the
adventurous Pioneer。 Inform him； if you please； that westward the star of
empire takes its way； that the chiefs of the Pi…Ute nation are for
Reconstruction to a man； and that Klamath will poll a heavy Republican
vote in the fall。〃
And folding his blanket more tightly around him； Muck…a…Muck
withdrew。
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CHAPTER III。
Genevra Tompkins stood at the door of the log…cabin； looking after
the retreating Overland Mail stage which conveyed her father to Virginia
City。 〃He may never return again；〃 sighed the young girl as she glanced at
the frightfully rolling vehicle and wildly careering horses；〃at least； with
unbroken bones。 Should he meet with an accident！ I mind me now a
fearful legend； familiar to my childhood。 Can it be that the drivers on this
line are privately instructed to despatch all passengers maimed by accident；
to prevent tedious litigation？ No； no。 But why this weight upon my heart？〃
She seated herself at the piano and lightly passed her hand over the
keys。 Then； in a clear mezzo…soprano voice； she sang the first verse of one
of the most popular Irish ballads：
〃O Arrah； ma dheelish； the distant dudheen Lies soft in the moonlight；
ma bouchal vourneen： The springing gossoons on the heather are still； And
the caubeens and colleens are heard on the hills。〃
But as the ravishing notes of her sweet voice died upon the air； her
hands sank listlessly to her side。 Music could not chase away the
mysterious shadow from her heart。 Again she rose。 Putting on a white
crape bonnet； and carefully drawing a pair of lemon…colored gloves over
her taper fingers； she seized her parasol and plunged into the depths of the
pine forest。
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CHAPTER IV。
Genevra had not proceeded many miles before a weariness seized
upon her fragile limbs； and she would fain seat herself upon the trunk of a
prostrate pine； which she previously dusted with her handkerchief。 The
sun was just sinking below the horizon； and the scene was one of gorgeous
and sylvan beauty。 〃How beautiful is Nature！〃 murmured the innocent girl；
as； reclining gracefully against the root of the tree； she gathered up her
skirts and tied a handkerchief around her throat。 But a low growl
interrupted her meditation。 Starting to her feet； her eyes met a sight which
froze her blood with terror。
The only outlet to the forest was the narrow path； barely wide enough
for a single person； hemmed in by trees and rocks； which she had just
traversed。 Down this path； in Indian file； came a monstrous grizzly； closely
followed by a California lion； a wild… cat； and a buffalo； the rear being
brought up by a wild Spanish bull。 The mouths of the three first animals
were distended with frightful significance； the horns of the last were
lowered as ominously。 As Genevra was preparing to faint； she heard a low
voice behind her。
〃Eternally dog…gone my skin ef this ain't the puttiest chance yet。〃
At the same moment； a long； shining barrel dropped lightly from
behind her； and rested over her shoulder。
Genevra shuddered。
〃Dern yedon't move！〃
Genevra became motionless。
The crack of a rifle rang through the woods。 Three frightful yells were
heard； and two sullen roars。 Five animals bounded into the air and five
lifeless bodies lay upon the plain。 The well…aimed bullet had done its work。
Entering the open throat of the grizzly； it had traversed his body only to
enter the throat of the California lion； and in like manner the catamount；
until it passed through into the respective foreheads of the bull and the
buffalo； and finally fell flattened from the rocky hillside。
Genevra turned quickly。 〃My preserver！〃 she shrieked； and fell into the
arms of Natty Bumpo； the celebrated Pike Ranger of Donner Lake。
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CHAPTER V。
The moon rose cheerfully above Donner Lake。 On its placid bosom a
dug…out canoe glided rapidly； containing Natty Bumpo and Genevra
Tompkins。
Both were silent。 The same thought possessed each； and perhaps there
was sweet companionship even in the unbroken quiet。 Genevra bit the
handle of her parasol and blushed。 Natty Bumpo took a fresh chew of
tobacco。 At length Genevra said； as if in half… spoken revery：
〃The soft shining of the moon and the peaceful ripple of the waves
seem to say to us various things of an instructive and moral tendency。〃
〃You may bet yer pile on that； Miss；〃 said her companion； gravely。 〃It's
all the preachin' and psalm…singin' I've heern since I was a boy。〃
〃Noble being！〃 said Miss Tompkins to herself； glancing at the stately
Pike as he bent over his paddle to conceal his emotion。 〃Reared in this
wild seclusion； yet he has become penetrated with visible consciousness of
a Great First Cause。〃 Then； collecting herself； she said aloud： 〃Methinks
'twere pleasant to glide ever thus down the stream of life； hand in hand
with the one being whom the soul claims as its affinity。 But what am I
saying？〃and the delicate…minded girl hid her face in her hands。
A long silence ensued； which was at length broken by her companion。
〃Ef you mean you're on the marry；〃 he said； thoughtfully； 〃I ain't in no
wise partikler！〃
〃My husband；〃 faltered the blushing girl； and she fell into his arms。
In ten minutes more the loving couple had landed at Judge Tompkins's。
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CHAPTER VI。
A year has passed away。 Natty Bumpo was returning from Gold Hill；
where he had been to purchase provisions。 On his way to Donner Lake；
rumors of an Indian uprising met his ears。 〃Dern their pesky skins； ef they
dare to touch my Jenny；〃 he muttered between his clenched teeth。
It was dark when he reached the borders of the lake。 Around a
glittering fire he dimly discerned dusky figures dancing。 They were in war
paint。 Conspicuous among them was the renowned Muck…a… Muck。 But
why did the fingers of Natty Bumpo tighten convulsively around his rifle？
The chief held in his hand long tufts of raven hair。 The heart of the
pioneer sickened as he recognized the clustering curls of Genevra。 In a
moment his rifle was at his shoulder； and with a sharp 〃ping；〃 Muck…a…
Muck leaped into the air a corpse。 To knock out the brains of the
remaining savages； tear the tresses from the stiffening hand of Muck…a…
Muck； and dash rapidly forward to the
