登陆注册
4710800000013

第13章

'What in the world is the meaning of this queer place?' he asked himself as he ran around the rim. In a moment he had stepped over and the soft sand began to cave and slide beneath him. Ouick as a flash the big lion-beetle rose up in the centre of the pit and began to reach for him. Then his legs flew in the caving sand and the young ant struck his blades in it to hold the little he could gain.

Upward he struggled, leaping and floundering in the dust. He had got near the rim and had stopped, clinging to get his breath, when the lion began flinging the sand at him with his long feelers. It rose in a cloud and fell on the back of the ant and pulled at him as it swept down. He could feel the mighty cleavers of the lion striking near his hind legs and pulling the sand from under them. He must go down m a moment and he knew what that meant. He had heard the old men of the tribe tell often - how they hold one helpless and slash him into a dozen pieces. He was letting go, in despair, when he felt a hand on his neck. Looking up he saw one of his own people reaching over the rim, and in a jiffy they had shut their fangs together. He moved little by little as the other tagged at him, and in a moment was out of the trap and could feel the honest earth under him. When they had got home and told their adventure, some were for going to slay the beetle.

'There is never a pit in the path o' duty,' said the wise old chief of the little black folks. 'See that you keep in the straight road.'

'If our brother had not left the straight road,' said one who stood near, 'he that was in danger would have gone down into the pit.'

'It matters much,' he answered, 'whether it was kindness or curiosity that led him out of the road. But he that follows a fool hath much need of wisdom, for if he save the fool do ye not see that he hath encouraged folly?'

Of course I had then no proper understanding of the chiefs counsel, nor do I pretend even to remember it from that first telling, but the tale was told frequently in the course of my long acquaintance with Uncle Eb.

The diary of my good old friend lies before me as I write, the leaves turned yellow and the entries dim. I remember how stern he grew of an evening when he took out this sacred little record of our wanderings and began to write in it with his stub of a pencil. He wrote slowly and read and reread each entry with great care as I held the torch for him. 'Be still, boy - be still,' he would say when some pressing interrogatory passed my lips, and then he would bend to his work while the point of his pencil bored further into my patience. Beginning here I shall quote a few entries from the diary as they cover, with sufficient detail, an uneventful period of our journey.

AUGUST 20 Killed a partridge today. Biled it in the teapot for dinner. Went good. 14 mild.

AUGUST 21 Seen a deer this morning. Fred fit ag'in. Come near spilin' the wagon. Hed to stop and fix the ex. 10 mild.

AUGUST 22 Clumb a tree this morning after wild grapes. Come near falling. Gin me a little crickin the back. Willie hes got a stun bruze. 12 mild.

AUGUST 23 Went in swinmun. Ketched a few fish before breaklus'. Got provisions an' two case knives an' one fork, also one tin pie-plate. Used same to fry fish for dinner. 14 mild.

AUGUST 24 Got some spirits for Willie to rub on my back. Boots wearing out. Terrible hot. Lay in the shade in the heat of the day.

Gypsies come an' camped by us tonight. 10 mild.

I remember well the coming of those gypsies. We were fishing in sight of the road and our fire was crackling on the smooth cropped shore. The big wagons of the gypsies - there were four of them as red and beautiful as those of a circus caravan - halted about sundown while the men came over a moment to scan'the field.

Presently they went back and turned their wagons into the siding and began to unhitch. Then a lot of barefooted children, and women under gay shawls, overran the field gathering wood and making ready for night. Meanwhile swarthy drivers took the horses to water and tethered them with long ropes so they could crop the grass of the roadside.

One tall, bony man, with a face almost as black as that of an Indian, brought a big iron pot and set it up near the water. A big stew of beef bone, leeks and potatoes began to cook shortly, and I remember it had such a goodly smell I was minded to ask them for a taste of it. A little city of strange people had surrounded us of a sudden. Uncle Eb thought of going on, but the night was coming fast and there would be no moon and we were footsore and hungry.

Women and children came over to our fire, after supper, and made more of me than I liked. I remember taking refuge between the knees of Uncle Eb, and Fred sat close in front of us growling fiercely when they came too near. They stood about, looking down at us and whispered together, and one young miss of the tribe came up and tried to kiss me in spite of Fred's warnings: She had flashing black eyes and hair as dark as the night, that fell in a curling mass upon her shoulders; but, somehow, I had a mighty fear of her and fought with desperation to keep my face from the touch of her red lips. Uncle Eb laughed and held Fred by the collar, and I began to cry out in terror, presently, when, to my great relief, she let go and ran away to her own people. They all went away to their wagons, save one young man, who was tall with light hair and a fair skin, and who looked like none of the other gypsies.

'Take care of yourself,' he whispered, as soon as the rest had gone.

'These are bad people. You'd better be off' The young man left us and Uncle Eb began to pack up at once.

They were going to bed in their wagons when we came away. I stood in the basket and Fred drew the wagon that had in it only a few bundles. A mile or more finther on we came to a lonely, deserted cabin close to the road. It had began to thunder in the distance and the wind was blowing damp.

'Guess nobody lives here,' said Uncle Eb as he turned in at the sagging gate and began to cross the little patch of weeds and hollyhocks behind it 'Door's half down, but I guess it'll de beeter'n no house. Goin' t' rain sartin.'

同类推荐
  • 性善恶论

    性善恶论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大乘显识经卷上

    大乘显识经卷上

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绛云楼俊遇

    绛云楼俊遇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞玄灵宝二十四生图经

    洞玄灵宝二十四生图经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 冷禅室诗话

    冷禅室诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 凤舞九天:废柴大小姐

    凤舞九天:废柴大小姐

    一朝穿越,看似温和善良实则腹黑护短又记仇的她,重生到了星辰大陆林家的废柴大小姐身上。自此,这世间少了一个废物大小姐,多了一个绝世天才。回眸一笑,风华绝代,紫灿金衣,凤舞九天!
  • 桃李不言夏自成蹊

    桃李不言夏自成蹊

    “李不言,取自桃李不言,下自成蹊。”“夏成蹊,同样取自桃李不言,下自成蹊。”经年之后,可爱的小女孩变成了冷血的怪物。不善言辞的小男孩长成了阳光少年。在很久很久以前,在一片星空下,两个小孩在月光和星光下对话:“桃李不言,下自成蹊是什么意思啊?”“大概就是,你不用多说话,我就可以顺着路找到你吧”稚嫩的男孩故作高深的说着,眼眸中倒映出绚烂的星空。
  • 青丝井(下)

    青丝井(下)

    古井之惑他们决定在今日未时下井,在此之前,关山月带着那两个捕快去镇上的天香楼吃点心,萧剑卿则去了一趟柴烟儿的房间。出乎他意料的是,柳云湘也在那里,正在和躺在床上的柴烟儿聊着什么,柴静儿坐在她们旁边,手中端着个空碗,从碗里的残渍来看,是给柴烟儿喝的汤药。看到萧剑卿进门,柴静儿站起身来,或许是昨晚没有睡好的缘故,她今天的脸色看起来比柴烟儿更加苍白几分,眼神中充满了疲倦,虽然如此,脸上还是浮起一抹勉强的笑意。“萧公子。”
  • 天龙策(下)

    天龙策(下)

    公元1602年,努尔哈赤励精图治,欲问鼎中原,为了控制情报系统,命精通汉文的孙女赫梅蓝下嫁都护府总管大明叛将李永芳。孰料赫梅蓝嫁入李府后决死不圆房,却与武长春产生恋情。武长春是李永芳的女婿,明朝锦衣卫安插在后金的高级卧底间谍。李永芳觉察出两人的暧昧关系,想方设法离间二人灭掉武长春。大明国土辽阔人才济济,努尔哈赤和四贝勒皇太极精心制定“天龙策”,旨在离间大明君臣,绝杀大明高级将帅精英人才。武长春冒死盗取“天龙策”,送交大明锦衣卫指挥使田尔耕。但大明高层忙于内斗一盘散沙,阉党魏忠贤与东林党的酸儒们竟然置国家安危于不顾,将极为重要的战略情报“天龙策”抛在一边。
  • 脉因证治

    脉因证治

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 再回首:中国共产党历史新探

    再回首:中国共产党历史新探

    本书是一部中共党史的通俗类读物,是中央党校党史教研室教授们的最新力作。本书稿共11篇文章,按时间顺序选取了自建党以来中共历史上的重点难点问题,实事求是地还原了历史事件的真实面貌,使读者加深了对党史的了解和认识。
  • 刁妃太难养

    刁妃太难养

    “谁让你去给本王丢脸的?——”微眯的凤眸带着君临天下的震慑,暮色中勾勒男子唯美而迷离的身形。什么嘛,她不过爱上了三皇子那个人渣,便被夺心夺魄,一心想跟他一世一双人。谁知道那家伙原来别有阴谋,身边更是桃花朵朵。她追,他便躲;她躲,他又来追,她隐忍隐忍……但实在是忍无可忍!好吧!负我者!我必还之,只是这该死的心……
  • 羽神战纪

    羽神战纪

    大道无疆不可尽。诸天万道可通玄。反者道之动。弱者道之用天地仁慈。以万道示人。万道无善恶。人心不可测。人之所畏,不可不畏。“别人穿越带着作弊器。老子穿越受尽凌辱,想死都还得经过别人的同意。这他妈什么世道。不过话又说回来,老子不是已经穿越过一次了吗?怎么又穿越了?”
  • 倾城修罗

    倾城修罗

    这是一个魔法与仙术并存的世界,这是一个充满了传说的世界。人说当朝的六皇子很受帝王的宠爱,人说六皇子相貌平凡,人说六皇子平庸之极,又有人说六皇子貌若仙童,也有人说六皇子绝世奇才,还有人说……传说很多,却没有人知道他们口中的六皇子是她而不是他!皇甫清墨(姬浩)一个总在杀人时微笑的顶级女杀手。皇甫清音——皇甫清墨的大皇兄,温润如玉,俊美如斯皇甫流云——皇甫清墨的父亲,冷酷无情霸气天成夜无双——皇甫清墨的侍卫,对皇甫清墨忠心耿耿…故事开始在姬浩穿越后“我是你的父皇,来,皇儿叫声父皇来听听。”皇甫清墨(姬浩)沉默的吃着面前的点心,无视之“你就是六皇弟吗?我是你大皇兄,以后我来照顾你好吗。”皇甫清墨把玩着手中的被附上吸音能力的守护石,无视之…“…”皇甫清墨将手中的一把灵剑递给夜无双,微笑,“以后你叫夜无双,为我而活。”男配增加中…依然的温馨,不一样的玄幻。本文女强……收藏与票票是最大的支持,谢谢~★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆蓝自己的小圈子:http://m.wkkk.net花界★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆推荐自己的新文《重生之嫡庶不分》链接:她有一个秘密,不,或者说她有两个秘密。一.她是穿越的,在这个身体十岁的时候穿越过来的。二.她有一个神奇的空间,里面有山有水还有许多的吃的,她很喜欢。无论前世还是今生,她都是一个淡定的人,别人欺负到她头上了她都能平静的看着。这样的她原本在那样的豪门大族里应该是没有存在感的,但是奈何她的身份过于尴尬。身为嫡女的她因为母亲身为主母,无错却被休弃不忿而死,而亦她成了庶女。她淡定,她从容,可是就是有人看她不顺眼!主母欺她,姐妹欺她,父亲亦欺她!唯有兄长处处护着她。可是现在,兄长的前程要被耽误了,于是某女奋起了!“老虎不发威你当咱是病猫吗?”本文种田+随身空间推荐友友的文:断掌王爷柔水妃——碟恋花红尘醉挽柔情——西子姐姐的古文天要下雨娘要嫁人——碧凌波
  • 杀戮之不在场证明

    杀戮之不在场证明

    “彭先生家好远啊,坐车都坐了这么久……”阿良在一辆客车内颠簸着。这辆客车行驶在一条通往乡村的土地上,凹凸不平的路况颠得阿良都快吐出来了。“再坚持一会儿,千万别吐出来啊……”听到这句话,坐在阿良右边的雯葶皱了皱眉头,赶紧拍了拍阿良的后背,“就算吐出来,也要往王欣那边吐,可别吐在我身上。”“好了好了,就吐我身上把,谁让我把你们硬拖过来的。”王欣无奈的摆了摆手,从口袋里掏出一张纸巾,递给阿良,“想不到你晕车这么厉害。”