登陆注册
5382600000062

第62章 CHAPTER XII(6)

The moth hesitated at the first light,then slowly,easily it came toward the second,as if following a path of air.It touched a leaf near the lantern and settled.

As Mrs.Comstock reached for it a thin yellow spray wet her hand and the surrounding leaves.When its wings raised above its back,her fingers came together.

She held the moth to the light.It was nearer brown than yellow,and she remembered having seen some like it in the boxes that afternoon.It was not the one needed to complete the collection,but Elnora might want it,so Mrs.Comstock held on.Then the Almighty was kind,or nature was sufficient,as you look at it,for following the law of its being when disturbed,the moth again threw the spray by which some suppose it attracts its kind,and liberally sprinkled Mrs.Comstock's dress front and arms.From that instant,she became the best moth bait ever invented.Every Polyphemus in range hastened to her,and other fluttering creatures of night followed.

The influx came her way.She snatched wildly here and there until she had one in each hand and no place to put them.She could see more coming,and her aching heart,swollen with the strain of long excitement,hurt pitifully.She prayed in broken exclamations that did not always sound reverent,but never was human soul in more intense earnest.

Moths were coming.She had one in each hand.

They were not yellow,and she did not know what to do.

She glanced around to try to discover some way to keep what she had,and her throbbing heart stopped and every muscle stiffened.There was the dim outline of a crouching figure not two yards away,and a pair of eyes their owner thought hidden,caught the light in a cold stream.Her first impulse was to scream and fly for life.Before her lips could open a big moth alighted on her breast while she felt another walking over her hair.

All sense of caution deserted her.She did not care to live if she could not replace the yellow moth she had killed.

She turned her eyes to those among the leaves.

"Here,you!"she cried hoarsely."I need you!Get yourself out here,and help me.These critters are going to get away from me.Hustle!"Pete Corson parted the bushes and stepped into the light.

"Oh,it's you!"said Mrs.Comstock."I might have known!

But you gave me a start.Here,hold these until I make some sort of bag for them.Go easy!If you break them I don't guarantee what will happen to you!""Pretty fierce,ain't you!"laughed Pete,but he advanced and held out his hands."For Elnora,I s'pose?""Yes,"said Mrs.Comstock."In a mad fit,I trampled one this morning,and by the luck of the old boy himself it was the last moth she needed to complete a collection.

I got to get another one or die."

"Then I guess it's your funeral,"said Pete."There ain't a chance in a dozen the right one will come.What colour was it?""Yellow,and big as a bird."

"The Emperor,likely,"said Pete."You dig for that kind,and they are not numerous,so's 'at you can smash 'em for fun.""Well,I can try to get one,anyway,"said Mrs.Comstock.

"I forgot all about bringing anything to put them in.

You take a pinch on their wings until I make a poke."Mrs.Comstock removed her apron,tearing off the strings.

She unfastened and stepped from the skirt of her calico dress.With one apron string she tied shut the band and placket.She pulled a wire pin from her hair,stuck it through the other string,and using it as a bodkin ran it around the hem of her skirt,so shortly she had a large bag.She put several branches inside to which the moths could cling,closed the mouth partially and held it toward Pete.

"Put your hand well down and let the things go!"she ordered.

"But be careful,man!Don't run into the twigs!Easy!

That's one.Now the other.Is the one on my head gone?

There was one on my dress,but I guess it flew.Here comes a kind of a gray-looking one."Pete slipped several more moths into the bag.

"Now,that's five,Mrs.Comstock,"he said."I'm sorry,but you'll have to make that do.You must get out of here lively.Your lights will be taken for hurry calls,and inside the next hour a couple of men will ride here like fury.They won't be nice Sunday-school men,and they won't hold bags and catch moths for you.

You must go quick!"

Mrs.Comstock laid down the bag and pulled one of the lanterns lower.

"I won't budge a step,"she said."This land doesn't belong to you.You have no right to order me off it.

Here I stay until I get a Yellow Emperor,and no little petering thieves of this neighbourhood can scare me away.""You don't understand,"said Pete."I'm willing to help Elnora,and I'd take care of you,if I could,but there will be too many for me,and they will be mad at being called out for nothing.""Well,who's calling them out?"demanded Mrs.Comstock.

"I'm catching moths.If a lot of good-for-nothings get fooled into losing some sleep,why let them,they can't hurt me,or stop my work.""They can,and they'll do both."

"Well,I'll see them do it!"said Mrs.Comstock."I've got Robert's revolver in my dress,and I can shoot as straight as any man,if I'm mad enough.Any one who interferes with me to-night will find me mad a-plenty.There goes another!"She stepped into the light and waited until a big brown moth settled on her and was easily taken.Then in light,airy flight came a delicate pale green thing,and Mrs.

Comstock started in pursuit.But the scent was not right.

The moth fluttered high,then dropped lower,still lower,and sailed away.With outstretched hands Mrs.Comstock pursued it.She hurried one way and another,then ran over an object which tripped her and she fell.

She regained her feet in an instant,but she had lost sight of the moth.With livid face she turned to the crouching man.

"You nasty,sneaking son of Satan!"she cried."Why are you hiding there?You made me lose the one I wanted most of any I've had a chance at yet.Get out of here!

同类推荐
  • 论衡

    论衡

    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。
  • 关窍要旨

    关窍要旨

    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。
  • 百官箴

    百官箴

    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。
  • 達海叢書·批注

    達海叢書·批注

    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。
  • 大唐秦王词话

    大唐秦王词话

    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
  • 九月的天空下了雨

    九月的天空下了雨

    颜玖玥幼年失怙,与爷爷相依为命。卓然被疾病缠身,休养在家。那一年,她六岁,他九岁。他们相识于人生最初的寂寞时光里,她明眸清澈,他干净如画。一场意外,让年幼的玖玥失去光明,同时也失去了最亲爱的爷爷。从此命运对她关闭了彩色的窗。年轻的姨妈将她接走,在陌生的城市开始全新的生活。如果知道转身即是漫长的离别,那一日她一定会等他回来。再相遇已是十年后。颜玥的世界依旧没有光明,而卓然却成长为白衣翩翩的英俊少年。他是她人生最美好的牵挂与惦念,依赖与爱恋;她是他深埋心底的愧疚与自责,牺牲与偿还。当玖玥恢复光明,卓然悄然远走,那些尘封的往事一一揭露。背上行囊,她勇敢踏上飞往未来的客机。
  • 中国人性格地图

    中国人性格地图

    中国是个多省多民族的国家,每个省份的人都有自己的历史。截然不同的生活环境给每个区域的人的性格造成了不同程度的影响,因而出现了各具特色的人物特性,使今天的社会群体变得形形色色、丰富多彩,使我们的生活也充满了活力,也让960万平方公里的锦绣大地因此而变得更加精彩。
  • 穿越之神厨王妃

    穿越之神厨王妃

    姓名:白芷璇姓别:女职业:厨师最杯具的事情:艾玛,我居然失恋了。最囧的事情:NND,穿越了。最大的理想:压倒古弈天,吃干抹净,借个种呀,生个娃。嘿嘿嘿……她的人生目标:吃古弈天的,喝古弈天的,用厨师的专业绑住他的胃。让古弈天独宠自己,离不开自己,一辈子赖着他家做米虫,最后……嘿嘿嘿,可以有些桃花朵朵来调戏就更好了。姓名:古弈天性别:你看不出来?我是男一号啊职业:不告诉你最囧的事情:被一个女人拴住了胃!!!他的人生目标:圈养神厨,宠坏白芷璇,让别的男人都受不了,然后让她离不开自己,最后把自己养了很久的厨师拆骨入腹。在扑到与被扑倒之间徘徊,在扮猪和吃老虎中上演。嘿嘿嘿……到底是被女主扑到吃干抹净,还是被男主反扑拆骨入腹?【片段一】某只无良女又一次翻过墙头。“嘿嘿嘿,古大美人,我来了……”“主子,小姐又从墙头过来了……”“明天把墙头拆了,回头小姐要摔倒拿你试问。”“古弈天,老娘来借种生娃了——”一声色吼,众人风中凌乱......【片段二】“主子,小姐又上街调戏人了!!”“这次又是哪家姑娘?”“这次……这次……这次是公子!!”“公子?哦随她去吧!”“等等,你说什么?公子!!……”某男狂奔!女人,别让我抓到你!!【片段三】“古……古……弈天,你……在干什么?”某只色女流口水,看着面前的美男出浴图。“你都看到了,娘子,可要负责哦……”某只腹黑男扮猪吃老虎。“又没吃到……”某女低声呢喃。“娘子,为夫美吗?”腹黑男从浴缸中站起来“春宵苦短,娘子不是一心想到借种生娃的吗?”“唔,我绝对不会……”话未落,腹黑男就恶扑上去。我!!绝对不会为了一个歪脖子树放弃整片树林的!!!
  • 故事会(2017年8月下)

    故事会(2017年8月下)

    《故事会》是中国最通俗的民间文学小本杂志,是中国的老牌刊物之一。先后获得两届中国期刊的最高奖——国家期刊奖。1998年,它在世界综合类期刊中发行量排名第5。从1984年开始,《故事会》由双月刊改为月刊,2003年11月份开始试行半月刊,2007年正式改为半月刊。现分为红、绿两版,其中红版为上半月刊,绿版为下半月刊。
  • 小小恶魔老公

    小小恶魔老公

    公元648年,唐贞观二十二年,长安城内一片繁华景象,在尤为繁华的西市,外商的店铺很多,而最受唐朝众多文人喜欢的便是来自波斯国的胡姬歌舞。市井繁华的中心,胡姬酒肆中,波斯女子正在排练歌舞。琴曲声、打拍声、还有柔美而欢快的歌声,好不热闹。在酒肆中二楼的木阁房间,不时的有道光芒从缝隙中射出……阁门内,流光照射的源处,是一圆形的水晶球,那水晶球周身淡蓝光芒,此时正射出万道光束,在光束……
  • 杀伐女盗之世子爷请绕道

    杀伐女盗之世子爷请绕道

    一只玉麒麟,相爱之人大婚之夜一杯毒酒灌入她喉,梨花树下许诺三生三世的男人,亲手灭了她满门……万丈深渊,滔滔江水,一跃入他国,化身凌国将军府三小姐,爱恨情仇纠葛不断……谁才是最爱?
  • 有婚无色

    有婚无色

    她,在一场灾难中逃生,却从此失去了对男人的信任和好感.他,五年前一个温馨的夜晚,坠进了孽欲中难以自拨,痛不欲生.为了各自的利益,她和他拿着婚前签下的协议闪进了婚姻的城堡.为此,又会谱出一曲怎样的咏叹调?他拥着她,心里却时时忘不了另一个她。本以为,婚姻可以让那颗充满罪孽感的心从此走出泥潭,可他无法掌控自已的心。她与他生活在同一个屋檐下,身边却出现了默默地用全身心守护着自已、俊美如斯的男子,他,是救赎她的解药,还是婚姻的毒药?
  • 穿越之一等狂妃

    穿越之一等狂妃

    【新书:《逆天狂妃:杠上冷邪冰帝》不一样故事,不一样的精彩,欢迎阅读!】她,精神力逆天的超级古武天才;她,身肥貌丑,花痴无能的废柴小姐;一朝穿越,灵魂转换,她成了她,从此废柴变天才,丑女变美女,锋芒毕露,风华绝代!三品丹药?这算什么?七品丹药她都拿来当糖豆吃!你有八阶契约兽?不好意思,圣兽倒贴刚被她拒绝!什么?受万人敬仰的神子来求婚?这……某女还没反应,便有一阵狂风刮过,某位身负上古血脉,天资卓越,风华无双的霸道男,紧紧的将她抱到怀中:“告诉神子,让他有多远滚多远,不然本尊灭了他的神殿!”
  • 双鲤迢迢一纸书

    双鲤迢迢一纸书

    那年,她十四岁,他九岁,她成了他的小夫子。他百般刁难、千般恶语,恨不得小夫子知难而退。偏偏,越是相处,越是心惊,不知不觉喜欢上不该喜欢的你……十六岁那年,他冲破世俗的伦理,痛痛快快地将小夫子吃干抹净。“夫子,这世上惟你知我,可为何你却如此无情?”女师男徒,超脱世俗,演绎一场惊心动魄的旷世绝恋……
  • 凤临九天

    凤临九天

    穿越苍穹大陆,木槿汐偶获上古宝玉,从此痴傻废材变身女战神!虐劲敌、控灵兽、修功法、登顶最强佣兵女王。现代顶级特工异世重生,且看无能弃女如何逆袭,在强者如林的苍穹大陆,运筹帷幄,一步步走向巅峰!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】