登陆注册
5383200000002

第2章 THE BLUE WALL(2)

We sat down to our supper of corn and beans and venison, of all of which our guest ate sparingly.He, too, was a silent man, and scarcely a word was spoken during the meal.Several times he looked at me with such a kindly expression in his blue eyes, a trace of a smile around his broad mouth, that I wished he might stay with us always.

But once, when my father said something about Indians, the eyes grew hard as flint.It was then I remarked, with a boy's wonder, that despite his dark hair he had yellow eyebrows.

After supper the two men sat on the log step, while Iset about the task of skinning the deer my father had shot that day.Presently I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder.

``What's your name, lad?'' he said.

I told him Davy.

``Davy, I'll larn ye a trick worth a little time,'' said he, whipping out a knife.In a trice the red carcass hung between the forked stakes, while I stood with my mouth open.He turned to me and laughed gently.

``Some day you'll cross the mountains and skin twenty of an evening,'' he said.``Ye'll make a woodsman sure.

You've got the eye, and the hand.''

This little piece of praise from him made me hot all over.

``Game rare?'' said he to my father.

``None sae good, now,'' said my father.

``I reckon not.My cabin's on Beaver Creek some forty mile above, and game's going there, too.''

``Settlements,'' said my father.But presently, after a few whiffs of his pipe, he added, ``I hear fine things of this land across the mountains, that the Indians call the Dark and Bluidy Ground.''

``And well named,'' said the stranger.

``But a brave country,'' said my father, ``and all tramped down with game.I hear that Daniel Boone and others have gone into it and come back with marvellous tales.They tell me Boone was there alone three months.He's saething of a man.D'ye ken him?''

The ruddy face of the stranger grew ruddier still.

``My name's Boone,'' he said.

``What!'' cried my father, ``it wouldn't be Daniel?''

``You've guessed it, I reckon.''

My father rose without a word, went into the cabin, and immediately reappeared with a flask and a couple of gourds, one of which he handed to our visitor.

``Tell me aboot it,'' said he.

That was the fairy tale of my childhood.Far into the night I lay on the dewy grass listening to Mr.Boone's talk.It did not at first flow in a steady stream, for he was not a garrulous man, but my father's questions presently fired his enthusiasm.I recall but little of it, being so small a lad, but I crept closer and closer until I could touch this superior being who had been beyond the Wall.

Marco Polo was no greater wonder to the Venetians than Boone to me.

He spoke of leaving wife and children, and setting out for the Unknown with other woodsmen.He told how, crossing over our blue western wall into a valley beyond, they found a ``Warrior's Path'' through a gap across another range, and so down into the fairest of promised lands.And as he talked he lost himself in the tale of it, and the very quality of his voice changed.He told of a land of wooded hill and pleasant vale, of clear water running over limestone down to the great river beyond, the Ohio--a land of glades, the fields of which were pied with flowers of wondrous beauty, where roamed the buffalo in countless thousands, where elk and deer abounded, and turkeys and feathered game, and bear in the tall brakes of cane.And, simply, he told how, when the others had left him, he stayed for three months roaming the hills alone with Nature herself.

``But did you no' meet the Indians?'' asked my father.

``I seed one fishing on a log once,'' said our visitor, laughing, ``but he fell into the water.I reckon he was drowned.''

My father nodded comprehendingly,--even admiringly.

``And again!'' said he.

``Wal,'' said Mr.Boone, ``we fell in with a war party of Shawnees going back to their lands north of the great river.The critters took away all we had.It was hard,''

he added reflectively; ``I had staked my fortune on the venter, and we'd got enough skins to make us rich.But, neighbor, there is land enough for you and me, as black and rich as Canaan.''

`` `The Lord is my shepherd,' '' said my father, lapsing into verse.`` `The Lord is my shepherd.I shall not want.He leadeth me into green pastures, and beside still waters.' ''

For a time they were silent, each wrapped in his own thought, while the crickets chirped and the frogs sang.

From the distant forest came the mournful hoot of an owl.

``And you are going back?'' asked my father, presently.

``Aye, that I am.There are many families on the Yadkin below going, too.And you, neighbor, you might come with us.Davy is the boy that would thrive in that country.''

My father did not answer.It was late indeed when we lay down to rest, and the night I spent between waking and dreaming of the wonderland beyond the mountains, hoping against hope that my father would go.The sun was just flooding the slopes when our guest arose to leave, and my father bade him God-speed with a heartiness that was rare to him.But, to my bitter regret, neither spoke of my father's going.Being a man of understanding, Mr.Boone knew it were little use to press.He patted me on the head.

``You're a wise lad, Davy,'' said he.``I hope we shall meet again.''

He mounted his roan and rode away down the slope, waving his hand to us.And it was with a heavy heart that I went to feed our white mare, whinnying for food in the lean-to.

同类推荐
  • 净土或问

    净土或问

    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。
  • 无尽意菩萨经

    无尽意菩萨经

    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。
  • War and the Future

    War and the Future

    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。
  • 中吴纪闻

    中吴纪闻

    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。
  • 立宪万岁

    立宪万岁

    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
  • 鸦片战争

    鸦片战争

    1840-1842年的鸦片战争,是封建的中国变为半殖民地半封建的中国的转折点。18世纪70年代,英国开始把鸦片大量输入中国。1839年6月3日至25日,林则徐将缴获的237万多斤烟土在虎门海滩当众销毁。英国政府很快做出向中国出兵的决定。1840年6月28日,第一次鸦片战争正式爆发。鸦片战争标志着中国近代史的开端,从此,中国人民面临着更为复杂曲折的斗争。《中国文化知识读本:鸦片战争》以优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,介绍了鸦片战争的有关内容。
  • 天才邪医

    天才邪医

    偶得未来传承,觉醒第三只眼;修补基因缺陷,开启潜能进化。了悟阴阳之气,成就天目神医;行于真善美间,逍遥红尘之外。---1.确保质量,每天保底2更,月票加更。求订阅、月票、推荐支持,感激不尽。2.群64537585、22240971、186494501欢迎加入。
  • 韩国常识

    韩国常识

    《韩国常识》以通俗易懂,由浅入深的文字详尽盘点了去韩国最不能错过的热门旅游景点,介绍了韩国的政治、经济、文化、历史常识。此外,切合实际地全面介绍了留学韩国、旅游韩国的注意事项,全面介绍了在韩国不能不吃的各种美食以及多样丰富的异域文化。除此之外,还提供了一套全面而实用的在韩生活攻略,以帮助大多数人解决在赴韩留学或去韩旅游的时候遇到的各种问题。
  • 一片冰心在玉壶:吴国清调查研究文选

    一片冰心在玉壶:吴国清调查研究文选

    吴国清在从事新闻工作几十年中,写下了大量新闻稿报道和调研稿件,从一个侧面反映了改革开放30多年来社会的变迁。本书稿选收入了100多篇调研稿件和论文,记录了作者深入生活、深入基层、勤奋写作、履行职责的历程。
  • 走神的艺术与科学

    走神的艺术与科学

    《纽约时报》《科学美国人》《心理科学》热评图书不管你长于哪个领域,精于哪种知识,都推荐你读一读这本书,你一定会发现,简单的现象有时比我们想象的更加奥妙。认知心理学创始人迈克尔·S.加扎尼加推荐科学家迈克尔·C.科尔巴里斯,手把手带领读者穿过雪片般的信息——从心理学、文学、历史学等角度来阐明我喜欢的精神状态——走神。他学识渊博、思路清晰、温暖热忱,像一束光一样,从未如此耀眼。在《走神的艺术与科学》这本书里,科学家迈克尔·C·科尔巴里斯以幽默的笔触,带领读者穿越心理学、文学、历史的迷雾,解释了我们为什么会走神,这么做有什么好处。走神不仅可以让我们摆脱眼前的苦差事,还能让我们跳出自我束缚。它还有助于增强想象力、创造力、讲故事能力和同情心,让我们显得更有人性。此外,作者还解释我们为什么习惯回忆过去、畅想未来。其实,这对我们形成自我认知非常重要。
  • 浅冬

    浅冬

    我们游走在悬崖的边缘,观看着彼岸的花朵。灵魂随着冬日的冷风飘移着,无边无际。我们在爱情与友情的缝隙中寻找着出口。黑暗中带着些许的温暖。这个冬天,我们渴望爱情。你丫的也会相亲?我一脸怪异的看着米苏。别提了,老娘烦躁着呢!米苏那绝美的一张小脸此时让我想起了非洲母狮。红色小吉普停在会展中心前口,我心想,这是一个绝妙的相亲地点……我们都爱上了不该爱的人。那一瞬间的火花在夜空中乍现。诡异而美丽……
  • 萌宝的天价俏妈咪

    萌宝的天价俏妈咪

    传闻某总裁不近女色,却偏有五岁儿子吵着要妈咪,所有女人前仆后继屡遭嫌弃。“腿太粗,胸太小,腰不够细!”,萌宝指指点点摇头晃脑。众女幽怨:这是要找妈咪还是老婆?!某男满意点头:不愧是他儿子,挡了不少烂桃花。直到某天,萌宝拉着个美人来到他面前:这女人我看上了!你不娶的话我就娶了!男人冷漠一笑,这女人好大的胆子,想欺骗他儿子攀附豪门?很好!男人干脆利落支票加契约甩女人一脸:做我女人!乐彤傻眼而后怒了,收拾行李,直接落跑,顺带不忘递上辞职信。
  • 异世界庄园修真传

    异世界庄园修真传

    豪门公子苏山,在继承人的竞争中被自己的兄弟设计害死,却意外的占据了白领沈殿的庄园时代的游戏,而且还得到了一个仙宠,看苏山利用这些有利的条件,不仅玩转苏家集团,更玩转整个修真界……
  • 阴魂超市

    阴魂超市

    千万不要随便答应帮别人的请求,那晚我自己开的超市来了一个奇怪的女人,她买完东西后向我提了一个匪夷所思的请求,那个要求说实话不光让人摸不着头脑,更加是让我觉得慎人,这事我一直不敢跟身边的人说,只敢来网络上提醒下大家,平时不要看别人漂亮,就轻易答应别人的请求,到时小心自己的命都没了?
  • 一零七恶魔契约书

    一零七恶魔契约书

    从别人的口中,知道待他身边的女人不会超过一个星期,而且离开的时候还可以得到一笔价格不菲的‘消遣’费。时间不长,她非常有耐心的等着离开,和那笔‘消遣’费。可是可是,时间已经过了半个月了,怎么还一点动静也没有?左等右等,实在是忍不住了,跑去找他,却被他的手下拦住,递给她一张A4纸……她的命运因此改变!