登陆注册
19985200000001

第1章 I

THE cave had been their hiding-place as children;it was a secret refuge now against hunger or darkness when they were hunting in the woods.The primitive meal was finished;ashes were raked over the red coals;the slice of bacon and the little bag of meal were hung high against the rock wall;and the two stepped from the cavern into a thicket of rhododendrons.

Parting the bushes toward the dim light,they stood on a massive shoulder of the mountain,the river girding it far below,and the afternoon shadows at their feet.Both carried guns-the tall mountaineer,a Winchester;the boy,a squirrel rifle longer than himself.Climbing about the rocky spur,they kept the same level over log and bowlder and through bushy ravine to the north.In half an hour,they ran into a path that led up home from the river,and they stopped to rest on a cliff that sank in a solid black wall straight under them.The sharp edge of a steep corn-field ran near,and,stripped of blade and tassel,the stalks and hooded ears looked in the coming dusk a little like monks at prayer.In the sunlight across the river the corn stood thin and frail.Over there a drought was on it;and when drifting thistle-plumes marked the noontide of the year,each yellow stalk had withered blades and an empty sheath.Every-where a look of vague trouble lay upon the face of the mountains,and when the wind blew,the silver of the leaves showed ashen.Autumn was at hand.

There was no physical sign of kinship between the two,half-brothers though they were.The tall one was dark;the boy,a foundling,had flaxen hair,and was stunted and ~lender.He was a dreamy~looking little fellow,and one may easily find his like throughout the Cumberland -paler than his fellows,from staying much indoors,with half-haunted face,and eyes that are deeply pathetic when not cunning;ignorantly credited with idiocy and uncanny powers;treated with much forbearance,some awe,and a little contempt;and suffered to do his pleasure-nothing,or much that is strange-without comment.

"I tell ye,Rome,"he said,taking up the thread of talk that was broken at the cave,"when Uncle Gabe says he's afeard thar's trouble comm',hit's a-comm';'n'I want you to git me a Winchester.

I'm a-gittin'big enough now.I kin shoot might'nigh as good as you,'n'whut am I fit fer with this hyeh old pawpaw pop-gun?""I don't want you fightin',boy,I've told ye.Y'u air too little 'n'puny,'n'I want ye to stay home 'n'take keer o'mam 'n'the cattle-ef fightin'does come,I reckon thar won't be triuch."Don't ye?"cried the boy,with sharp contempt-"with ole Jas Lewallen a-devilin'Uncle Rufe,'n'that blackheaded young Jas a-climbin'on stumps over thar 'cross the river,n'crowin'n'sayin'

out open in Hazlan that ye air afeard o him?Yes;'n'he called me a idgit."The boy's voice broke into a whimper of rage.

"Shet up,Isom!Don't you go gittin'mad now.You'll be sick ag'in.

I'll tend to him when the time comes."Rome spoke with rough kindness,but ugly lines had gathered at his mouth and forehead.

The boy's tears came and went easily.He drew his sleeve across his eyes,and looked up the river.Beyond the bend,three huge birds rose into the sunlight and floated toward them.Close at hand,they swerved side-wise.

"They hain't buzzards,"he said,standing up,his anger gone;"look at them straight wings!

Again the eagles swerved,and two shot across the river.The third dropped with shut wings to the bare crest of a gaunt old poplar under them.

"Hit's a young un,Rome Y"said the boy,excitedly."He's goin'to wait thar tell the old uns come back.Gimme that gun!

Catching up the Winchester,he slipped over the ledge;and Rome leaned suddenly forward,looking down at the river.

A group of horsemen had ridden around the bend,and were coming at a walk down the other shore.Every man carried something across his saddle-bow.There was a gray horse among them -young Jasper's -and an evil shadow came into Rome's face,and quickly passed.Near a strip of woods the gray turned up the mountain from the party,and on its back he saw the red glint of a woman's dress.With a half-smile he watched the scarlet figure ride from the woods,and climb slowly up through the sunny corn.On the spur above and full in the rich yellow light,she halted,half turning in her saddle.He rose to his feet,to his full height,his head bare,and thrown far back between his big shoulders,and,still as statues,the man and the woman looked at each other across the gulf of darkening air.A full minute the woman sat motionless,then rode on.At the edge of the woods she stopped and turned again.

The eagle under Rome leaped one stroke in the air,and dropped like a clod into the sea of leaves.The report of the gun and a faint cry of triumph rose from below.It was good marksmanship,but on the cliff Rome did not heed it.Something had fluttered in the air above the girl's head,and he laughed aloud.She was waving her bonnet at him.

同类推荐
  • 易冒

    易冒

    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。
  • The Secret Garden

    The Secret Garden

    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。
  • Short Stories and Essays

    Short Stories and Essays

    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。
  • 律戒本疏

    律戒本疏

    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。
  • 女子丹经汇编

    女子丹经汇编

    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
  • 红疆

    红疆

    远处的天线出现碎裂声,竟是天塌了一般。血红色的大陆在他面前呈现。陷入其中的少年初临铁与血的战场。回到现实,眼前的什么是真?那些是幻?红雾里的的幻想曲总有曲终的一天,他该如何找到被剥夺的一切?一辆巴山摩托,能带着他走多远?
  • 每朵丁香都会盛开

    每朵丁香都会盛开

    我有两个生日,一个是5月17日,一个是6月1日。前者是从一张塞在我襁褓里信纸上所获知的,上面还有诸如“无力抚养,恳请好心人收留”等字样。后者则是养父母给我定的,他们说,每个孩子的有生之年应该快乐似童年。
  • 中国古代文人传说(中国古代名人传奇丛书)

    中国古代文人传说(中国古代名人传奇丛书)

    读文人传说故事可以给我们以美的享受,许多故事本身就如诗如画,令我们读了如临其境,如闻其声;读文人传说故事还可以提升我们的生活品位,使我们的心灵得到美的陶冶。当然读文人传说故事最大的收益是可以使我们增长智慧,特别是那些文人墨客之间的唱和往还,文人墨客与官僚政客之间斗智斗勇,与风尘女子们的恩恩爱爱,与僧侣、道士之间的友谊与纠缠,这些传说故事从多角度、多侧面展现了当时那些时代的丰富生活画卷,从某种意义上来讲,它们比真实的历史更生动,也更全面,比真实历史更能使我们得到教益和收获,也是更能令我们感动的活教材。
  • 佣兵之王闯都市

    佣兵之王闯都市

    古易,天狼雇佣团的团长。在一次执行任务时救下一个女孩,震惊的发现她和自己那个为了自己‘死去’的女朋友长得一模一样。带着好奇,他毅然辞去雇佣团团长之职,只身来到都市之中,开始了另外一段传奇的人生!
  • 听说,爱情回来过

    听说,爱情回来过

    从十七岁到二十七岁,漫长的十年。苏陌用一个女子生命里最美好的年华去爱他。三年等待,等来他婚纱照一张,附言:从此你自由了。苏陌丢盔弃甲,溃不成军。*原本以为时过境迁,梦里的人摇身一变,成了男友亲妹的未婚夫。从此抬头不见低头见。苏陌想,是他不要她,她怕什么?*顾子铭长这么大第一次被嫌弃是在苏陌继父那里。那个地质学教授端着眼镜一板一眼的对苏陌说,有钱有权还有色的二世祖,99%都是钻石王老五,花心大少,比皇帝还不靠谱。苏陌解释:皇帝佳丽三千好歹还有个花名册,见不到至少也知道皇帝在哪儿。现在世界那么大,诱惑那么多,谁知道二世祖歇在哪儿,小三小四小五一路排下去有几个?顾氏集团太子爷顾子铭怒从心头起。想做我的女人,没本事守就别来抢。后来他才知道,有些人从一开始就不需要守,不需要抢。*爱情和时间一样,是一场浩大的劫难。骄傲如顾子铭,固执如周文远,迟钝如苏陌,都无法躲过这场劫难来袭。那么就不要躲好了。*谨以此文,纪念遗失的过去。青春不朽,因我们那般执着过。小安新浪微博:雁心匪石,http://weibo.com/u/5320547476/home?wvr=5&uut=fin&from=reg#!/5320547476/profile?rightmod=1&wvr=6&mod=personinfo。因为没用过微博,所以不知道是不是这个网址,囧。
  • 修仙亡者

    修仙亡者

    少年洪宇生于世外,长于深山,只欲做一凡人,奈何命途洪流将他推上了飘渺修仙路。
  • 重生之阴阳镜

    重生之阴阳镜

    谁是豪门真正的公主?谁是缔造仇恨的主使?姊妹花的爱恨情仇酷帅总裁情归何处?一桩看似平常的命案却引发扑朔迷离的人物纠结亲情与爱情的较量人性与欲望的对决谁才是最终的赢家?本书故事,纯属虚构,如有雷同,纯属巧合!
  • tfboys之心同陌路

    tfboys之心同陌路

    暖心的大哥,薄荷音的二源,高冷的小千千!还有学霸平民女主苏叶、吃货迷妹晨曦、内向小学霸孙墨宁!他们之间会擦出怎样的火花!关小说的大大们,自行准备好纸巾!本文是虐恋!
  • 夫妻的二胎生活

    夫妻的二胎生活

    “为你生为你死,绝不逼你为我生儿子”这是成天明时常对自己老婆罗云惜说的话,然而在老妈的督促下,加上国家二胎政策的开放,想生二胎,又想要儿子的他,却不敢说出来,还硬要夹在老妈和老婆之间。看成天明如何搞定老妈和老婆,而罗云惜又到底是生,还是不生呢?
  • 法师录

    法师录

    日起日落、月盈月缺,生、老、病、死,一切皆有法。一切皆有法,如梦幻泡影,如露亦如电,当作如是观?非也!非身体力行,岂知世事之妙?我本一普通农民子弟,因机缘际会,成为现代“法师”,从此离经叛道,生活面目全非。然则,未必不是精彩活着。此书乃是我亲身经历之荒诞故事,虽无多少营养,却也许多乐趣,整理成册,告知世人。信者思之有所得,谓之谬者付诸一笑也!(本书纯属虚构,不可当真!如有雷同,纯属巧合)