original short stories-3-第12部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


as　if　something　astonishing　were　about　to　happen。

In　fact；　presently　the　tall　form　of　Renardet　appeared　on　the　summit　of
the　Fox's　tower。　　He　ran　round　the　platform　like　a　madman。　　Then　he
seized　the　flagstaff　and　shook　it　furiously　without　succeeding　in
breaking　it；　then；　all　of　a　sudden；　like　a　diver；　with　his　two　hands
before　him；　he　plunged　into　space。

Mederic　rushed　forward　to　his　assistance。　　He　saw　the　woodcutters　going
to　work　and　called　out　to　them；　telling　them　an　accident　had　occurred。
At　the　foot　of　the　walls　they　found　a　bleeding　body；　its　head　crushed　on
a　rock。　　The　Brindille　surrounded　this　rock；　and　over　its　clear；　calm
waters　could　be　seen　a　long　red　thread　of　mingled　brains　and　blood。






THE　DONKEY

There　was　not　a　breath　of　air　stirring；　a　heavy　mist　was　lying　over　the
river。　　It　was　like　a　layer　of　cotton　placed　on　the　water。　　The　banks
themselves　were　indistinct；　hidden　behind　strange　fogs。　　But　day　was
breaking　and　the　hill　was　becoming　visible。　　In　the　dawning　light　of　day
the　plaster　houses　began　to　appear　like　white　spots。　　Cocks　were　crowing
in　the　barnyard。

On　the　other　side　of　the　river；　hidden　behind　the　fogs；　just　opposite
Frette；　a　slight　noise　from　time　to　time　broke　the　dead　silence　of　the
quiet　morning。　　At　times　it　was　an　indistinct　plashing；　like　the　cautious
advance　of　a　boat；　then　again　a　sharp　noise　like　the　rattle　of　an　oar　and
then　the　sound　of　something　dropping　in　the　water。　　Then　silence。

Sometimes　whispered　words；　coming　perhaps　from　a　distance；　perhaps　from
quite　near；　pierced　through　these　opaque　mists。　　They　passed　by　like　wild
birds　which　have　slept　in　the　rushes　and　which　fly　away　at　the　first
light　of　day；　crossing　the　mist　and　uttering　a　low　and　timid　sound　which
wakes　their　brothers　along　the　shores。

Suddenly　along　the　bank；　near　the　village；　a　barely　perceptible　shadow
appeared　on　the　water。　　Then　it　grew；　became　more　distinct　and；　coming
out　of　the　foggy　curtain　which　hung　over　the　river；　a　flatboat；　manned　by
two　men；　pushed　up　on　the　grass。

The　one　who　was　rowing　rose　and　took　a　pailful　of　fish　from　the　bottom　of
the　boat；　then　he　threw　the　dripping　net　over　his　shoulder。　　His
companion；　who　had　not　made　a　motion；　exclaimed：　〃Say；　Mailloche；　get
your　gun　and　see　if　we　can't　land　some　rabbit　along　the　shore。〃

The　other　one　answered：　〃All　right。　　I'll　be　with　you　in　a　minute。〃　　Then
he　disappeared；　in　order　to　hide　their　catch。

The　man　who　had　stayed　in　the　boat　slowly　filled　his　pipe　and　lighted　it。
His　name　was　Labouise；　but　he　was　called　Chicot；　and　was　in　partnership
with　Maillochon；　commonly　called　Mailloche；　to　practice　the　doubtful　and
undefined　profession　of　junk…gatherers　along　the　shore。

They　were　a　low　order　of　sailors　and　they　navigated　regularly　only　in　the
months　of　famine。　　The　rest　of　the　time　they　acted　as　junk…gatherers。
Rowing　about　on　the　river　day　and　night；　watching　for　any　prey；　dead　or
alive；　poachers　on　the　water　and　nocturnal　hunters；　sometimes　ambushing
venison　in　the　Saint…Germain　forests；　sometimes　looking　for　drowned
people　and　searching　their　clothes；　picking　up　floating　rags　and　empty
bottles；　thus　did　Labouise　and　Maillochon　live　easily。

At　times　they　would　set　out　on　foot　about　noon　and　stroll　along　straight
ahead。　　They　would　dine　in　some　inn　on　the　shore　and　leave　again　side　by
side。　　They　would　remain　away　for　a　couple　of　days；　then　one　morning　they
would　be　seen　rowing　about　in　the　tub　which　they　called　their　boat。

At　Joinville　or　at　Nogent　some　boatman　would　be　looking　for　his　boat；
which　had　disappeared　one　night；　probably　stolen；　while　twenty　or　thirty
miles　from　there；　on　the　Oise；　some　shopkeeper　would　be　rubbing　his
hands；　congratulating　himself　on　the　bargain　he　had　made　when　he　bought　a
boat　the　day　before　for　fifty　francs；　which　two　men　offered　him　as　they
were　passing。

Maillochon　reappeared　with　his　gun　wrapped　up　in　rags。　　He　was　a　man　of
forty　or　fifty；　tall　and　thin；　with　the　restless　eye　of　people　who　are
worried　by　legitimate　troubles　and　of　hunted　animals。　　His　open　shirt
showed　his　hairy　chest；　but　he　seemed　never　to　have　had　any　more　hair　on
his　face　than　a　short　brush　of　a　mustache　and　a　few　stiff　hairs　under　his
lower　lip。　　He　was　bald　around　the　temples。　　When　he　took　off　the　dirty
cap　that　he　wore　his　scalp　seemed　to　be　covered　with　a　fluffy　down；　like
the　body　of　a　plucked　chicken。

Chicot；　on　the　contrary；　was　red；　fat；　short　and　hairy。　　He　looked　like　a
raw　beefsteak。　　He　continually　kept　his　left　eye　closed；　as　if　he　were
aiming　at　something　or　at　somebody；　and　when　people　jokingly　cried　to
him；　〃Open　your　eye；　Labouise！〃　he　would　answer　quietly：　〃Never　fear；
sister；　I　open　it　when　there's　cause　to。〃

He　had　a　habit　of　calling　every　one　〃sister；〃　even　his　scavenger
companion。

He　took　up　the　oars　again；　and　once　more　the　boat　disappeared　in　the
heavy　mist；　which　was　now　turned　snowy　white　in　the　pink…tinted　sky。

〃What　kind　of　lead　did　you　take；　Maillochon？〃　Labouise　asked。

〃Very　small；　number　nine；　that's　the　best　for　rabbits。〃

They　were　approaching　the　other　shore　so　slowly；　so　quietly　that　no　noise
betrayed　them。　　This　bank　belongs　to　the　Saint…Germain　forest　and　is　the
boundary　line　for　rabbit　hunting。　　It　is　covered　with　burrows　hidden
under　the　roots　of　trees；　and　the　creatures　at　daybreak　frisk　about；
running　in　and　out　of　the　holes。

Maillochon　was　kneeling　in　the　bow；　watching；　his　gun　hidden　on　the
floor。　　Suddenly　he　seized　it；　aimed；　and　the　report　echoed　for　some　time
throughout　the　quiet　country。

Labouise；　in　a　few　strokes；　touched　the　beach；　and　his　companion；　jumping
to　the　ground；　picked　up　a　little　gray　rabbit；　not　yet　dead。

Then　the　boat　once　more　disappeared　into　the　fog　in　order　to　get　to　the
other　side；　where　it　could　keep　away　from　the　game　wardens。

The　two　men　seemed　to　be　riding　easily　on　the　water。　　The　weapon　had
disappeared　under　the　board　which　served　as　a　hiding　place　and　the　rabbit
was　stuffed　into　Chicot's　loose　shirt。

After　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour　Labouise　asked：　〃Well；　sister；　shall　we
get　one　more？〃

〃It　will　suit　me；〃　Maillochon　answered。

The　boat　started　swiftly　down　the　current。　　The　mist；　which　was　hiding
both　shores；　was　beginning　to　rise。　　The　trees　could　be　barely　perceived；
as　through　a　veil；　and　the　little　clouds　of　fog　were　floating　up　from　the
water。　　When　they　drew　near　the　island；　the　end　of　which　is　opposite
Herblay；　the　two　men　slackened　their　pace　and　began　to　watch。　　Soon　a
second　rabbit　was　killed。

Then　they　went　down　until　they　were　half　way　to　Conflans。　　Here　they
stopped　their　boat；　tied　it　to　a　tree　and　went　to　sleep　in　the　bottom　of
it。

From　time　to　time　Labouise　would　sit　up　and　look　over　the　horizon　with
his　open　eye。　　The　last　of　the　morning　mist　had　disappeared　and　the　large
summer　sun　was　climbing　in　the　blue　sky。

On　the　other　side　of　the　river　the　vineyard…covered　hill　stretched　out　in
a　semicircle。　　One　house　stood　out　alone　at　the　summit。　　Everything　was
silent。

Something　was　moving　slowly　along　the　tow…path；　advancing　with
difficulty。　　It　was　a　woman　dragging　a　donkey。　　The　stubborn；　stiff…
jointed　beast　occasionally　stretched　out　a　leg　in　answer　to　its
companion's　efforts；　and　it　proceeded　thus；　with　outstretched　neck　and
ears　lying　flat；　so　slowly　that　one　could　not　tell　when　it　would　ever　be
out　of　sight。

The　woman；　bent　double；　was　pulling；　turning　round　occasionally　to　strike
the　donkey　with　a　stick。

As　soon　as　he　saw　her；　Labouise　exclaimed：　〃Say；　Mailloche！〃

Mailloche　answered：　〃What's　the　matter？〃

〃Want　to　have　some　fun？〃

〃Of　course！〃

〃Then　hurry；　sister；　we're　going　to　have　a　laugh。〃

Chicot　took　the　oars。　　When　he　had　crossed　the　river　he　stopped　opposite
the　woman　and　called：

〃Hey；　sister！〃

The　woman　stopped　dragging　her　donkey　and　looked。

Labouise　continued：　〃What　are　you　doinggoing　to　the　locomotive　show？〃

The　woman　made　no　reply。　　Chicot　continued：

〃Say；　your　trotter's　prime　for　a　race。　　Where　are　you　taking　him　at　that
speed？〃

At　last　the　woman　answered：　〃I'm　going　to　Macquart；　at　Champioux；　to　have
him　killed。　　He's　worthless。〃

Labouise　answered：　〃You're　right。　　How　much　do　you　think　Macquart　will
give　you　for　him？〃

The　woman　wiped　her　forehead　on　the　back　of　her　hand　and　hesitated；
saying：　〃How　do　I　know？　　Perhaps　three　francs；　perhaps　four。〃

Chicot　exclaimed：　〃I'll　give　you　five　francs　and　your　errand's　done！
How's　that？〃

The　woman　considered　the　matter　for　a　second　and　then　exclaimed：　〃Done！〃

The　two　men　landed。　　Labouise　grasped　the　animal　by　the　bridle。
Maillochon　asked　in　surprise：

〃What　do　you　expect　to　do　with　that　carcass？〃

Chicot　this　time　opened　his　other　eye　in　order　to　express　his　gaiety。
His　whole　red　face　was　grinning　with　joy。　　He　chuckled：　〃Don't　worry；
sister。　　I've　got　my　idea。〃

He　gave　five　francs　to　the　woman；　who　then　sat　down　by　the　road　to　see
what　was　going　to　happen。　　Then　Labouise；　in　great　humor；　got　the　gun　and
held　it　out　to　Maillochon；　saying：　〃Each　one　in　turn；　we're　going　after
big　game；　sister。　　Don't　get　so　near　or　you'll　kill　it　right　away！　　You
must　make　the　pleasure　last　a　little。〃

He　placed　his　companion　about　forty　paces　from　the　victim。　　The　ass；
feeling　itself　free；　was　trying　to　get　a　little　of　the　tall　grass；　but　it
was　so　exhausted　that　it　swayed　on　its　legs　as　if　it　were　about　to　fall。

Maillochon　aimed　slowly　and　said：　〃A　little　pepper　for　the　ears；　watch；
Ghicot！〃　　And　he　fired。

The　tiny　shot　struck　the　donkey's　long　ears　and　he　began　to　shake　them　in
order　to　get　rid　of　the　stinging　sensation。　　The　two　men　were　doubled　up
with　laughter　and　stamped　their　feet　with　joy。　　The　woman；　indignant；
rushed　forward；　she　did　not　want　her　donkey　to　be　tortured；　and　she
offered　to　return　the　five　francs。　　Labouise　threatened　her　with　a
thrashing　and　pretended　to　roll　up　his　sleeves。　　He　had　paid；　hadn't　he？
Well；　then；　he　would　take　a　shot　at　her　skirts；　just　to　show　that　it
didn't　hurt。　　She　went　away；　threatening　to　call　the　police。　　They　could
hear　her　protesting　indignantly　and　cursing　as　she　went　her　way。

Maillochon　held　out　the