on the frontier-第27部分

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reflectively。



〃You　say　you　heard　the　slide　come　down　before　you　left　the　cabin？〃

he　said；　turning　to　the　Old　Man。



〃Yes；　but　I　did　not　know　then　what　it　was。　　It　was　about　an　hour

and　a　half　after　you　left；〃　was　the　reply。



〃Then　look　here；　boys；〃　continued　the　Right　Bower　with　superstitious

exultation；　〃it　was　the　SLIDE　that　tumbled　into　the　creek；　overflowed

it；　and　helped　US　clear　out　the　race！〃



It　seemed　so　clear　that　Providence　had　taken　the　partners　of　the

Lone　Star　directly　in　hand　that　they　faced　the　toilsome　ascent　of

the　mountain　with　the　assurance　of　conquerors。　　They　paused　only　on

the　summit　to　allow　the　Old　Man　to　lead　the　way　to　the　slope　that

held　their　treasure。　　He　advanced　cautiously　to　the　edge　of　the

crumbling　cliff；　stopped；　looked　bewildered；　advanced　again；　and

then　remained　white　and　immovable。　　In　an　instant　the　Right　Bower

was　at　his　side。



〃Is　anything　the　matter？　　Don'tdon't　look　so；　Old　Man；　for　God's

sake！〃



The　Old　Man　pointed　to　the　dull；　smooth；　black　side　of　the

mountain；　without　a　crag；　break；　or　protuberance；　and　said　with

ashen　lips：



〃It's　gone！〃



　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。



And　it　was　gone！　　A　SECOND　slide　had　taken　place；　stripping　the

flank　of　the　mountain；　and　burying　the　treasure　and　the　weak

implement　that　had　marked　its　side　deep　under　a　chaos　of　rock　and

debris　at　its　base。



〃Thank　God！〃　　The　blank　faces　of　his　companions　turned　quickly　to

the　Right　Bower。　　〃Thank　God！〃　he　repeated；　with　his　arm　round　the

neck　of　the　Old　Man。　　〃Had　he　stayed　behind　he　would　have　been

buried　too。〃　　He　paused；　and；　pointing　solemnly　to　the　depths

below；　said；　〃And　thank　God　for　showing　us　where　we　may　yet　labor

for　it　in　hope　and　patience　like　honest　men。〃



The　men　silently　bowed　their　heads　and　slowly　descended　the

mountain。　　But　when　they　had　reached　the　plain　one　of　them　called

out　to　the　others　to　watch　a　star　that　seemed　to　be　rising　and

moving　towards　them　over　the　hushed　and　sleeping　valley。



〃It's　only　the　stage　coach；　boys；〃　said　the　Left　Bower；　smiling；

〃the　coach　that　was　to　take　us　away。〃



In　the　security　of　their　new…found　fraternity　they　resolved　to　wait

and　see　it　pass。　　As　it　swept　by　with　flash　of　light；　beat　of

hoofs；　and　jingle　of　harness；　the　only　real　presence　in　the　dreamy

landscape；　the　driver　shouted　a　hoarse　greeting　to　the　phantom

partners；　audible　only　to　the　Judge；　who　was　nearest　the　vehicle。



〃Did　you　hearDID　you　hear　what　he　said；　boys？〃　he　gasped；　turning

to　his　companions。　　〃No！　　Shake　hands　all　round；　boys！　　God　bless

you　all；　boys！　　To　think　we　didn't　know　it　all　this　while！〃



〃Know　what？〃



〃Merry　Christmas！〃











End