a mountain europa-第1部分

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A　Mountain　Europa　

By　John　Fox；　Jr。





TO　JAMES　LANE　ALLEN



I

As　Clayton　rose　to　his　feet　in　the　still　air；　the　tree…tops　began　to　tremble　in　the　gap　below　him；　and　a　rippling　ran　through　the　leaves　up　the　mountain…side。　　Drawing　off　his　hat　he　stretched　out　his　arms　to　meet　it；　and　his　eyes　closed　as　the　cool　wind　struck　his　throat　and　face　and　lifted　the　hair　from　his　forehead。　About　him　the　mountains　lay　like　a　tumultuous　sea…the　Jellico　Spur；　stilled　gradually　on　every　side　into　vague；　purple　shapes　against　the　broken　rim　of　the　sky；　and　Pine　Mountain　and　the　Cumberland　Range　racing　in　like　breakers　from　the　north。　　Under　him　lay　Jellico　Valley；　and　just　visible　in　a　wooded　cove；　whence　Indian　Creek　crept　into　sight；　was　a　mining…camp…a　cluster　of　white　cabins…from　which　he　had　climbed　that　afternoon。　At　that　distance　the　wagon…road　narrowed　to　a　bridle…path；　and　the　figure　moving　slowly　along　it　and　entering　the　forest　at　the　base　of　the　mountain　was　shrunk　to　a　toy。　　For　a　moment　Clayton　stood　with　his　face　to　the　west；　drinking　in　the　air；　then　tightening　his　belt；　he　caught　the　pliant　body　of　a　sapling　and　swung　loose　from　the　rock。　　As　the　tree　flew　back；　his　dog　sprang　after　him。　The　descent　was　sharp。　At　times　he　was　forced　to　cling　to　the　birch…tops　till　they　lay　flat　on　the　mountain…side。

Breathless；　he　reached　at　last　a　bowlder　from　which　the　path　was　easy　to　the　valley　below；　and　he　leaned　quivering　against　the　soft　rug　of　moss　and　lichens　that　covered　it。　　The　shadows　had　crept　from　the　foot　of　the　mountains；　darkening　the　valley；　and　lifting　up　the　mountain…side　beneath　him　a　long；　wavering　line　in　which　met　the　cool；　deep　green　of　the　shade　and　the　shining　bronze　where　the　sunlight　still　lay。　　Lazily　following　this　line；　his　eye　caught　two　moving　shadows　that　darted　jagged　shapes　into　the　sunlight　and　as　quickly　withdrew　them。　　As　the　road　wound　up　toward　him；　two　figures　were　soon　visible　through　the　undergrowth。　　Presently　a　head　bonneted　in　blue　rose　above　the　bushes；　and　Clayton's　half…shut　eyes　opened　wide　and　were　fixed　with　a　look　of　amused　expectancy　where　a　turn　of　the　path　must　bring　rider　and　beast　into　plain　sight。　　Apparently　some　mountain　girl；　wearied　by　the　climb　or　in　a　spirit　of　fun；　had　mounted　her　cow　while　driving　it　home；　and　with　a　smile　at　the　thought　of　the　confusion　he　would　cause　her；　Clayton　stepped　around　the　bowlder　and　waited。　With　the　slow；　easy　swing　of　climbing　cattle；　the　beast　brought　its　rider　into　view。　　A　bag　of　meal　lay　across　its　shoulders；　and　behind　this　the　girl…for　she　was　plainly　young…sat　sidewise；　with　her　bare　feet　dangling　against　its　flank。　　Her　face　was　turned　toward　the　valley　below；　and　her　loosened　bonnet　half　disclosed　a　head　of　bright　yellow　hair。

Catching　sight　of　Clayton；　the　beast　stopped　and　lifted　its　head；　not　the　meek；　patient　face　he　expected　to　see；　but　a　head　that　was　wrinkled　and　vicious…the　head　of　a　bull。　　Only　the　sudden　remembrance　of　a　dead　mountain　custom　saved　him　from　utter　amazement。　　He　had　heard　that　when　beasts　of　burden　were　scarce；　cows；　and　especially　bulls；　were　worked　in　ploughs　and　ridden　by　the　mountaineers；　even　by　the　women。　　But　this　had　become　a　tradition；　the　humor　of　which　greater　prosperity　and　contact　with　a　new　civilization　had　taught　even　the　mountain　people　to　appreciate。　　The　necessities　of　this　girl　were　evidently　as　great　as　her　fear　of　ridicule　seemed　small。　　When　the　brute　stopped；　she　began　striking　him　in　the　flank　with　her　bare　heel；　without　looking　around；　and　as　he　paid　no　attention　to　such　painless　goading；　she　turned　with　sudden　impatience　and　lifted　a　switch　above　his　shoulders。　　The　stick　was　arrested　in　mid…air　when　she　saw　Clayton；　and　then　dropped　harmlessly。　　The　quick　fire　in　her　eyes　died　suddenly　away；　and　for　a　moment　the　two　looked　at　each　other　with　mutual　curiosity；　but　only　for　a　moment。　　There　was　something　in　Clayton's　gaze　that　displeased　her。　　Her　face　clouded；　and　she　dropped　her　eyes。

〃G'long；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　tone。　　But　the　bull　had　lowered　his　head；　and　was　standing　with　feet　planted　apart　and　tail　waving　uneasily。　The　girl　looked　up　in　alarm。

〃Watch　out　thar！　〃　she　called　out；　sharply。　〃Call　that　dog　off…　quick！〃

Clayton　turned；　but　his　dog　sprang　past　him　and　began　to　bark。　　The　bull；　a　lean；　active；　vicious…looking　brute；　answered　with　a　snort。

〃Call　him　off；　I　tell　ye！　〃　cried　the　girl；　angrily；　springing　to　the　ground。　　〃Git　out　o'　the　way。　　Don't　you　see　he's　a…comm'　at　ye？〃

The　dog　leaped　nimbly　into　the　bushes；　and　the　maddened　bull　was　carried　on　by　his　own　Impetus　toward　Clayton；　who；　with　a　quick　spring；　landed　in　safety　in　a　gully　below　the　road。　　When　he　picked　himself　up　from　the　uneven　ground　where　he　had　fallen；　the　beast　had　disappeared　around　the　bowlder。　　The　bag　had　fallen；　and　had　broken　open；　and　some　of　the　meal　was　spilled　on　the　ground。　　The　girl；　flushed　and　angry；　stood　above　it。

〃Look　thar；　now；〃　she　said。　　〃See　whut　you've　done。　　Why'n't　ye　call　that　dog　off？〃

〃I　couldn't；〃　said　Clayton；　politely。　　〃　He　wouldn't　come。　　I'm　sorry；　very　sorry。〃

〃Can't　ye　manage　yer　own　dog？〃　she　asked；　half　contemptuously。

〃Not　always。〃

〃Then　ye　oughter　leave　him　to　home；　and　not　let　him　go　round　a…skeerin'　folks'　beastes。〃　　With　a　little　gesture　of　indignation　she　stooped　and　began　scooping　up　the　meal　in　her　hand。

〃Let　me　help　you；〃　said　Clayton。　　The　girl　looked　up　in　surprise。

You　go　'way；〃　she　said。

But　Clayton　stayed；　watching　her　helplessly。　He　wanted　to　carry　the　bag　for　her；　but　she　swung　it　to　her　shoulder；　and　moved　away。　　He　followed　her　around　the　bowlder；　where　his　late　enemy　was　browsing　peacefully　on　sassafras…bushes。

〃You　stay　thar　now；〃　said　the　girl；　〃　and　keep　that　dog　back。〃

〃Won't　you　let　me　help　you　get　up？〃　he　asked。

Without　answering；　the　girl　sprang　lightly　to　the　bull's　back；　　Once　only　she　looked　around　at　him。　　He　took　off　his　hat；　and　a　puzzled　expression　came　into　her　face。　　Then；　without　a　word　or　a　nod；　she　rode　away。　Clayton　watched　the　odd　pair　till　the　bushes　hid　them。

〃Europa；　by　Jove！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　he　sat　down　in　bewilderment。

She　was　so　very　odd　a　creature；　so　different　from　the　timid　mountain　women　who　shrank　with　averted　faces　almost　into　the　bushes　when　he　met　them。　　She　had　looked　him　straight　in　the　face　with　steady　eyes；　and　had　spoken　as　though　her　sway　over　mountain　and　road　were　undisputed　and　he　had　been　a　wretched　trespasser。　　She　paid　no　attention　to　his　apologies；　and　she　scorned　his　offers　of　assistance。　　She　seemed　no　more　angered　by　the　loss　of　the　meal　than　by　his　incapacity　to　manage　his　dog；　which　seemed　to　typify　to　her　his　general　worthlessness。　　He　had　been　bruised　by　his　fall；　and　she　did　not　even　ask　if　he　were　hurt。　　Indeed；　she　seemed　not　to　care；　and　she　had　ridden　away　from　him　as　though　he　were　worth　no　more　consideration　than　the　stone　under　him。

He　was　amused；　and　a　trifle　irritated。　　How　could　there　be　such　a　curious　growth　in　the　mountains？　he　questioned；　as　he　rose　and　continued　the　descent。　　There　was　an　unusual　grace　about　her；　in　spite　of　her　masculine　air。　Her　features　were　regular；　the　nose　straight　and　delicate；　the　mouth　resolute；　the　brow　broad；　and　the　eyes　intensely　blue；　perhaps　tender；　when　not　flashing　with　anger；　and　altogether　without　the　listless　expression　he　had　marked　in　other　mountain　women；　and　which；　he　had　noticed；　deadened　into　pathetic　hopelessness　later　in　life。　　Her　figure　was　erect；　and　her　manner；　despite　its　roughness；　savored　of　something　high…born。　　Where　could　she　have　got　that　bearing？　　She　belonged　to　a　race　whose　descent；　he　had　heard；　was　unmixed　English；　upon　whose　lips　lingered　words　and　forms　of　speech　that　Shakespeare　had　heard　and　used。　　Who　could　tell　what　blood　ran　in　her　veins？

Musing；　he　had　come　almost　unconsciously　to　a　spur　of　the　mountains　under　which　lay　the　little　mining…camp。　　It　was　six　o'clock；　and　the　miners；　grim　and　black；　each　with　a　pail　in　hand　and　a　little　oil…lamp　in　his　cap；　were　going　down　from　work。　　A　shower　had　passed　over　the　mountains　above　him；　and　the　last　sunlight；　coming　through　a　gap　in　the　west；　struck　the　rising　mist　and　turned　it　to　gold。　　On　a　rock　which　thrust　from　the　mountain　its　gray；　sombre　face；　half　embraced　by　a　white　arm　of　the　mist；　Clayton　saw　the　figure　of　a　woman。　　He　waved　his　hat；　but　the　figure　stood　motionless；　and　he　turned　into　the　woods　toward　the　camp。

It　was　the　girl；　and　when　Clayton　disappeared　she　too　turned　and　went　on　her　way。　　She　had　stopped　there　because　she　knew　he　must　pass　a　point　where　she　might　see　him　again。　　She　was　little　less　indifferent　than　she　seemed；　her　motive　was　little　more　than　curiosity。　　She　had　never　seen　that　manner　of　man　before。　　Evidently　he　was　a　〃　furriner　〃from　the　〃　settlemints。〃　　No　man　in　the　mountains　had　a　smooth；　round　face　like　his；　or　wore　such　a　queer　hat；　such　a　soft；　white　shirt；　and　no　　galluses；〃　or　carried　such　a　shiny；　weak…looking　stick；　or　owned　a　dog　that　he　couldn't　make　mind　him。　　She　was　not　wholly　contemptuous；　however。　　She　had　felt　vaguely　the　meaning　of　his　politeness　and　deference。　　She　was　puzzled　and　pleased；　she　scarcely　knew　why。

〃He　was　mighty　accomodatin'；〃　she　thought。　But　whut；〃　she　asked　herself　as　she　rode　slowly　homeward…〃　whut　did　he　take　off　his　hat　fer

II

LIGHTS　twinkled　from　every　cabin　as　Clayton　passed　through　the　camp。　Outside　the　kitchen　doors；　miners；　bare　to　the　waist；　were　bathing　their　blackened　faces　and　bodies；　with　children；　tattered　and　unclean；　but　healthful；　playing　about　them；　within；　women　in　loose　gowns；　with　sleeves　unrolled　and　with　disordered　hair；　moved　like　phantoms　through　clouds　of　savory　smoke。　　The　commissary　was　brilliantly　lighted。　　At　a　window　close　by　improvident　miners　were　drawing　the　wages　of　the　day；　while　their　wives　waited　in　the　store　with　baskets　unfilled。　　In　front　of　the　commissary　a　crowd　of　negroes　were　talking；　laughing；　singing；　and　playing　pranks　like　children。　Here　two；　with　grinning　faces；　were　squared　off；　not　to　spar；　but　to　knock　at　each　other's　tattered　hat；　there　two　more；　with　legs　and　arms　indistinguishable；　were　wrestling；　close　by　was　the　sound　of　a　mouth…harp；　a　circle　of