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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
further than my father's door； the rest were bridle…tracks
impassable in winter； and we thus dwelt in a solitude
inconceivable to the European。 Our only neighbour was Dr。
Grierson。 To my young eyes； after the hair…oiled； chin…
bearded elders of the city； and the ill…favoured and mentally
stunted women of their harems； there was something agreeable
in the correct manner； the fine bearing； the thin white hair
and beard； and the piercing looks of the old doctor。 Yet；
though he was almost our only visitor； I never wholly
overcame a sense of fear in his presence； and this
disquietude was rather fed by the awful solitude in which he
lived and the obscurity that hung about his occupations。 His
house was but a mile or two from ours； but very differently
placed。 It stood overlooking the road on the summit of a
steep slope； and planted close against a range of overhanging
bluffs。 Nature； you would say； had here desired to imitate
the works of man； for the slope was even； like the glacis of
a fort； and the cliffs of a constant height； like the
ramparts of a city。 Not even spring could change one feature
of that desolate scene； and the windows looked down across a
plain； snowy with alkali； to ranges of cold stone sierras on
the north。 Twice or thrice I remember passing within view of
this forbidding residence； and seeing it always shuttered；
smokeless； and deserted； I remarked to my parents that some
day it would certainly be robbed。
'Ah； no；' said my father； 'never robbed；' and I observed a
strange conviction in his tone。
At last； and not long before the blow fell on my unhappy
family； I chanced to see the doctor's house in a new light。
My father was ill； my mother confined to his bedside； and I
was suffered to go； under the charge of our driver； to the
lonely house some twenty miles away； where our packages were
left for us。 The horse cast a shoe； night overtook us
halfway home； and it was well on for three in the morning
when the driver and I； alone in a light waggon； came to that
part of the road which ran below the doctor's house。 The
moon swam clear； the cliffs and mountains in this strong
light lay utterly deserted； but the house； from its station
on the top of the long slope and close under the bluff； not
only shone abroad from every window like a place of festival；
but from the great chimney at the west end poured forth a
coil of smoke so thick and so voluminous； that it hung for
miles along the windless night air； and its shadow lay far
abroad in the moonlight upon the glittering alkali。 As we
continued to draw near； besides； a regular and panting throb
began to divide the silence。 First it seemed to me like the
beating of a heart； and next it put into my mind the thought
of some giant； smothered under mountains and still； with
incalculable effort； fetching breath。 I had heard of the
railway； though I had not seen it； and I turned to ask the
driver if this resembled it。 But some look in his eye； some
pallor； whether of fear or moonlight on his face； caused the
words to die upon my lips。 We continued； therefore； to
advance in silence； till we were close below the lighted
house； when suddenly； without one premonitory rustle； there
burst forth a report of such a bigness that it shook the
earth and set the echoes of the mountains thundering from
cliff to cliff。 A pillar of amber flame leaped from the
chimney…top and fell in multitudes of sparks； and at the same
time the lights in the windows turned for one instant ruby
red and then expired。 The driver had checked his horse
instinctively； and the echoes were still rumbling farther off
among the mountains； when there broke from the now darkened
interior a series of yells … whether of man or woman it was
impossible to guess … the door flew open； and there ran forth
into the moonlight； at the top of the long slope； a figure
clad in white； which began to dance and leap and throw itself
down； and roll as if in agony； before the house。 I could no
more restrain my cries； the driver laid his lash about the
horse's flank； and we fled up the rough track at the peril of
our lives； and did not draw rein till； turning the corner of
the mountain； we beheld my father's ranch and deep； green
groves and gardens； sleeping in the tranquil light。
This was the one adventure of my life； until my father had
climbed to the very topmost point of material prosperity； and
I myself had reached the age of seventeen。 I was still
innocent and merry like a child； tended my garden or ran upon
the hills in glad simplicity； gave not a thought to coquetry
or to material cares； and if my eye rested on my own image in
a mirror or some sylvan spring； it was to seek and recognise
the features of my parents。 But the fears which had long
pressed on others were now to be laid on my youth。 I had
thrown myself； one sultry； cloudy afternoon； on a divan； the
windows stood open on the verandah； where my mother sat with
her embroidery； and when my father joined her from the
garden； their conversation； clearly audible to me； was of so
startling a nature that it held me enthralled where I lay。
'The blow has come；' my father said； after a long pause。
I could hear my mother start and turn； but in words she made
no reply。
'Yes；' continued my father； 'I have received to…day a list of
all that I possess； of all； I say； of what I have lent
privately to men whose lips are sealed with terror； of what I
have buried with my own hand on the bare mountain； when there
was not a bird in heaven。 Does the air； then； carry secrets？
Are the hills of glass？ Do the stones we tread upon preserve
the footprint to betray us？ Oh； Lucy； Lucy； that we should
have come to such a country！'
'But this；' returned my mother； 'is no very new or very
threatening event。 You are accused of some concealment。 You
will pay more taxes in the future； and be mulcted in a fine。
It is disquieting； indeed； to find our acts so spied upon；
and the most private known。 But is this new？ Have we not
long feared and suspected every blade of grass？'
'Ay； and our shadows！' cried my father。 'But all this is
nothing。 Here is the letter that accompanied the list。'
I heard my mother turn the pages； and she was some time
silent。
'I see；' she said at last； and then； with the tone of one
reading： '〃From a believer so largely blessed by Providence
with this world's goods；〃' she continued； '〃the Church awaits
in confidence some signal mark of piety。〃 There lies the
sting。 Am I not right？ These are the words you fear？'
'These are the words；' replied my father。 'Lucy； you
remember Priestley？ Two days before he disappeared； he
carried me to the summit of an isolated butte； we could see
around us for ten miles； sure； if in any quarter of this land
a man were safe from spies； it were in such a station； but it
was in the very ague…fit of terror that he told me； and that
I heard； his story。 He had received a letter such as this；
and he submitted to my approval an answer； in which he
offered to resign a third of his poss