資源描述:
《IN THE CARQUINEZ WOODS(在卡圭尼茲森林) 》由會員上傳分享,免費在線閱讀,更多相關(guān)內(nèi)容在學(xué)術(shù)論文-天天文庫。
1、INTHECARQUINEZWOODSINTHECARQUINEZWOODSbyBretHarte1INTHECARQUINEZWOODSCHAPTERI.ThesunwasgoingdownontheCarquinezWoods.Thefewshaftsofsunlightthathadpiercedtheirpillaredgloomwerelostinunfathomabledepths,orsplinteredtheirineffectuallancesontheenormoustrunksoftheredwoods.Foratimethedullredoft
2、heirvastcolumns,andthedullredoftheircast-offbarkwhichmattedtheecholessaisles,stillseemedtoholdafaintglowofthedyingday.Buteventhissoonpassed.Lightandcolorfledupwards.Thedarkinterlacedtreetops,thathadalldaymadeanimpenetrableshade,brokeintofirehereandthere;theirlostspiresglittered,faded,an
3、dwentutterlyout.Aweirdtwilightthatdidnotcomefromtheouterworld,butseemedbornofthewooditself,slowlyfilledandpossessedtheaisles.Thestraight,tall,colossaltrunksrosedimlylikecolumnsofupwardsmoke.Thefewfallentreesstretchedtheirhugelengthintoobscurity,andseemedtolieonshadowytrestles.Thestrange
4、breaththatfilledthesemysteriousvaultshadneithercoldnessnormoisture;adry,fragrantdustarosefromthenoiselessfootthattrodtheirbark-strewnfloor;theaislesmighthavebeentombs,thefallentreesenormousmummies;thesilencethesolitudeofaforgottenpast.Andyetthissilencewaspresentlybrokenbyarecurringsound
5、likebreathing,interruptedoccasionallybyinarticulateandstertorousgasps.Itwasnotthequick,panting,listeningbreathofsomestealthyfelineorcanineanimal,butindicatedalarger,slower,andmorepowerfulorganization,whoseprogresswaslesswatchfulandguarded,orasifafragmentofoneofthefallenmonstershadbecome
6、animate.Attimesthislifeseemedtotakevisibleform,butasvaguely,asmisshapenly,asthephantomofanightmare.Nowitwasasquareobjectmovingsideways,endways,withneitherheadnortailandscarcelyvisiblefeet;thenanarchedbulkrollingagainstthetrunksofthetreesandrecoilingagain,oranuprightcylindricalmass,butal
7、waysoscillatingandunsteady,andstrikingthetreesoneitherhand.Thefrequentoccurrenceofthemovementsuggestedthefiguresofsomeweirdrhythmicdancetomusicheardbytheshapealone.Suddenlyiteitherbecamemotionlessorfadedaway.Therewasthefrightenedneighingofahorse,thesuddenjinglingof2INTHECARQUIN