The Kiss-2

  Their,prettytownwasbuiltwithinalowwoodfeockade,thehousesbuiltofbirchbarksetingardenswithvihpumpkinsonemandthecookingoftheirmeatsavtheair,asitwasaboutdiime.Theywerecookingwhattheycallsuccotash,agreatpotonanopenfireandanakedsavagesquattingbeforeit,calmasyouplease,fanningtheflameswithabirchbarkfaownwassurrouidyfieldsoftobadandarivernear.ButnokindofbeastdidIsee,nororhorsesnorchis,fortheykeepnone.Shetakesmetoherownlodge,whereshelivesbyherselfonatofherbusiness,andgivesmewatertowashinandabunchoffeatherstodrymyself,sothatIwasmuchrefreshed.

  IhadheardtheseIndiansweremortaldragons,acedtoeatthefleshofdeadmen,buttheprettylittlenakedchildrenplayingwiththeirdolliesi,oh!nevercouldsuchlittleducksberearedonibalmeat!AndmyIndian"mother",asIsooncalledher,assuredmethatthoughtheircousinstotheNorthroastedthethighsoftheircaptivesandceremoniouslypartookthereof,itwas,asyoumightsay,asacramentalmeal,tohonourthedepartedbydevhim;andIhaveoftendisputedwiththeMihispoint,thattheIroquoisdinnerisbuttheMassinastateofnature.AndtheMinisterwillsay,either:thatIlivedsolongwithSatanthatIgrewacedtohisways,or,thattheRomishMassisbuttheIroquoisfeastinbritches.

  Asforme,allIevereatamongtheIndianswasfish,gameorfowl,boiledorbroiled,besidescookedinvariousways,beans,squashinseasodthissuchahealthydietthatitisveryraretoseeasiongstthemandneverdidIseethereahershakingwithpalsyorsufferingtoothacheorwithsoreeyesorcrookedwithage.

  Theweatherbeingwarm,atfirstIblushedtoseethenakednessofthesavages,forthemenwereacedtogocladinnowtbutbreech-cloutsatthatseasonandthewomenwithonlyaragaboutem.ButsoonIthoughtnothingofitandexgedmypetticoatforthebuonemymivemeandshegavemeanecklace,too,ofthebeadstheycarvefromshells,forshesaidshehadnodaughterofherowilthewoodssehisone,whomshewasthankfultotheEnglishfivingaway.

  TherewasnoendofthekindnessofthiswomantomeandIlivedinherwithher,forshehadnohusband,sinceshewas,asitwerethemidwifeofthetribeandallhertimetakenupwithseeingtowomenintheirlabour.AnditwastomakepotiohelabourpainsandthepainsofthewomenintheircoursesthatsheigherbsinthewoodswhenIfirstsawher.

  Howdotheylive,theseso-calleddemi-devils?Themenamongthemhaveaneasylife,spendalltheirtimeinleisureandidleness,exceptwhentheyarehuntinghtingtheirenemies,siheirtribesarestantlyatwarwithoher,andwiththeEnglish,too;andthewerowaheycallhim,heisnotthechief,orrulerofthevillage,althoughtheEnglishdosaythatheisso,but,rather,heisthemanwhogoesthefirstinbattle,soheisoreceousamanthantheEnglishgeneralswhodirecttheirsoldiersfromtheback.

  Asforme,IstayedwithmyIndianmotheriandlearnedfromherIndianmanners,suchassittingonmykhegroundtomymeatthatreadonamatbeforemebecausetheyhavenofurniture.Ilearnedhowtocureanddressrobesoutofbuckskin,beaverandotherskins,andtoembroiderthemwithshellaher.Ihadahousewifewithmeinmyapronpocketandmymotherwasverypleasedwiththesteelneedles,likewisewiththetinder-box,whichshewasgladtoget,whilemycarving-khoughtawonderfullyvehing,theyhavingnonotionmetalalthoughthewomenmakegoodpotsoutoftheriverclayandbaketheminanopenfireverycleverlywhileyouneverseeabeardonanyman,siheytrivetoshavethemselvesalloverquiteclosewithrazorsofstone.

  AndIshouldsaythatunstheydidhave,foralittlewhilebeforeIarrivedamoherecameaSan,singgunsandliquoriurnfordressedrobesand,asfortheeffectsoftheliquor,Ishallsaynowtaboutitexceptitsendsemmad,but,asfuns,theysoonlearousethem.

  Theharvestingohereduptheir,averypoor,smallsortof,tomywayofthinking,theheadsjustthatmuchbiggerthanmythumb,andwedugholesinthegroundsixorsevedeepandwhatofthewedidwedriedandstoredawayuheearth.ButthediggingwasagreatlabourfortheyhavenoshovelsorspadesexceptwhattheystealfromtheEnglishsowemadeshiftwithsticksortheshoulder-bonesofdeer.AndifIhaveonequarrelwithmytribe,itisthatthemenwillhavenothingtodowiththisagriculture,althoughitisheavywork,butgofishinginthecreekorchasedeerageindandsuchsillyperformaheysaywillmakethegrow.

  Butmymothersaid:"Thereisnoharminitanditkeepsthemenoutoftheway."

  Bythetimetheweatherturned,IwasrattlingawayintheIndianlanguageasifIdbeenborntoit,thoughnotawordofHebrewdidittainsoIthinkmyoldLancashireladywasmistakenthattheyaretheLostTribeofIsraeland,astovertihetruereligion,Iwassobusywithohingandahatiteredmyhead.Asformypaleface,bytheendoftheharvestitwasbrownasanyoftheirsandmymotherstainedmylighthairformewithsomedarkishdyesotheygrewacedtomypresenceamongthemandatsixmonthsendyouwouldhavethoughtshewhomIcalledmy"mother"wasmyownnaturalmotherandIwasIndianbornandbred,exceptmyblueeyesremainedamarvel.

  Butforallthebondsofaffebetweenus,ImightstillhavethoughtofjourneyingontoFloridaastheweathergrewcolder,suchisthepowerofandhabit,hadInotcastmyeyeonabraveofthattribewhohadnowomanforhimselfahiseyeoneverawordhesays,itseemsallaloendstodhtthingbyme,soitwasmymothersaidtomeatlast:"ThatTallHickoryyouknowofwouldlikeyouforhiswife."TallHickorybeingwhathisnamesignifiedinEnglish,andasonakindofnameamongstemasJamesorMatthewmightbeinLancashire.

  Andnowitestoit,Iwept,forhewasafineman.

  "HowIbethatgoodmanswife,mother,forIwasabadwomaninmyowntry."

  "Abadwoman?"shesays."Whatsthis?"

  SoItoldherwhatIdidtoearnmylivingonCheapside;andhowIwasathiefbynaturalvocation.Asformywh,shewasverymuchsurprisedtohearthatEnglishmenwouldtroubletopayforsuchathingasIhadtosell,fortheIndiansexgeitfreeornotatall,and,asformyvirginitybeinggone,shelaughsandsays:"Ifyouwerenotgood,nobodywouldhavehadyou."Butshegrievesovermythieveryuntilatlastshesaystome:"Well,child,wouldyoustealawayabowloruorrobefromoutofmyhutayourselfatome?"

  "HowcouldIdothat,mother,"saysI."IfIshouldneedanything,Imayuseitandgiveittoyouagainasyoudowithourneedlesainder-boxandtheknife.Andsoitiswithsuch-a-oneandsuch-a-one--"naminghbours."Andtotellthetruth,thereisnowtinallthevillageexcitesmyoldpassionofavarice,whileasformydinner,ifI,ImayhaveashareinanycookingpotintheIndiantry,forthatisthe.Soherdesirenorwantmakeathiefofme,here."

  "ThenyoodwomaninspiteofyourselfamongtheIndiansandsoIthinkyouwillremain,"shesays."Whynotmarrytheyoungfellow?"

  Now,certaihevillage,suchasthegeneral,andthepriest,asImightcallhim,seeinghedealtwithreligion,hadnotonewifebutthreeorfourtotilltheirfieldsforthemandIdidnotlikethat.Iwouldbetheonlyoneinmyhusbandslodge,afancyoftheoldlifethatIcouldnotlose.Andshepuzzlesoverthat,althoughsheherselfwasneveranymanswife,having,soshetellsmewithawink,notmuchlikingforthesexandmudnessforherown.

  "Asforourselves,wearetooseemlyaafolkforthematterofmatrimonytoebetweenawomanandherfriends!"shesays."Themorewivesamanhas,thebetterpanyforthem,themorekodahechildrenonandthemoretheyplantsothebettertheyalllivetogether."

  ButstillIsaid,Iwouldbehisonlywifeornevermarryhim.

  "Listen,mydear,"shesaid."Doyounotloveme?"

  "IndeedIdo,"Isays,"withallmyheart."

  "Thenifyoursweetheartshouldoffertomarryusboth,wouldyoulovemethelessforit?"

  ButIduckedmyheadandforboretoahat,forfearsheshouldaskmybeautotakeher,too,alongwithme,sinceIwassostruckwithhimIcouldnotthinkthatanywoman,howeversetinherways,wouldnothavehimifshegothalfthece.Thenshegivesmeacloutoodcriesout:"Now,child,seewhatawretchedthingthisjealousyis,thatitsetadaughteragainstherownmother!"

  Butsherelentstoseemecryforshameandsays,sheistoooldandstubborntothinkeand,besides,myyoungmanissotakenwithmethathewillmarrymeonmyowntermsintheEnglishfashion.Fortheyaretaughttolovetheirwivesahemhavetheirwaynomatterhowmanyofthemtheymarryand,ifIwahetoiloftillingapatchofwithnowtbutmyowntwohands,thenhewouldnotinterferewiththat.

  Weweremarriedaboutthetimetheywereplantingthe,whichtheycelebratewithagooddealofsinginganddangalthoughitiswesquawswhobreakourbackssettingtheseed.Theseasonoftheanniversaryofmyarrivaliownpassed,winteresagainandbythespringIwaswelloinghimalittlebrave.Itwasmarvelloustoseethetendernessofmyhusbandsbearingtowardsmewhenthesuandmademesweat,weary,heavy,peevish,sothatIoftensworeIwishedmeselfinEnglandagain;butheborewithall.Now,atthistime,thegeneralofourvillageheldselhowallthetribesofthispartoftheterritoryshouldsettletheirdifferendjoiheriarmytodrivetheEnglishoffbacktowheretheyefromwhilesomeoftheotherssaid,theyshould,instead,maketreatieswiththeEnglishagainstthoseothertribeswhoweretheirnaturalenemiesandsogetmunsfromtheEnglish.

  ButIsentwordbymyhusband--thewomendidnotgototheselsbutwereacedtolettheirhusbandsgivetheirmessages--IsentwordbyhimthatitwouldtakeallthetribesofallthetiodriveawaytheEnglish,aheEnglishwouldonlygoawaytoeagainindoublenumbers,soeagerweretheyto"plantthey"withmeandsuchpoordevilsasIhadbeen.SoItoldthemstraighttheymustmakeagrand,warlike,well-armedfederacyamongstalltheIndiannationsarustawordtheEnglishsaid,fortheEnglishwouldallbethievesiftheycould,andIwaslivingproofofit,whoooffthieviherewasnothingtosteal.

  Buttheytooknonotie,andcouldnotagreeaboutthemannerinwhich,iftheyshouldwageit,thewarshouldbewaged,whetheranattaAownbynight,creepingonallfourslikebearswithbowsintheirmouths;orpigofftheEnglishmenonebyoheywenthuntingoroutinlonelyplaeetingemheadon,likeanarmy.Whichtheyfanciedbest,becauseitwasmosthonourable,but,tomywayofthinking,puttingtheheadinthebeastsmouth.WhilesomestillheldthattheEnglishweretheirfriendsbecausetheyweretheirenemiesenemy.Sotheyfelltosquabblingamongstthemselvesandnothingcameofallthetalkwhichwasagreatsadome,forIwaswithchildandsoIwantedaquietlife.

  Iwasscratgawaywithmypoiickalongthegardenbean-rowuntiltheverymihewatersbrokeandIgoesrunningintomymotherand,anhourlater,asIjudgeit,fortheyhavenomeansofkeepitime,shewaswashingthebloodoffmyyoungson.

  Myyoungsonwenamedwhatwouldbe,inEnglish,LittleShootingStar,andyoumaylaughatit,butitisanamefinemenhavecarried.ArappedintohislittleboardthathemightrideonmybahisbirchbarkcarriageandIleasedwithhimasanywomanmightbe.WhichishowthefatemyoldLancashireladyforesawformecametopass,becausemyboysfatherneversprangfromthetribeofShem,HamnorJaphet,althoughhismotherresembledmoretheMaryMagdalene,orrepentantharlot,thanMarytheVirgin,thoughtheMinisterdoesnotholdwiththatstuff,beingadissentingman,andwillmespeakofit.

  Butitwouldeaboutthatthelittleladsustbeoftears,notgold.

  Now,thefederacyamongtheAlgonkiansbreakingup,thedepredationsoftheEnglishuponthevillagestowardstheSouthgrewweekbyweekmoreseverebutourfiercebravesheldthemoffawhile.Thegeneralsofthisregionheldaparley,astowhetherallstayanddefendourvillagesorelsebeataretreat,thatis,stirourstumpsandpickupourtrapsandleaveourfieldsandshiftwestwardsapiece,tonewpastures,aftertheharvest,whichwasinhand.Butthislattertheywereloathtodo,siheWestlaytheRechas,averywarliketribenoteasilycrossed.AndtheysentoutaartytogivetheEnglishatasteoftheirownmedie,tostartoffwith,butIwasfulloffearlestmyhusbandnoteback.

  Hepaintshisfaceupbladredsothebabbycriedtoseeandtheydogooutandalleback,withbloodontheiraxes,andseveralscalpsofyellowhairthathehangsontheridgepoleoftheroof,besidesplunderofcopperkettles,bulletsandgunpowder.Also,alas,rum.

  YetImustsay,whenIfirstsawthoseEnglishtopknots,Ifeltnowtbutpleasurethoughtheirhairwasofmycolour;yettheMinistersaysIamagoodgirlandGodwillfivemeforthesinsIittedamongtheIndians.

  Asfunpowder,TallHiyhusband,toldme,whentheEnglishfirstgiveittothegeneral,yearsback,theEnglishtoldhim,withmuchsecretmerrimentamongstthemselves,howheshouldburyit,likeseed,andwatchthebulletseup.AndtheIndiaasagrudgeeverafter,tohavebeenteasedlikesillychildreheEnglishwouldhavestarveddeadiftheRedManhadnottaughtemhowtoplant.

  Theircaptivetheybroughtbacklashedtothepowderbarrelandtauntedhim,howtheywouldsettheirtorchestoaslowfuse,lefthimthereinthemiddleofthevillageandabusedhimintheirdrunkennessfortheyweredevilswhentheydgotabitofdrinkinsideem,Imustadmitit.

  "Now,mydear,"saysmyhusband,whowasstone-coldsoberbecausehedamortalterroroftheedgeofmytongue."Imustaskyoutotalktothisfellowinyourownlanguage,thatwemightknowifhisfellow-trymenwillatlastremembercertainpledgesaiesformerlymadebetweenusordoindeedmeantodriveusintothearmsoftheRechas,eareonnofriendlyterms,soitwillbetheworseforus,trappedbetweewo."

  AtfirstIwouldnotdoitbecauseIfeltsomepityforthisEnglishman,theywereverysternwiththeircaptivesandmadeacruelfestivaloutofthisone,whatwiththedrinkandall.ThenIrecallhowIsawthisfellowridinghishighhorsealongthedockatAowhevictswereunloadedinsfromtheholdsoftheshipandallpityleftme.

  WhenhehearsmyEnglish,"PraisetheLord!"hecries,andtellsmestraightawayhowImustgiveovermytribestothewhitesinthenameofGod,theKingofEngland,andafreepardonthrowninwhenheseesmybrand.ButIshowshimthebabbyandhecallsmeallkindoffoulowhoreamohen,soIshovesasharpstihisbellytoteachhimmanners.Hesquawksatthatbutwillsaynothingofthesoldiersorwheretheymightbebutonly:thatthedamnedseedshallbedrivenfromtheland.Theytookhimoffthebarrel,fortheydidnotwanttowastegoodgunpowderonhim,andhoisthimupoverthefire.Soonhewasdead.

  Whehroughhispockets,theywerestuffedfullofandallthechildreoplayduddrakeswithgoldpietheriver.ButhisgoldwatchIwoundupandgivemyhusbandinremembraheoneIrobbedthealdermanof.

  "Whatsthis?"hesaysinhisinnoce.Justthenitrangthehoursoftwelve,itbeingnoon,andhescreetchesout,dropsit,itbreaksapart,thewheelsandspringsscatterontheground,andmyhusband,poor,superstitioussavagethathewasforallhewasthebestmanintheworld,myhusbandfella-shakinganda-tremblingandsaidthewatchwas"badmedie"andbodedill.

  Sohewentoffandgotdrunkwiththerest.IghthepapersilemanspocketsandfindoutweveputaothegovernorofallVirginiaandItellsemso,fullofmisgivingatit,buttheywasallsoneinliquorobehadoutofailtheysleptitoffbutjustbeforesun-updaythesoldierscameonhorseback.

  TheyburheripefieldsalighttothestockadesoitburnedandeburnedwhenthepowderwentupsoIsawthemassacrebrightasday.Theyputabulletthroughmyhusbandshead,heonhisfeetandallbewildered,IgothimoutofthelodgewhenIfirstheardthefirecracklebuthewasabigman,couldntmisshim.Andthepoordrunk,sleepysavagesallmowndown.Igotthebabyinmyarmsaandhidinthebird-scareinthefield,whichlatformonlegswithhideoverit,andsoescaped.

  Butthesoldierscaughtholdofmymotherasshewasrunningtotheriverwithherhaironfireandsheshoutstome,seeingmefleeing:"You,unkinddaughter!"ForshethoughtIwashasteningtocastmylotinwiththeEnglish,whichwasnotso,byanymeans.Thentheyviolatedher,thentheyslitherthroat.Soalloverquickly,bydaybreaknowtleftbutashes,corpses,thewidowmherdeadchildren,soldiersleaningontheirgunswellpleasedwiththeirnightsworkandtheceousmannerinwhichtheyhadrevehegovernor.

  Thebabbybust.Ohesebrutes,hearinghim,camebeatingamongthescorchedandpushesatthebird-scare,knocksitdownsoIfellout,flatonmyback,thebabytumblesoutofmyarmsandcrackshisheadopenonastosupaterribleshriekihehardestheartwouldhaverulytohim.Butthissoldierputshiskneeonmybelly,unfastenshisbritchesintendingtorapeme,hedhestrengthoftentoholdmedownbutallatonceleavesoffhishorridfumbling,amazed.

  "Captain!"hesays."Lookhere!Heresasquawwithblueeyes,suchasIveneverseenbefore!"

  Hetakesagoodhandfulofmyhairandhalesmetowherethecaptainofthesegoodsoldiersiswashinghisbloodyhandsinabasinofwatercoolasyoupleasewhilehismenpickovertheunandtherobesfortrophiesofwar.Heasksme,whatismynameaherIspeakEnglish;thenDutch;thenFrendtriesmeinSpanishbutIwillsaynothingexcept,intheAlgonkianlanguage:"IamthewidowofTallHickory."Butheotuandthat.

  TheyfoundoutIwasnotindeedawomanoftheIndianbloodatlastbyatrickforochedmybabyfromwheretheydlefthimbawlinginthefieldandshowedhimhisknife,makingasifhewouldstickthesharpbladeintomylittleone.

  "Thoushaltnot!"IcriedoutwhiletheothersheldmebaorIshouldhavetornouthiseyeswithmybarehands.Howtheylaughed,whenthesquawwithfeathersinherhairshoutedoutinbroadLancashire.Theainseesmyburnedhandandcallsmea"runaway"andsaystherewillbeapriyheadoverandabovethebountyontheIndians.Andteasesme,howtheywillbrandmycheekwith"R"for"runaway"wheoAownsoIotwhoreamongtheIndiansnomore,noramongstnobodyelse.ButallIwantistheloanofhishandkerchief,dippediowipethethebabbysforeheadandthisheskindenoughtogiveme,atlast.

  WhenIgotmybabbybadputhimtonurse,forhewashungry,thealongwiththesoldiers,sinceIhadnochoice,mymotherandmyhusbanddeadand,truthtotell,myspiritbroken.Andwhatsquawswereleftliving,thatIusedtocall"sister",trailedalongbehindus,forthesoldierswantedwomenandthewomenwantedbreadandnotonebraveleftlivinginthatpartoftheNewWorldthatnowyoumightcalla"fairgardenblastedoffolk".Andtheriverwateringthisearthlyparadiserunningblood.

  Thesquawsblamedme,howIhadbroughtbadluthemand;cruellyrepaidtheirkiome.But,asforme,mygriefismixedwithfearoverthememoryoftheoverseerIhadtheearsoffof,thatallthiswillendinadownwarddrop,onceIambackwherethejusticeis.

  Wegetstoaplacewithafewhousesandtheyhadjustfinishedbuildingachurd:"HereisamorselpluckedfromSatan,"saystheowidowedmetotheMinister,whotellsmetothankGodthatIhavebeenrescuedfromthesavageaheGoodLordsfivenessforstrayingfromHisways.Takingmycuefromhis,Ifalltomyknees,forIseethatrepentahefashioninthesepartsandthemoreofitIshow,thebetteritwillbeforme.Aheyaskmyname,IgiveemthenameofmyoldLancashirelady,whichisMary,andstickbyit,soIliveonasifIwereherghost,andallherpropheciesetrue,exceptitturnsoutIwasandIdothinkmyhalf-breedchildwillbearthemarkof,forthescarabovehislefteyeneverfades.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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