上海交通大学出版的大学生英语第六单元
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2020年07月29日 16:09
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骨头英文-湿周
by Ambrose Bierce
1 Carter Druse was born in Virginia. He loved his parents, his home, and the South. But he loved his country, too. One morning in the autumn of 1861, when the country was ravaged by a terrible civil war, the young Virginian said, quietly but gravely, "Father, a Union regiment has arrived. I am going to join it."
2 The old man looked at his only son for a moment, too shocked to speak. Then he said, "As of this moment you are a traitor to the South. Please don't tell your mother about your decision. She is sick, and we both know she has only a few weeks to live."
3 Carter's father paused, again looking deep into his son's eyes. "Carter," he said, "no matter what happens — be sure you always do what you think is your duty."
4 Both Carter Druse and his father left the table that morning with a broken heart. And Carter soon left his home, and everyone he loved, to wear the blue uniform of the Union soldier.
5 One sunny afternoon, a few weeks later, Carter Druse lay at full length upon his stomach, his feet resting upon his toes, his head upon his left forearm. His extended right hand loosely grasped his rifle. He was sleeping while on duty. If detected he would be dead shortly afterward, death being the just and legal penalty of his crime. Fortunately, no one could see him. He was hidden by some bushes, growing by the side of the road.
6 The road Carter Druse had been sent to guard was only a few miles from his father's house.
7 It began in a forest, down in the valley, and climbed up the side of a huge rock. Anyone standing on the top of this high rock would be able to see down into the valley. And that person would feel very dizzy, looking down.
8 Hidden in the valley's forest were five Union regiments — thousands of Carter's fellow soldiers. They had marched for thirty-six hours. Now they were resting. But at midnight they would climb that road up the rocky cliff.
9 Their plan was to attack by surprise an army of Southerners, camped on the other side of the cliff. But if their enemy learned about the Union Army hiding in the forest, the soldiers would find themselves in a trap with no escape. That was why Carter Druse had been sent to the road to make sure that no enemy soldier spied on the valley, where the Union Army was hiding.
10 But Carter Druse had fallen asleep. Suddenly, as if a messenger of fate came to touch him on the shoulder, the young man opened his eyes. As he lifted his head, he saw a man on horseback standing on the huge rocky cliff. His first feeling was a keen artistic delight. On the colossal pedestal of the cliff was a statue of impressive dignity. Carter could not see the man's face, because the rider was looking down into the valley. The figure of the man sat on the figure of the horse, straight and soldierly, but with the repose of a Grecian god carved in the marble which limits the suggestion of acti
vity.
11 Carter discovered he was very much afraid, even though he knew the enemy soldier could not see him hiding in the bushes.
12 Suddenly the horse moved, pulling back its head from the edge of the cliff. Wide awake, Carter was alive to the significance of the situation now. He raised his gun and aimed for the horseman's heart. A small squeeze of the trigger, and Carter Druse would have done his duty.
13 At that instant, the horseman turned his head and looked in Carter's direction. He seemed to look at Carter's face, into his eyes, and deep into his brave, generous heart.
14 Carter's face became very white. His entire body began shaking. His mind began to race. In his fantasy, the horse and rider became black figures, rising and falling in slow circles against a fiery red sky.
15 Carter did not pull the trigger. Instead, he let go of his gun.
16 Brave and strong as he was, Carter almost fainted from the shock of what he had seen.
17 Is it so terrible to kill an enemy who might kill you and your friends? Carter knew that this man must be shot from ambush — without warning.
18 Slowly, a hope began to form in Carter Druse's mind. Perhaps the Southern soldier had not seen the Northern troops.
19 Perhaps he was only admiring the view. Perhaps he would now turn and ride carelessly away.
20 Then Carter looked down into the valley and saw a line of men in blue uniforms, slowly leaving the forest and bringing their horses to a stream. And there they were — in plain sight!
21 Carter Druse looked back to the man and horse standing there against the sky. Again he took aim. But this time he pointed his gun at the horse. Words rang in his head — the last words his father ever spoke to him: "No matter what happens, be sure you always do what you think is your duty."
22 Carter Druse was calm as he pulled the trigger of his gun.
23 At that moment, a Union officer happened to look up from his hiding place near the edge of the forest. His eyes climbed to the top of the cliff that looked over the valley.
24 And then the officer saw something that filled his heart with horror. A man on a horse was riding down into the valley through the air!
25 The rider sat straight, a strong clutch upon the reins to hold his charger from too impetuous a plunge. From his bare head his long hair streamed upward. His hands were concealed in the cloud of the horse's lifted mane. The horse looked as if it were galloping across the sky. Its body was proud and noble.
26 As the frightened Union officer watched this horseman in the sky, he almost believed he was witnessing a messenger from Heaven. At almost the same instant, he heard a crashing sound in the trees. The sound died without an echo. And all was silent.
27 The officer got to his feet, still shaking. He went back to his camp. But he didn't tell anyone what he had seen. He knew no one w
ould ever believe him.
28 Soon after firing his gun, Carter Druse was joined by a Union sergeant.
29 "Did you fire?" the sergeant whispered.
30 "Yes."
31 "At what?"
32 "A horse. It was on that rock. It's not there now. It went over the cliff." Carter's face was white. But he showed no other sign of emotion. The sergeant did not understand.
33 "See here, Druse," he said, after a moment's silence. "Why are you making this into a mystery? I order you to report. Was there anyone on the horse?"
34 "Yes."
35 "Who? "
36 "My father."