登陆注册
723600000042

第42章 热爱生活 (2)

As the day wore on, he came into a valley where game was more plentiful. A herd of twenty caribou passed by within rifle range. He felt like running after them, but he knew such an effort would be senseless. Once he saw a fox with a bird in its mouth. He called loudly, hoping to frighten the fox into dropping the bird; but the fox, leaping away in fright, did not drop the bird.

He was weary and often wished to rest—to lie down and sleep, but he was driven on by his hunger. He searched little ponds for frogs and dug up the earth with his finger nails for worms, though he knew that neither frogs nor worms lived that far north.

In one area he walked along a creek, looking for fish. In a pool he found a small one. He dipped his arm into the water up to his shoulder, but the fish got away. Then he reached for it with both hands, stirring up the mud at the bottom. In his excitement he fell in, wetting himself to the waist. Since he could no longer see the fish, he had to wait until the water cleared.

When he tried again, the water became muddy. Then he took his tin pail and began to bail the pool. He bailed wildly at first, and some of the water ran back into the pool. Then he worked more carefully, though his heart was pounding in his chest and his hands were shaking. At the end of half an hour the pool was nearly dry. But there was no fish. It had escaped between the rocks into a larger pool.

Defeated in his effort, the man sat down upon the wet earth. At first he cried softly to himself. Then he cried loudly in his hopeless condition.

He built a fire and warmed himself and drank some hot water. His blankets were wet and cold, and his ankle was still painful, but his worst suffering came from his hunger. He tried to sleep, but he dreamed of food and many good things to eat.

He awoke cold and sick. There was no sun. The air about him grew white while he made a fire and boiled some water. It was wet snow, half rain, and the flakes melted quickly and put out his fire.

By this time he had become hunger-mad. He felt through the snow and pulled up some grass roots. He chewed the roots but they were tasteless or bitter.

He had no fire that night because he couldn’t find any dry wood, so he crawled under his blanket to sleep the broken sleep of hunger. The snow turned into a cold rain. He felt it on his face during the night.

Late the next morning the sun broke through the gray mist. Then the man realized he was lost. He turned northward to correct his course, hoping to find the river and the canoe. Then he wondered what had happened to Bill.

Though his hunger pains were no worse, he realized he was getting weaker. He had to stop frequently to rest. His tongue felt dry and large, and his mouth had a bitter taste. His heart gave him a great deal of trouble. He could feel its thump, thump, thump; and the painful beats choked him and made him feel faint.

In the middle of the day he caught two small fish in a pool by using his pail. He ate the fish raw, but the hunger pain was now dull and lifeless. His stomach had gone to sleep.

In the morning he caught three more small fish, eating two of them and saving one for his breakfast. Another night passed. In the morning he tied more strips of the blanket around his feet, and then he untied the string of the moose-hide pouch. From its open mouth poured a yellow stream of coarse gold dust and nuggets. He knew he must lighten his load. He hardly had the strength to carry the last remaining blanket. He roughly divided the gold into halves. He poured half of the gold into a piece of blanket and rolled it into a small package, which he hid in a rock ledge.

Then he walked on, barely able to place one foot ahead of the other.

He faced another day of cold fog. Half of his last blanket had gone to wrap his feet. He was now too weak to carry his small pack. Again he divided the gold, this time by spilling half of it on the ground. In the afternoon he threw the rest of it away. There remained only the half blanket, the tin pail, his knife, and the rifle.

He pushed on for an hour before he fell into a faint. Aroused by a noise, he could not believe his eyes. Before him stood a horse. A horse! Rubbing his eyes, he suddenly realized he was looking at a great brown bear.

The man brought his gun half way to his shoulder before he remembered it was not loaded. He lowered it and drew his hunting knife, wondering if the bear would attack. The man drew himself up to his full height, stared at the bear and waited. The bear advanced a few steps and then stopped. The man knew if he ran, the bear would run after him. With all his might the man swung the knife and growled like an animal. The bear did not understand the mysterious creature and walked away.

同类推荐
  • 鲁滨逊漂流记(中小学生必读丛书)

    鲁滨逊漂流记(中小学生必读丛书)

    本书是被称为“现代小说之父”的英国著名作家丹尼尔·笛福的代表作。在西方文学史上, 鲁滨孙的形象众所周之, 他航海遇险, 一个人漂流到南美洲某荒岛, 靠着双手和工具, 造房子, 修田地、种粮食, 养牲畜, 还从土著的刀下救了一个人, 取名礼拜五, 收为自己的奴隶……鲁滨孙用28年的时间把荒岛建设成为一个世外桃源, 最后又奇迹般地回到欧洲, 成为巨富
  • 玩转生活英语

    玩转生活英语

    本书是一本涵盖日常生活的英语口语书籍。全书信息量丰富,趣味性强,适合不同英语阶段的学习者使用。本书在内容编排上为了帮助读者巩固和提高英语能力,专门设计了“跟我练”栏目,保证能活学活用。
  • 当幸福来敲门(英文爱藏双语系列)

    当幸福来敲门(英文爱藏双语系列)

    幸福瞬间的确存在。每天,它们在我们身边徘徊,像银光闪闪的游鱼,等待我们去捕捉。即使你没有找到幸福,它们也会找上你。快乐似乎就是简单地做事,是一种能从最简单的事物中提炼出乐趣的能力。万事万物都绽放着美。漫步于田野或者树林,闲荡在夏日海边或山涧,细碎的困惑和忧虑都会烟消云散。
  • 出行英语会话想说就会说

    出行英语会话想说就会说

    本书通过真实的对话情景以及旅游过程中可能遇到的各类问题,帮助大家掌握英语口语交流的基本技能,内容涉及交通、旅游观光等。本书借鉴了国内外的实用旅游用书,使读者在学习英语口语的同时,能够充分了解各个国家的国家概况、风土人情、异国礼仪等与旅游密不可分的相关信息。
热门推荐
  • 残酷总裁的芭比娃娃

    残酷总裁的芭比娃娃

    十七岁,他得到了她的身体,让她成为他的芭比娃娃,他的专属玩偶,不能拥有任何情绪的玩偶。而她却在不经意间,将自己的心遗留在他的身上。二十二岁的她,依旧是他的玩偶,依旧深深地爱着他,可他却要和别人结婚。可她还是深深的,傻傻的爱着他。因为她知道,爱情从来都不是等价交换,不是付出了就会有回报。。。为了他的梦想,为了他的幸福,她带着满身的疲惫离开了他。。。二十五岁的她,再次见到他,他则化身为魔鬼,将她再次囚禁在他的身边,狠狠地折磨她。不仅再次摧残她的身体,更深深的伤害她的心。还在她的身体埋下一颗“种子”。原以为,他会因为这颗“种子”而留在自己的身边。可最后她才发现,原来他的心早已不在自己的身上。他有的,只是埋怨和报复。。。为了孩子,为了自己,这一次,她要永远的逃离他。。。咖啡喝完了,可以续杯。。。爱情没了,是否能续爱。。。咫尺有爱却不伤害、爱在唇齿却不咀嚼.他们的爱,究竟能不能回来。。。精彩剧情;“莫宇浩找你什么事?”莫子轩开口问道,语气依旧是那么的冷漠。“他要我做她的女朋友。”她依旧不舍得骗他,只因她爱他,深深的爱着。“答应他。”“什么。。。”安雅乐不确定自己所听到的是真的。“答应他,努力让他交出宇轩集团的一半继承权。”莫子轩的语气依旧冷漠。“为什么。。。告诉我,我到底算什么。。。”安雅乐发了疯似的对莫子轩吼道。为什么世界上的人都看见我对你的爱,为什么只有你看不到。。。“我的芭比娃娃,我的专属玩偶。”他依旧那么冷漠。。“只是玩偶吗?”安雅乐泪眼迷蒙的望着他。“仅此而已,难道你还想要别的。”看见她的泪水,他转身离开。怀孕??“子轩,你跟她结婚,那我怎么办?”安雅乐的小腹已经略吐凸出。“你?还是照样留在我的身边。”“那孩子呢?难道你想要让他成为私生子?”“你的孩子?他也不配拥有名分。不要想太多,安心静气的将孩子生下来就行。”。。她的孩子,。。不配拥有名分。。。瞬间,眼泪决堤而出。。。你给不起名分,我给的起。安雅乐拿起一个电话,拨通了一个号码。“我答应你,跟你结婚。”。。。。本文过程虽然贼虐,可结局绝对精彩。。。。文是天天更,律儿不弃坑。。。亲们放心。。呼呼,希望亲们多多支持。。。V文律儿可以保证每天至少一章,而且每周要是花花钻钻其中的一种超过二十个,律儿就两更咯。。。
  • 教育宗旨

    教育宗旨

    歌德说:“名言集和格言集是社会上最大的财宝——只要懂得在适当的场合把前者带进会话里,在适当的时间唤起对后者的记忆。我们人类社会那些出类拔萃的名家巨人,在推动人类社会向前不断发展的同时,也给我们留下了宝贵的物质财富。他们通过自身的体验和观察研究,还给我们留下了许多有益的经验和感悟,他们将其付诸语言表达出来,被称之为名言或格言,其中蕴含并闪耀着智慧的光芒,成为世人宝贵的精神财富。人们将之作为座右铭,产生着无限的灵感、启发、智慧和力量,从而成为人生的航灯。作为人生的追求者,茫茫人海,关键在于找到属于自己的名家导师,关键在于找到鼓舞自己的名言警句,当然,最关键的是在这些金玉良言的指导下付诸切实的行动。
  • 世界文学经典文库:巴黎圣母院(青少版)

    世界文学经典文库:巴黎圣母院(青少版)

    本书是法国大作家雨果写于1831年的一本爱情小说。它以离奇和对比手 法写了一个发生在15世纪法国的故事:巴黎圣母院副主教克洛德道貌岸然、 蛇蝎心肠,先爱后恨,迫害吉卜赛女郎爱斯梅拉尔达。面目丑陋、心地善良 的敲钟人卡西莫多为救女郎舍身。小说揭露了宗教的虚伪,宣告禁欲主义的 破产,歌颂了下层劳动人民的善良、友爱、舍己为人,反映了雨果的人道主义思想。雨果第一部具有广泛影响的长篇小说。
  • 谷域

    谷域

    或忠或奸,各为其主,相互间刀消剑长,纷争不断,更在最后六大势力为图生存,最后一战的时候。谱写了一段可歌可泣的人生悲歌!,苍天不识人心,只言风雨!二千年前的遗物玉匙消失二十年后重现江湖。谷域正统山宗顿时四面楚歌,六大势力共逐其中
  • 王者归来:揭开普京密档

    王者归来:揭开普京密档

    2012王者归来,普粉必读。来自俄罗斯一线材料,资深俄文翻译,留学俄罗斯多年,全面揭秘普京的心路历程,关于成长,关于生活,关于爱情,关于个性,最有料的内容丝丝入扣解读谜一样的普京,读懂全球最具魅力的天枰座铁腕男人。
  • 明代哲学史(修订版)

    明代哲学史(修订版)

    本书是国内外第一部系统阐述明代哲学的专著,内容包括明代初年的朱子学,阳明心学的先驱,王阳明的良知之学,阳明各派弟子主要是浙中、江右、泰州对阳明学的发展,明代中后期的朱子学,明末东林、蕺山对朱子与阳明的融合,黄宗羲、方以智、王夫之等明清之际思想家对明朝学术的反省与总结,以及明代佛教、道教与儒学的会通,天主教初传时期与本土文化的碰撞与吸收等,较为清晰地勾勒出了明代哲学的发展脉络。在论述中,注意各家的独特性及其思想深度,各思想家在整个明代哲学发展中所起的作用及其相互影响。对明代哲学的独特问题如良知的有无、动静、中和及本体与功夫、先天与后天等有深入阐发。
  • 金牌宠妃

    金牌宠妃

    一朝代嫁,让她这个庶出之女成为了皇妃。成亲半年,她却从未见得她传说中的夫君一面,却不想在别人的算计中,进了皇上寝宫,一夜折磨,再度相遇,她荣获他所有的宠爱。太后娘娘听信传言,陷害于她,他将她揽在身旁,不准她受到一丝伤害。后宫妃嫔诋毁她,他却拥她入怀,重瞳中爱怜毫不掩饰。朝廷重臣联名上书,说绝色倾城,必为祸国妖孽。他却不管不顾,将她送至那最高的位置,俯瞰众生。三千宠爱集一身,羡煞天下人,只是最终,他却判了她腰斩之刑,从一开始,她登上这舞台,都不过只是他政坛上的一颗棋子。伤痛绝望后,一把火,烧烬了那繁华的宫殿,亦烧烬了所有的爱恨情仇。一切都不过是场繁华一梦,从一开始,就是她纠缠不休,始终放不下。这场爱情的角逐里,她终究输得彻底。【片段一】繁华的宫殿外,她跪在殿门,双腿已经麻木。他宛如神祗般出现在她眼前,低头看着她,“绾儿,跪在这里,只为求朕放过他么?”“是!”她字字铿锵有力,“一切都与他无关,还请皇上明察!”“好,朕给你这个机会!”他轻轻扬唇,“不过朕要你一世不得离开朕!”她低头,默默地点头。【片段二】“甄贵妃妖媚祸国,与父亲甄宰相勾结,欲谋朝篡位,实属大逆不道,至今起,废除贵妃封号,处以腰斩极刑!”宣旨太监一字一句的话,说得如此决然。“龙熠白,你忘记你的誓言了么?”“绾儿,你忘记了么?第一日相见,朕便告诉过你,是你深陷其中不肯自拔!”她低下头,心止不住地凉下去,“那可否放过我的家人?”“你说呢?”终于,她抬头,妖娆地笑了,笑容仿佛沾满了前尘旧事开出的花朵,“小白,可否让我再在这里住一个晚上,明天行刑时再出去!”他默许,却不想,换来的是一把火,一把绝望的火焰,烧尽了那繁华的宫殿,将她烧成灰烬。【片段三】五年后。再见面,已是别国皇帝的寿宴上,她一袭青色长衫,一舞倾城。他看着她缓缓走来,以为她还会像以前那样甜甜的唤他小白,然而她却与他擦肩而过。随即,她竟当着他的面依偎在别人怀中巧笑嫣然。他上前去,狠狠捏住她的手腕,再也不肯放手,“绾儿,你没死?!”然而,她却转身,看着他盈盈笑道,“对不起,我们认识么?”千帆尽过,再回首,她的身边已有一个他,而他于她,只是陌生人。但曾相见便相知,相见何如不见时;安得与君相决绝,免教生死作相思。
  • 别让不懂幽默害了你

    别让不懂幽默害了你

    幽默是人的能力、意志、个性、兴趣的综合体现。幽默是社交的调料,有了幽默,社交可以让人觉得醇香扑鼻,隽永甜美。幽默是引力强大的磁石,有了幽默,个人魅力无形增值,会把一颗颗散乱的心吸入它的磁场,让别人脸上绽开欢乐的笑容。本书用精彩的理论和有趣的故事,展示幽默的力量、揭示幽默的技巧,告诉读者幽默能使批评和反驳被对方接受,幽默能使长篇大论的演讲富有感染力,幽默能使人际关系变得融洽,幽默能使生活充满乐趣,启发读者了解幽默、认识幽默,更好地掌握和使用幽默这门艺术,说幽默话做幽默人,增进沟通,改善人际,促进工作,获得优质高效的人生。
  • 刁萌小月老

    刁萌小月老

    我是天上的月老,掌管人间姻缘。门当户对是我为男女牵红线的准则。经我牵线成为夫妻的有情人,数也数不清,这是我莫大的骄傲。我本以为能得到人间所有人的尊重。谁知道人间的痴男怨女竟……竟合起来将我告上天庭。玉帝大怒,说我不识人间疾苦,整天乱点鸳鸯谱。一道圣旨将我贬下凡间。我只好乖乖的滚下凡间……经历半世情劫,回到天庭,玉帝问我所感所悟,我满怀激动说出了自己的所悟,玉帝听了又下了一道圣旨。我不由的痛哭流涕,追悔莫及……
  • 明治天皇:孝明帝驾崩卷(下册)

    明治天皇:孝明帝驾崩卷(下册)

    《明治天皇》再现了日本从幕末走向明治维新的历史变革,以优美的文笔,宏大的场景,详细描绘了日本近代决定国运的倒幕运动的整个过程。本书塑造了一个个鲜活的日本近代史人物形象,以及他们的坚定信念,对“安政大狱”、“樱田门之变”等重大历史事件的描述详实生动,是一部了解近代日本不可多得的佳作。