乐文小说网

第11部分（第1页）

the　Orient　and　the　plenteous　harvests　of　the　Golden　West　might　no　more

pass　between　nation　and　nation。　For　some　time　the　trees　and　flowers

grew　on；　despite　the　intense　cold。　Birds　flew　into　the　houses　for

safety；　and　those　which　winter　had　overtaken　lay　on　the　snow　with　wings

spread　in　vain　flight。　At　last　the　foliage　and　blossoms　fell　at　the　feet

of　Winter。　The　petals　of　the　flowers　were　turned　to　rubies　and

sapphires。　The　leaves　froze　into　emeralds。　The　trees　moaned　and　tossed

their　branches　as　the　frost　pierced　them　through　bark　and　sap；　pierced

into　their　very　roots。　I　shivered　myself　awake；　and　with　a　tumult　of　joy

I　breathed　the　many　sweet　morning　odours　wakened　by　the　summer　sun。

One　need　not　visit　an　African　jungle　or　an　Indian　forest　to　hunt　the

tiger。　One　can　lie　in　bed　amid　downy　pillows　and　dream　tigers　as

terrible　as　any　in　the　pathless　wild。　I　was　a　little　girl　when　one　night

I　tried　to　cross　the　garden　in　front　of　my　aunts　house　in　Alabama。　I

was　in　pursuit　of　a　large　cat　with　a　great　bushy　tail。　A　few　hours

before　he　had　clawed　my　little　canary　out　of　its　cage　and　crunched　it

between　his　cruel　teeth。　I　could　not　see　the　cat。　But　the　thought　in　my

mind　was　distinct：　〃He　is　making　for　the　high　grass　at　the　end　of　the

garden。　Ill　get　there　first！〃　I　put　my　hand　on　the　box　border　and　ran

swiftly　along　the　path。　When　I　reached　the　high　grass；　there　was　the　cat

gliding　into　the　wavy　tangle。　I　rushed　forward　and　tried　to　seize　him

and　take　the　bird　from　between　his　teeth。　To　my　horror　a　huge　beast；　not

the　cat　at　all；　sprang　out　from　the　grass；　and　his　sinewy　shoulder

rubbed　against　me　with　palpitating　strength！　His　ears　stood　up　and

quivered　with　anger。　His　eyes　were　hot。　His　nostrils　were　large　and　wet。

His　lips　moved　horribly。　I　knew　it　was　a　tiger；　a　real　live　tiger；　and

that　I　should　be　devoured……my　little　bird　and　I。　I　do　not　know　what

happened　after　that。　The　next　important　thing　seldom　happens　in　dreams。

Some　time　earlier　I　had　a　dream　which　made　a　vivid　impression　upon　me。

My　aunt　was　weeping　because　she　could　not　find　me。　But　I　took　an　impish

pleasure　in　the　thought　that　she　and　others　were　searching　for　me；　and

making　great　noise　which　I　felt　through　my　feet。　Suddenly　the　spirit　of

mischief　gave　way　to　uncertainty　and　fear。　I　felt　cold。　The　air　smelt

like　ice　and　salt。　I　tried　to　run；　but　the　long　grass　tripped　me；　and　I

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