the mountains(山脉)-第16部分
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shot a gun immediately ahead； my horse tried to turn around； slipped； and
slid backwards until he overhung the chasm。 Fortunately his hind feet
caught a tiny bush。 He gave a mighty heave； and regained the trail。
Afterwards I took a look and found that there were no more bushes for a
hundred feet either way。
Next in terror to the unaccustomed is an ascent by lacets up a very
steep side hill。 The effect is cumulative。 Each turn brings you one
stage higher； adds definitely one more unit to the test of your hardihood。
This last has not terrified you； how about the next？ or the next？ or the one
after that？ There is not the slightest danger。 You appreciate this point
after you have met head…on some old…timer。 After you have speculated
frantically how you are to pass him； he solves the problem by calmly
turning his horse off the edge and sliding to the next lacet below。 Then
you see that with a mountain horse it does not much matter whether you
get off such a trail or not。
The real bad places are quite as likely to be on the level as on the slant。
The tremendous granite slides； where the cliff has avalanched thousands
of tons of loose jagged rock…fragments across the passage； are the worst。
There your horse has to be a goat in balance。 He must pick his way from
the top of one fragment to the other； and if he slips into the interstices he
probably breaks a leg。 In some parts of the granite country are also
smooth rock aprons where footing is especially difficult； and where often a
slip on them means a toboggan chute off into space。 I know of one spot
where such an apron curves off the shoulder of the mountain。 Your horse
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slides directly down it until his hoofs encounter a little crevice。
Checking at this； he turns sharp to the left and so off to the good trail again。
If he does not check at the little crevice； he slides on over the curve of the
shoulder and lands too far down to bury。
Loose rocks in numbers on a very steep and narrow trail are always an
abomination； and a numerous abomination at that。 A horse slides； skates；
slithers。 It has always seemed to me that luck must count largely in such
a place。 When the animal treads on a loose round stoneas he does
every step of the waythat stone is going to roll under him； and he is
going to catch himself as the nature of that stone and the little gods of
chance may will。 Only furthermore I have noticed that the really good
horse keeps his feet； and the poor one tumbles。 A judgmatical rider can
help a great deal by the delicacy of his riding and the skill with which he
uses his reins。 Or better still； get off and walk。
Another mean combination； especially on a slant； is six inches of snow
over loose stones or small boulders。 There you hope for divine favor and
flounder ahead。 There is one compensation； the snow is soft to fall on。
Boggy areas you must be able to gauge the depth of at a glance。 And
there are places； beautiful to behold； where a horse clambers up the least
bit of an ascent； hits his pack against a projection； and is hurled into outer
space。 You must recognize these； for he will be busy with his feet。
Some of the mountain rivers furnish pleasing afternoons of sport。
They are deep and swift； and below the ford are rapids。 If there is a
fallen tree of any sort across them；remember the length of California
trees； and do not despise the rivers；you would better unpack； carry your
goods across yourself； and swim the pack…horses。 If the current is very
bad； you can splice riatas； hitch one end to the horse and the other to a tree
on the farther side； and start the combination。 The animal is bound to
swing across somehow。 Generally you can drive them over loose。 In
swimming a horse from the saddle； start him well upstream to allow for
the current； and never； never； never attempt to guide him by the bit。 The
Tenderfoot tried that at Mono Creek and nearly drowned himself and Old
Slob。 You would better let him alone； as he probably knows more than
you do。 If you must guide him； do it by hitting the side of his head with
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the flat of your hand。
Sometimes it is better that you swim。 You can perform that feat by
clinging to his mane on the downstream side； but it will be easier both for
you and him if you hang to his tail。 Take my word for it； he will not kick
you。
Once in a blue moon you may be able to cross the whole outfit on logs。
Such a log bridge spanned Granite Creek near the North Fork of the San
Joaquin at an elevation of about seven thousand feet。 It was suspended a
good twenty feet above the water； which boiled white in a most
disconcerting manner through a gorge of rocks。 If anything fell off that
log it would be of no further value even to the curiosity seeker。 We got
over all the horses save Tunemah。 He refused to consider it； nor did
peaceful argument win。 As he was more or less of a fool； we did not take
this as a reflection on our judgment； but culled cedar clubs。 We beat him
until we were ashamed。 Then we put a slip…noose about his neck。 The
Tenderfoot and I stood on the log and heaved while Wes stood on the
shore and pushed。 Suddenly it occurred to me that if Tunemah made up
his silly mind to come； he would probably do it all at once； in which case
the Tenderfoot and I would have about as much show for life as fossil
formations。 I didn't say anything about it to the Tenderfoot； but I hitched
my six…shooter around to the front； resolved to find out how good I was at
wing…shooting horses。 But Tunemah declared he would die for his
convictions。 〃All right；〃 said we； 〃die then；〃 with the embellishment of
profanity。 So we stripped him naked； and stoned him into the raging
stream； where he had one chance in three of coming through alive。 He
might as well be dead as on the other side of that stream。 He won
through； however； and now I believe he'd tackle a tight rope。
Of such is the Trail； of such its wonders； its pleasures； its little
comforts； its annoyances； its dangers。 And when you are forced to draw
your six…shooter to end mercifully the life of an animal that has served you
faithfully； but that has fallen victim to the leg… breaking hazard of the way；
then you know a little of its tragedy also。 May you never know the
greater tragedy when a man's life goes out； and you unable to help！ May
always your trail lead through fine trees； green grasses； fragrant flowers；
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and pleasant waters！
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X
ON SEEING DEER
Once I happened to be sitting out a dance with a tactful young girl of
tender disposition who thought she should adapt her conversation to the
one with whom she happened to be talking。 Therefore she asked
questions concerning out…of…doors。 She knew nothing whatever about it；
but she gave a very good imitation of one interested。 For some occult
reason people never seem to expect me to own evening clothes； or to know
how to dance； or to be able to talk about anything civilized； in fact； most
of them appear disappointed that I do not pull off a war…jig in the middle
of the drawing…room。
This young girl selected deer as her topic。 She mentioned liquid eyes；
beautiful form； slender ears； she said 〃cute；〃 and 〃darlings；〃 and 〃perfect
dears。〃 Then she shuddered prettily。
〃And I don't see how you can ever BEAR to shoot them； Mr。 White；〃
she concluded。
〃You quarter the onions and slice them very thin；〃 said I dreamily。
〃Then you take a little bacon fat you had left over from the flap…jacks and
put it in the frying…pan。 The frying…pan should be very hot。 While the
onions are frying； you must keep turning them over with a fork。 It's
rather difficult to get them all browned without burning some。 I should
broil the meat。 A broiler is handy； but two willows； peeled and charred a
little so the willow taste won't penetrate the meat； will do。 Have the
steak fairly thick。 Pepper and salt it thoroughly。 Sear it well at first in
order to keep the juices in； then cook rather slowly。 When it is done； put
it on a hot
