當幸福來敲門 第42章 熱愛生活 (2)
    Asthedayworeon,hecameintoavalleywheregamewasmoreplentiful.Aherdoftwentycariboupassedbywithinriflerange.Hefeltlikerunningafterthem,butheknewsuchaneffortwouldbesenseless.Oncehesawafoxwithabirdinitsmouth.Hecalledloudly,hopingtofrightenthefoxintodroppingthebird;butthefox,leapingawayinfright,didnotdropthebird.

    Hewaswearyandoftenwishedtorest—toliedownandsleep,buthewasdrivenonbyhishunger.Hesearchedlittlepondsforfrogsandduguptheearthwithhisfingernailsforworms,thoughheknewthatneitherfrogsnorwormslivedthatfarnorth.

    Inoneareahewalkedalongacreek,lookingforfish.Inapoolhefoundasmallone.Hedippedhisarmintothewateruptohisshoulder,butthefishgotaway.Thenhereachedforitwithbothhands,stirringupthemudatthebottom.Inhisexcitementhefellin,wettinghimselftothewaist.Sincehecouldnolongerseethefish,hehadtowaituntilthewatercleared.

    Whenhetriedagain,thewaterbecamemuddy.Thenhetookhistinpailandbegantobailthepool.Hebailedwildlyatfirst,andsomeofthewaterranbackintothepool.Thenheworkedmorecarefully,thoughhisheartwaspoundinginhischestandhishandswereshaking.Attheendofhalfanhourthepoolwasnearlydry.Buttherewasnofish.Ithadescapedbetweentherocksintoalargerpool.

    Defeatedinhiseffort,themansatdownuponthewetearth.Atfirsthecriedsoftlytohimself.Thenhecriedloudlyinhishopelesscondition.

    Hebuiltafireandwarmedhimselfanddranksomehotwater.Hisblanketswerewetandcold,andhisanklewasstillpainful,buthisworstsufferingcamefromhishunger.Hetriedtosleep,buthedreamedoffoodandmanygoodthingstoeat.

    Heawokecoldandsick.Therewasnosun.Theairabouthimgrewwhitewhilehemadeafireandboiledsomewater.Itwaswetsnow,halfrain,andtheflakesmeltedquicklyandputouthisfire.

    Bythistimehehadbecomehunger-mad.Hefeltthroughthesnowandpulledupsomegrassroots.Hechewedtherootsbuttheyweretastelessorbitter.

    Hehadnofirethatnightbecausehecouldn』tfindanydrywood,sohecrawledunderhisblankettosleepthebrokensleepofhunger.Thesnowturnedintoacoldrain.Hefeltitonhisfaceduringthenight.

    Latethenextmorningthesunbrokethroughthegraymist.Thenthemanrealizedhewaslost.Heturnednorthwardtocorrecthiscourse,hopingtofindtheriverandthecanoe.ThenhewonderedwhathadhappenedtoBill.

    Thoughhishungerpainswerenoworse,herealizedhewasgettingweaker.Hehadtostopfrequentlytorest.Histonguefeltdryandlarge,andhismouthhadabittertaste.Hisheartgavehimagreatdealoftrouble.Hecouldfeelitsthump,thump,thump;andthepainfulbeatschokedhimandmadehimfeelfaint.

    Inthemiddleofthedayhecaughttwosmallfishinapoolbyusinghispail.Heatethefishraw,butthehungerpainwasnowdullandlifeless.Hisstomachhadgonetosleep.

    Inthemorninghecaughtthreemoresmallfish,eatingtwoofthemandsavingoneforhisbreakfast.Anothernightpassed.Inthemorninghetiedmorestripsoftheblanketaroundhisfeet,andthenheuntiedthestringofthemoose-hidepouch.Fromitsopenmouthpouredayellowstreamofcoarsegolddustandnuggets.Heknewhemustlightenhisload.Hehardlyhadthestrengthtocarrythelastremainingblanket.Heroughlydividedthegoldintohalves.Hepouredhalfofthegoldintoapieceofblanketandrolleditintoasmallpackage,whichhehidinarockledge.

    Thenhewalkedon,barelyabletoplaceonefootaheadoftheother.

    Hefacedanotherdayofcoldfog.Halfofhislastblankethadgonetowraphisfeet.Hewasnowtooweaktocarryhissmallpack.Againhedividedthegold,thistimebyspillinghalfofitontheground.Intheafternoonhethrewtherestofitaway.Thereremainedonlythehalfblanket,thetinpail,hisknife,andtherifle.

    Hepushedonforanhourbeforehefellintoafaint.Arousedbyanoise,hecouldnotbelievehiseyes.Beforehimstoodahorse.Ahorse!Rubbinghiseyes,hesuddenlyrealizedhewaslookingatagreatbrownbear.

    Themanbroughthisgunhalfwaytohisshoulderbeforeheremembereditwasnotloaded.Helowereditanddrewhishuntingknife,wonderingifthebearwouldattack.Themandrewhimselfuptohisfullheight,staredatthebearandwaited.Thebearadvancedafewstepsandthenstopped.Themanknewifheran,thebearwouldrunafterhim.Withallhismightthemanswungtheknifeandgrowledlikeananimal.Thebeardidnotunderstandthemysteriouscreatureandwalkedaway.
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