按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
quarry；' he added； looking slyly at me； 'and I have a new plan for
getting at them。'
〃There was a long pause； and then there rose in the stillness the
unearthly howling of the baron's hounds； a cheerful sound which
only their owner's somewhat loud converse of the evening had kept
from becoming excessively obtrusive。
〃'Hark at themthe beauties！' cried he； showing his short； strong
teeth； pointed like a dog's in a wide grin of anticipative delight。
'They have been kept on pretty short commons； poor things！ They
are hungry。 By the way； Marshfield； you can sit tight to a horse；
I trust？ If you were to roll off； you know； these splendid
fellowsthey would chop you up in a second。 They would chop you
up；' he repeated unctuously； 'snap； crunch； gobble； and there would
be an end of you！'
〃'If I could not ride a decent horse without being thrown；' I
retorted； a little stung by his manner； 'after my recent three
months' torture with the Guard Cossacks； I should indeed be a
hopeless subject。 Do not think of frightening me from the exploit；
but say frankly if my company would be displeasing。'
〃'Tut！' he said； waving his hand impatiently； 'it is your affair。
I have warned you。 Go and get ready if you want to come。 Time
presses。'
〃I was determined to be of the fray； my blood was up。 I have
hinted that the baron's Tokay had stirred it。
〃I went to my room and hurriedly donned clothes more suitable for
rough night work。 My last care was to slip into my pockets a brace
of double…barreled pistols which formed part of my traveling kit。
When I returned I found the baron already booted and spurred； this
without metaphor。 He was stretched full length on the divan； and
did not speak as I came in； or even look at me。 Chewing an unlit
cigar； with eyes fixed on the ceiling； he was evidently following
some absorbing train of ideas。
〃The silence was profound； time went by； it grew oppressive； at
length； wearied out； I fell； over my chibouque； into a doze filled
with puzzling visions； out of which I was awakened with a start。
My companion had sprung up； very lightly； to his feet。 In his
throat was an odd； half…suppressed cry； grewsome to hear。 He stood
on tiptoe； with eyes fixed； as though looking through the wall； and
I distinctly saw his ears point in the intensity of his listening。
〃After a moment； with hasty； noiseless energy； and without the
slightest ceremony； he blew the lamps out； drew back the heavy
curtains and threw the tall window wide open。 A rush of icy air；
and the bright rays of the moongibbous； I remember； in her third
quarterfilled the room。 Outside the mist had condensed； and the
view was unrestricted over the white plains at the foot of the
hill。
〃The baron stood motionless in the open window； callous to the cold
in which； after a minute； I could hardly keep my teeth from
chattering； his head bent forward； still listening。 I listened
too； with 'all my ears；' but could not catch a sound； indeed the
silence over the great expanse of snow might have been called
awful； even the dogs were mute。
〃Presently； far； far away； came a faint tinkle of bells； so faint；
at first； that I thought it was but fancy； then distincter。 It was
even more eerie than the silence； I thought； though I knew it could
come but from some passing sleigh。 All at once that ceased； and
again my duller senses could perceive nothing； though I saw by my
host's craning neck that he was more on the alert than ever。 But
at last I too heard once more； this time not bells； but as it were
the tread of horses muffled by the snow； intermittent and dull； yet
drawing nearer。 And then in the inner silence of the great house
it seemed to me I caught the noise of closing doors； but here the
hounds； as if suddenly becoming alive to some disturbance； raised
the same fearsome concert of yells and barks with which they had
greeted my arrival； and listening became useless。
〃I had risen to my feet。 My host； turning from the window； seized
my shoulder with a fierce grip； and bade me 'hold my noise'； for a
second or two I stood motionless under his iron talons； then he
released me with an exultant whisper： 〃Now for our chase！〃 and made
for the door with a spring。 Hastily gulping down a mouthful of
arrack from one of the bottles on the table； I followed him； and；
guided by the sound of his footsteps before me； groped my way
through passages as black as Erebus。
〃After a time； which seemed a long one； a small door was flung open
in front； and I saw Kossowski glide into the moonlit courtyard and
cross the square。 When I too came out he was disappearing into the
gaping darkness of the open stable door； and there I overtook him。
〃A man who seemed to have been sleeping in a corner jumped up at
our entrance； and led out a horse ready saddled。 In obedience to a
gruff order from his master； as the latter mounted； he then brought
forward another which he had evidently thought to ride himself and
held the stirrup for me。
〃We came delicately forth； and the Cossack hurriedly barred the
great door behind us。 I caught a glimpse of his worn； scarred face
by the moonlight； as he peeped after us for a second before
shutting himself in； it was stricken with terror。
〃The baron trotted briskly toward the kennels； from whence there
was now issuing a truly infernal clangor； and； as my steed followed
suit of his own accord； I could see how he proceeded dexterously to
unbolt the gates without dismounting； while the beasts within
dashed themselves against them and tore the ground in their fury of
impatience。
〃He smiled； as he swung back the barriers at last； and his
'beauties' came forth。 Seven or eight monstrous brutes； hounds of
a kind unknown to me： fulvous and sleek of coat； tall on their
legs； square…headed； long…tailed； deep…chested； with terrible jaws
slobbering in eagerness。 They leaped around and up at us； much to
our horses' distaste。 Kossowski； still smiling； lashed at them
unsparingly with his hunting whip； and they responded； not with
yells of pain； but with snarls of fury。
〃Managing his restless steed and his cruel whip with consummate
ease； my host drove the unruly crew before him out of the
precincts； then halted and bent down from his saddle to examine
some slight prints in the snow which led； not the way I had come；
but toward what seemed another avenue。 In a second or two the
hounds were gathered round this spot； their great snake…like tails
quivering； nose to earth； yelping with excitement。 I had some ado
to manage my horse； and my eyesight was far from being as keen as
the baron's； but I had then no doubt he had come already upon wolf
tracks； and I shuddered mentally； thinking of the sleigh bells。
〃Suddenly Kossowski raised himself from his strained position；
under his low fur cap his face； with its fixed smile； looked
scarcely human in the white light： and then we broke int