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！
the lower register； and not altogether free from a nasal falsetto in the upper。
Daring and brilliant as it was in the middle notes； it was perhaps more
musically remarkable for its great sustaining power。 The element of
surprise always entered into the hearer's enjoyment； long after any
ordinary strain of human origin would have ceased； faint echoes of Jinny's
last note were perpetually recurring。 But it was as an intellectual and
moral expression that her bray was perfect。 As far beyond her size as
were her aspirations； it was a free and running commentary of scorn at all
created things extant； with ironical and sardonic additions that were
terrible。 It reviled all human endeavor； it quenched all sentiment； it
suspended frivolity； it scattered reverie； it paralyzed action。 It was
47
… Page 48…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
omnipotent。 More wonderful and characteristic than all； the very existence
of this tremendous organ was unknown to the camp for six months after
the arrival of its modest owner； and only revealed to them under
circumstances that seemed to point more conclusively than ever to her rare
discretion。
It was the beginning of a warm night and the middle of a heated
political discussion。 Sawyer's Bar had gathered in force at the Crossing；
and by the light of flaring pine torches； cheered and applauded the rival
speakers who from a rude platform addressed the excited multitude。
Partisan spirit at that time ran high in the foot…hills； crimination and
recrimination； challenge； reply； accusation； and retort had already inflamed
the meeting； and Colonel Bungstarter； after a withering review of his
opponent's policy； culminated with a personal attack upon the career and
private character of the eloquent and chivalrous Colonel Culpepper
Starbottle of Siskiyou。 That eloquent and chivalrous gentleman was
known to be present； it was rumored that the attack was expected to
provoke a challenge from Colonel Starbottle which would give
Bungstarter the choice of weapons； and deprive Starbottle of his advantage
as a dead shot。 It was whispered also that the sagacious Starbottle； aware
of this fact； would retaliate in kind so outrageously as to leave Bungstarter
no recourse but to demand satisfaction on the spot。 As Colonel Starbottle
rose； the eager crowd drew together； elbowing each other in rapt and
ecstatic expectancy。 〃He can't get even on Bungstarter； onless he allows
his sister ran off with a nigger； or that he put up his grandmother at draw
poker and lost her；〃 whispered the Quartz Crusher； 〃kin he？〃 All ears
were alert； particularly the very long and hairy ones just rising above the
railing of the speaker's platform； for Jinny； having a feminine distrust of
solitude and a fondness for show； had followed her master to the meeting
and had insinuated herself upon the platform； where way was made for her
with that frontier courtesy always extended to her age and sex。
Colonel Starbottle； stertorous and purple； advanced to the railing。
There he unbuttoned his collar and laid his neckcloth aside； then with his
eye fixed on his antagonist he drew off his blue frock coat； and thrusting
one hand into his ruffled shirt front； and raising the other to the dark
48
… Page 49…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
canopy above him； he opened his vindictive lips。 The action； the attitude；
were Starbottle's。 But the voice was not。 For at that supreme moment；
a brayso profound； so appalling； so utterly soul…subduing； so paralyzing
that everything else sank to mere insignificance beside itfilled woods；
and sky； and air。 For a moment only the multitude gasped in speechless
astonishmentit was a moment onlyand then the welkin roared with their
shouts。 In vain silence was commanded； in vain Colonel Starbottle； with
a ghastly smile； remarked that he recognized in the interruption the voice
and the intellect of the opposition； the laugh continued； the more as it was
discovered that Jinny had not yet finished； and was still recurring to her
original theme。 〃Gentlemen；〃 gasped Starbottle； 〃any attempt by ＇Hee…
haw！ from Jinny＇ brutal buffoonery to restrict the right of free speech to all
＇a prolonged assent from Jinny＇ is worthy only the dastardly〃but here a
diminuendo so long drawn as to appear a striking imitation of the
Colonel's own apoplectic sentences drowned his voice with shrieks of
laughter。
It must not be supposed that during this performance a vigorous
attempt was not made to oust Jinny from the platform。 But all in vain。
Equally demoralizing in either extremity； Jinny speedily cleared a circle
with her flying hoofs； smashed the speaker's table and water pitcher； sent
the railing flying in fragments over the cheering crowd； and only
succumbed to two blankets； in which； with her head concealed； she was
finally dragged； half captive； half victor； from the field。 Even then a
muffled and supplemental bray that came from the woods at intervals drew
half the crowd away and reduced the other half to mere perfunctory
hearers。 The demoralized meeting was adjourned； Colonel Starbottle's
withering reply remained unuttered； and the Bungstarter party were
triumphant。
For the rest of the evening Jinny was the heroine of the hour； but no
cajolery nor flattery could induce her to again exhibit her powers。 In
vain did Dean of Angel's extemporize a short harangue in the hope that
Jinny would be tempted to reply； in vain was every provocation offered
that might sting her sensitive nature to eloquent revolt。 She replied only
with her heels。 Whether or not this was simple caprice； or whether she
49
… Page 50…
DRIFT FROM TWO SHORES
was satisfied with her maiden effort； or indignant at her subsequent
treatment； she remained silent。 〃She made her little game；〃 said Dan；
who was a political adherent of Starbottle's； and who yet from that day
enjoyed the great speaker's undying hatred； 〃and even if me and her don't
agree on politicsYOU let her alone。〃 Alas； it would have been well for
Dan if he could have been true to his instincts； but the offer of one
hundred dollars from the Bungstarter party proved too tempting。 She
passed irrevocably from his hands into those of the enemy。 But any
reader of these lines will； I trust； rejoice to hear that this attempt to restrain
free political expression in the foot…hills failed signally。 For； although
she was again covertly introduced on the platform by the Bungstarters； and
placed face to face with Colonel Starbottle at Murphy's