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！
； cut a pitiful figure at once。 There was a general rout。 /El Dancaire/； Garcia； a good…looking fellow from Ecija； who was called /El Remendado/； and Carmen herself； kept their wits about them。 The rest forsook the mules and took to the gorges； where the horses could not follow them。 There was no hope of saving the mules； so we hastily unstrapped the best part of our booty； and taking it on our shoulders； we tried to escape through the rocks down the steepest of the slopes。 We threw our packs down in front of us and followed them as best we could； slipping along on our heels。 Meanwhile the enemy fired at us。 It was the first time I had ever heard bullets whistling around me and I didn't mind it very much。 When there's a woman looking on； there's no particular merit in snapping one's fingers at death。 We all escaped except the poor /Remendado/； who received a bullet wound in the loins。 I threw away my pack and tried to lift him up。
〃 'Idiot！' shouted Garcia； 'what do we want with offal！ Finish him off； and don't lose the cotton stockings！'
〃 'Drop him！' cried Carmen。
〃I was so exhausted that I was obliged to lay him down for a moment under a rock。 Garcia came up； and fired his blunderbuss full into his face。 'He'd be a clever fellow who recognised him now！' said he； as he looked at the face； cut to pieces by a dozen slugs。
〃There； sir； that's the delightful sort of life I've led！ That night we found ourselves in a thicket； worn out with fatigue； with nothing to eat； and ruined by the loss of our mules。 What do you think that devil Garcia did？ He pulled a pack of cards out of his pocket and began playing games with /El Dancaire/ by the light of a fire they kindled。 Meanwhile I was lying down； staring at the stars； thinking of /El Remendado/； and telling myself I would just as lief be in his place。 Carmen was squatting down near me； and every now and then she would rattle her castanets and hum a tune。 Then； drawing close to me； as if she would have whispered in my ear； she kissed me two or three times over almost against my will。
〃 'You are a devil；' said I to her。
〃 'Yes；' she replied。
〃After a few hours' rest； she departed to Gaucin； and the next morning a little goatherd brought us some food。 We stayed there all that day； and in the evening we moved close to Gaucin。 We were expecting news from Carmen； but none came。 After daylight broke we saw a muleteer attending a well…dressed woman with a parasol； and a little girl who seemed to be her servant。 Said Garcia； 'There go two mules and two women whom St。 Nicholas has sent us。 I would rather have had four mules； but no matter。 I'll do the best I can with these。'
〃He took his blunderbuss； and went down the pathway； hiding himself among the brushwood。
〃We followed him； /El Dancaire/ and I keeping a little way behind。 As soon as the woman saw us； instead of being frightenedand our dress would have been enough to frighten any oneshe burst into a fit of loud laughter。 'Ah！ the /lillipendi/！ They take me for an /erani/！'*
* 〃The idiots； they take me for a smart lady！〃
〃It was Carmen； but so well disguised that if she had spoken any other language I should never have recognised her。 She sprang off her mule； and talked some time in an undertone with /El Dancaire/ and Garcia。 Then she said to me：
〃 'Canary…bird； we shall meet again before you're hanged。 I'm off to Gibraltar on gipsy businessyou'll soon have news of me。'
〃We parted； after she had told us of a place where we should find shelter for some days。 That girl was the providence of our gang。 We soon received some money sent by her； and a piece of news which was still more useful to usto the effect that on a certain day two English lords would travel from Gibraltar to Granada by a road she mentioned。 This was a word to the wise。 They had plenty of good guineas。 Garcia would have killed them； but /El Dancaire/ and I objected。 All we took from them； besides their shirts； which we greatly needed； was their money and their watches。
〃Sir； a man may turn rogue in sheer thoughtlessness。 You lose your head over a pretty girl； you fight another man about her； there is a catastrophe； you have to take to the mountains； and you turn from a smuggler into a robber before you have time to think about it。 After this matter of the English lords； we concluded that the neighbourhood of Gibraltar would not be healthy for us； and we plunged into the /Sierra de Ronda/。 You once mentioned Jose…Maria to me。 Well； it was there I made acquaintance with him。 He always took his mistress with him on his expeditions。 She was a pretty girl； quiet； modest； well… mannered； you never heard a vulgar word from her； and she was quite devoted to him。 He； on his side； led her a very unhappy life。 He was always running after other women； he ill…treated her； and then sometimes he would take it into his head to be jealous。 One day he slashed her with a knife。 Well； she only doted on him the more！ That's the way with women； and especially with Andalusians。 This girl was proud of the scar on her arm； and would display it as though it were the most beautiful thing in the world。 And then Jose…Maria was the worst of comrades in the bargain。 In one expedition we made with him； he managed so that he kept all the profits； and we had all the trouble and the blows。 But I must go back to my story。 We had no sign at all from Carmen。 /El Dancaire/ said： 'One of us will have to go to Gibraltar to get news of her。 She must have planned some business。 I'd go at once； only I'm too well known at Gibraltar。' /El Tuerto/ said：
〃 'I'm well known there too。 I've played so many tricks on the crayfish*and as I've only one eye； it is not overeasy for me to disguise myself。'
* Name applied by the Spanish populace to the British soldiers； on account of the colour of their uniform。
〃 'Then I suppose I must go；' said I； delighted at the very idea of seeing Carmen again。 'Well； how am I to set about it？'
〃The others answered：
〃 'You must either go by sea； or you must get through by San Rocco； whichever you like the best； once you are in Gibraltar； inquire in the port where a chocolate…seller called /La Rollona/ lives。 When you've found her； she'll tell you everything that's happening。'
〃It was settled that we were all to start for the Sierra； that I was to leave my two companions there； and take my way to Gibraltar； in the character of a fruit…seller。 At Ronda one of our men procured me a passport； at Gaucin I was provided with a donkey。 I loaded it with oranges and melons； and started forth。 When I reached Gibraltar I found that many people knew /La Rollona/； but that she was either dead or had gone /ad finibus terroe/；* and； to my mind； her disappearance explained the failure of our correspondence with Carmen。 I stabled my donkey； and began to move about the town； carrying my oranges as though to sell them； but in reality looking to see whether I could not come across any face I knew。 The place is full of ragamuffins from every country in the world； and it really is like the Tower of Babel； for you can't go ten paces along a street without hearing as many languages。 I did see some gipsies； but I hardly dared confide in them。 I was taking stock of them； and they were taking stock of me。 We had mutually guessed each other to be rogues； but the important thing for us was to know whether we belonged to the same gang。 After having spent two days in fruitless wanderings； and having found out nothing either as to /La Rollona/ or as to Carmen； I was thinking I would go back to my comrades as soon as I had made a few purchases； when； toward sunset； as I was walking along a street； I heard a woman's voice from a window say； 'Orange…seller！'
* To the galleys； or else to all the devils in hell。
〃I looked up； and on a balcony I saw Carmen looking out； beside a scarlet…coated officer with gold epaulettes； curly hair； and all the appearance of a rich /milord/。 As for her； she was magnificently dressed； a shawl hung on her shoulders； she'd a gold comb in her hair； everything she wore was of silk； and the cunning little wretch； not a bit altered； was laughing till she held her sides。
〃The Englishman shouted to me in mangled Spanish to come upstairs； as the lady wanted some oranges； and Carmen said to me in Basque：
〃 'Come up； and don't look astonished at anything！'
〃Indeed； nothing that she did ought ever to have astonished me。 I don't know whether I was most happy or wretched at seeing her again。 At the door of the house there was a tall English servant with a powdered head； who ushered me into a splendid drawing…room。 Instantly Carmen said to me in Basque； 'You don't know one word of Spanish； and you don't know me。' Then turning to the Englishman； she added：
〃 'I told you so。 I saw at once he was a Basque。 Now you'll hear what a queer language he speaks。 Doesn't he look silly？ He's like a cat that's been caught in the larder！'
〃 'And you；' said I to her in my own language； 'you look like an impudent jadeand I've a good mind to scar your face here and now； before your spark。'
〃 'My spark！' said she。 'Why； you've guessed that all alone！ Are you jealous of this idiot？ You're even sillier than you were before our evening in the /Calle del