Buried Treasure By O. Henry There are many kinds of fools. Now, will everybody please sit still until they are called upon I had been every kind of fool except one. I had expended my patrimony, pretended my matrimony, played poker, lawn-tennis, and bucket-shops--parted soon with my money in many ways. But there remained one rule of the wearer of cap and bells that I had not played. That was the Seeker after Buried Treasure To few does the delectable furor come. But of all the woul d-be followers in the hoof- prints of King Midas none has found a pursuit so rich in pleasurable But, going back from my theme a while--as lame pens must do--I was a fool of the sentimental soft. I saw May Martha Mangum, and was hers. She was eighteen, the color of the white ivory keys of a new piano, beautiful, and possessed by the exquisite solemnity and pathetic witchery of an unsophisticated angel doomed to live in a small, dull, Texas prairie-town. She had a spirit and charm that could have enabled her to pluck rubies like raspberries from the crown of Belgium or any other sporty kingdom, but she did not know it, and I did not paint the picture for You see, I wanted May Martha Mangum for to have and to hold. I wanted her to abide with me, and put my slippers and pipe away every day in places where they cannot be found of evenings May Martha's father was a man hidden behind whiskers and spectacles. He lived for bugs and butterflies and all insects that fly or crawl or buzz or get down your back or in the butter. He was an etymologist, or words to that effect. He spent his life seining the air for flying fish of the June-bug order, and then sticking pins through 'em and calling 'em names He and May Martha were the whole family. He prized her highly as a fine specimen of the racibus humanus because she saw that he had food at times*, and put his clothes on right side before, and kept his alcohol-bottles filled. Scientists, they say, are apt to be absent-minded There was another besides myself who thought May Martha Mangum one to be desired. That was Goodloe Banks, a young man just home from college. He had all the attainments to be found in bookS--Latin, Greek, philosophy, and especially the higher branches of mathematics and logic If it hadn 't been for his habit of pouring out this information and learning on every one that addressed, I'd have liked him pretty well. But, even as it was, he and I were, you would have thought, great pals We got together every time we could because each of us wanted to pump the other for whatever straws we could to find which way the wind blew from the heart of May Martha Mangum'--rather a mixed metaphor; Goodloe Banks would never have been guilty of that. That is 1 Patrimony:祖上的遗产; matr imony:婚姻: pretend:在此做“试图”“妄为”解。耗尽家财,妄想结婚。 2 Wearer of cup and bell:这里指小丑,他们通常带着系着铃铛的帽子。 3 in the hoof- prints of King Midas:迈达斯,希腊神话中小亚细亚的国王,因贪财而向神灵索要了点石成金 的能力,最后在拥抱女儿时把女儿也变成了黄金。后又因冒犯阿波罗而被罚长出了驴耳朵 4see此处作“保证”解。她照看他的一日三餐。 Pump the other for whatever straws we could: straw有“鸡毛蒜皮”“细微的迹象”之意,双方都想从对方 嘴里套出些蛛丝马迹。 To find which way the wind blew from the heart of May Martha mangum:直译为“以求
Buried Treasure By O. Henry There are many kinds of fools. Now, will everybody please sit still until they are called upon specifically to rise? I had been every kind of fool except one. I had expended my patrimony, pretended my matrimony1 , played poker, lawn-tennis, and bucket-shops--parted soon with my money in many ways. But there remained one rule of the wearer of cap and bells 2 that I had not played. That was the Seeker after Buried Treasure. To few does the delectable furor come. But of all the would-be followers in the hoof- prints of King Midas none has found a pursuit so rich in pleasurable promise.3 But, going back from my theme a while--as lame pens must do--I was a fool of the sentimental soft. I saw May Martha Mangum, and was hers. She was eighteen, the color of the white ivory keys of a new piano, beautiful, and possessed by the exquisite solemnity and pathetic witchery of an unsophisticated angel doomed to live in a small, dull, Texas prairie-town. She had a spirit and charm that could have enabled her to pluck rubies like raspberries from the crown of Belgium or any other sporty kingdom, but she did not know it, and I did not paint the picture for her. You see, I wanted May Martha Mangum for to have and to hold. I wanted her to abide with me, and put my slippers and pipe away every day in places where they cannot be found of evenings. May Martha's father was a man hidden behind whiskers and spectacles. He lived for bugs and butterflies and all insects that fly or crawl or buzz or get down your back or in the butter. He was an etymologist, or words to that effect. He spent his life seining the air for flying fish of the June-bug order, and then sticking pins through 'em and calling 'em names. He and May Martha were the whole family. He prized her highly as a fine specimen of the racibus humanus because she saw that he had food at times4 , and put his clothes on right side before, and kept his alcohol-bottles filled. Scientists, they say, are apt to be absent- minded. There was another besides myself who thought May Martha Mangum one to be desired. That was Goodloe Banks, a young man just home from college. He had all the attainments to be found in books--Latin, Greek, philosophy, and especially the higher branches of mathematics and logic. If it hadn't been for his habit of pouring out this information and learning on every one that he addressed, I'd have liked him pretty well. But, even as it was, he and I were, you would have thought, great pals. We got together every time we could because each of us wanted to pump the other for whatever straws we could to find which way the wind blew from the heart of May Martha Mangum5 --rather a mixed metaphor; Goodloe Banks would never have been guilty of that. That is 1 Patrimony：祖上的遗产；matrimony：婚姻；pretend：在此做“试图”“妄为”解。耗尽家财，妄想结婚。 2 Wearer of cup and bell: 这里指小丑，他们通常带着系着铃铛的帽子。 3 in the hoof- prints of King Midas：迈达斯，希腊神话中小亚细亚的国王，因贪财而向神灵索要了点石成金 的能力，最后在拥抱女儿时把女儿也变成了黄金。后又因冒犯阿波罗而被罚长出了驴耳朵。 4 See 此处作“保证”解。她照看他的一日三餐。 5 Pump the other for whatever straws we could：straw 有“鸡毛蒜皮”“细微的迹象”之意，双方都想从对方 嘴里套出些蛛丝马迹。To find which way the wind blew from the heart of May Martha Mangum：直译为“以求
the way of rivals You might say that Goodloe ran to books, manners, culture, rowing, intellect, and clothes. I would have put you in mind more of baseball and Friday-night debating societies--by way of culture--and maybe of a good horseback rider But in our talks together, and in our visits and conversation with May Martha, neither Goodloe Banks nor I could find out which one of us she preferred May martha was a natural-born non-committal, and knew in her cradle how to keep people guessing I said, old man Mangum was absentminded. After a long time he found out one day--a little butterfly must have told him-that two young men were trying to throw a net over the head of he young person, a daughter, or some such technical appendage, who looked after his comforts I never knew scientists could rise to such occasions. Old Mangum orally labelled and classified Goodloe and myself easily among the lowest orders of the vertebrates; and in English too, without going any further into Latin than the simple references to Orgetorix Rex Helvetii--which is as far as I ever went, myself. And he told us that if he ever caught us around his house again he would add us to his collection Goodloe Banks and I remained away five days, expecting the storm to subside. When dared to call at the house again May Martha Mangum and her father were gone. Gone! The house they had rented was closed. Their little store of goods and chattels was gone also And not a word of farewell to either of us from may Martha--not a white fluttering note pinned to the hawthorn-bush; not a chalk-mark on the gate-post nor a post-card in the post-office to give us a clew For two months Goodloe Banks and I--separately--tried every scheme we could think of to track the runaways. We used our friendship and influence with the ticket-agent, with livery-stable men, railroad conductors, and our one lone, lorn constable, but without results Then we became better friends and worse enemies than ever. We forgathered in the back room of Snyder's saloon every afternoon after work, and played dominoes, and laid conversational traps to find out from each other if anything had been discovered. That is the way of rivals Now, Goodloe Banks had a sarcastic way of displaying his own learning and putting me in the class that was reading"Poor Jane Ray, her bird is dead, she cannot play. "Well, I rather liked oodloe, and I had a contempt for his college learning, and I was always regarded as good natured, so I kept my temper. And I was trying to find out if he knew anything about May Martha, so I endured his society In talking things over one afternoon he said to me Suppose you do find her, Ed, whereby would you profit? Miss Mangum has a mind. Perhaps it is yet uncultured, but she is destined for higher things than you could give her. I have talked with no one who seemed to appreciate more the enchantment of the ancient poets and writers and the modern cults that have assimilated and expended their philosophy of life. Don't you think you are wasting your time looking for her? My idea, "said I, "of a happy home is an eight-room house in a grove of live-oaks by the 知玫·玛莎·曼格姆心里的风吹向哪一边”,意即探知女方更中意谁 6 A natural-born non- committal天生含蓄: Knew in her cradle how to keep people guessing:在摇篮里就知道 如何让人不断捉摸(她的心意) 7我从未想到科学家竟能对付如此场面 Orgetoriⅸx, Rex helvetii: Rex helvetii:赫尔维蒂之王。赫尔维蒂是罗马时期高卢的一部分, Orgetorix曾想 征服高卢却未遂。此处应是老人对两个年轻人的恐吓,要他们永远别想娶到他女儿
the way of rivals. You might say that Goodloe ran to books, manners, culture, rowing, intellect, and clothes. I would have put you in mind more of baseball and Friday-night debating societies--by way of culture--and maybe of a good horseback rider. But in our talks together, and in our visits and conversation with May Martha, neither Goodloe Banks nor I could find out which one of us she preferred. May Martha was a natural-born non-committal, and knew in her cradle how to keep people guessing6 . As I said, old man Mangum was absentminded. After a long time he found out one day--a little butterfly must have told him-that two young men were trying to throw a net over the head of the young person, a daughter, or some such technical appendage, who looked after his comforts. I never knew scientists could rise to such occasions.7 Old Mangum orally labelled and classified Goodloe and myself easily among the lowest orders of the vertebrates; and in English, too, without going any further into Latin than the simple references to Orgetorix, Rex Helvetii8 --which is as far as I ever went, myself. And he told us that if he ever caught us around his house again he would add us to his collection. Goodloe Banks and I remained away five days, expecting the storm to subside. When we dared to call at the house again May Martha Mangum and her father were gone. Gone! The house they had rented was closed. Their little store of goods and chattels was gone also. And not a word of farewell to either of us from May Martha--not a white, fluttering note pinned to the hawthorn-bush; not a chalk-mark on the gate-post nor a post-card in the post-office to give us a clew. For two months Goodloe Banks and I--separately--tried every scheme we could think of to track the runaways. We used our friendship and influence with the ticket-agent, with livery-stable men, railroad conductors, and our one lone, lorn constable, but without results. Then we became better friends and worse enemies than ever. We forgathered in the back room of Snyder's saloon every afternoon after work, and played dominoes, and laid conversational traps to find out from each other if anything had been discovered. That is the way of rivals. Now, Goodloe Banks had a sarcastic way of displaying his own learning and putting me in the class that was reading "Poor Jane Ray, her bird is dead, she cannot play." Well, I rather liked Goodloe, and I had a contempt for his college learning, and I was always regarded as goodnatured, so I kept my temper. And I was trying to find out if he knew anything about May Martha, so I endured his society. In talking things over one afternoon he said to me: "Suppose you do find her, Ed, whereby would you profit? Miss Mangum has a mind. Perhaps it is yet uncultured, but she is destined for higher things than you could give her. I have talked with no one who seemed to appreciate more the enchantment of the ancient poets and writers and the modern cults that have assimilated and expended their philosophy of life. Don't you think you are wasting your time looking for her?" "My idea," said I, "of a happy home is an eight-room house in a grove of live-oaks by the 知玫·玛莎·曼格姆心里的风吹向哪一边”，意即探知女方更中意谁。 6 A natural-born non-committal：天生含蓄；Knew in her cradle how to keep people guessing：在摇篮里就知道 如何让人不断捉摸（她的心意）。 7 我从未想到科学家竟能对付如此场面。 8 Orgetorix, Rex Helvetii：Rex Helvetii：赫尔维蒂之王。赫尔维蒂是罗马时期高卢的一部分，Orgetorix 曾想 征服高卢却未遂。此处应是老人对两个年轻人的恐吓，要他们永远别想娶到他女儿
side of a charco on a Texas prairie. A piano, "I went on, " with an automatic player in the sitting-room, three thousand head of cattle under fence for a starter, a buckboard and ponies al ways hitched at a post for the missus --and May Martha Mangum to spend the profits of the ranch as she pleases, and to abide with me, and put my slippers and pipe away every day in places where they cannot be found of evenings. That, said l, " is what is to be; and a fig--a dried, Smyrna, dago-stand fig--for your curriculums, cults, and philosophy She is meant for higher things, "repeated Goodloe Banks Whatever she is meant for, "I answered, just now she is out of pocket, And I shall find her as soon as i can without aid of the colleges 'The game is blocked, "said Goodloe, putting down a domino and we had the beer. Shortly after that a young farmer whom I knew came into town and brought me a folded blue paper. He said his grandfather had just died. I concealed a tear, and he went on to say that the old man had jealously guarded this paper for twenty years. He left it to his family as part of his estate, the rest of which consisted of two mules and a hypotenuse of non-arable land The sheet of paper was of the old, blue kind used during the rebellion of the abolitionists against the secessionists. It was dated June 14, 1863, and it described the hiding-place of ten burro-loads of gold and silver coin valued at three hundred thousand dollars. old Rundle grandfather of his grandson, Sam-was given the information by a Spanish priest who was in on the treasure-burying, and who died many years before--no, afterward-in old Rundle's house. Old Rundle wrote it down from dictation Why didn't your father look this up? "I asked young Rundle "He went blind before he could do so, "he replied Why didn,'t you hunt for it yourself? "I asked Well, "said he, "Ive only known about the paper for ten years. First there was the spring ploughin'to do, and then choppin the weeds out of the corn, and then come takin fodder; and mighty soon winter was on us. It seemed to run along that way year after year. That sounded perfectly reasonable to me, so I took it up with young Lee rundle at once The directions on the paper were simple. The whole burro cavalcade laden with the treasure started from an old Spanish mission in Dolores County. They travelled due south by the compass until they reached the Alamito River. They forded this, and buried the treasure on the top of a little mountain shaped like a pack-saddle standing in a row between two higher ones. a heap of stones marked the place of the buried treasure. All the party except the Spanish priest were killed by Indians a few days later. The secret was a monopoly. It looked good to me Lee rundle suggested that we rig out a camping outfit, hire a surveyor to run out the line from the Spanish mission, and then spend the three hundred thousand dollars seeing the sights in Fort Worth. But, without being highly educated, I knew a way to save time and expense We went to the State land-office and had a practical, what they call a"working, sketch made of all the surveys of land from the old mission to the Alamito River. On this map I drew a line due southward to the river. The length of lines of each survey and section of land was accurately given on the sketch. By these we found the point on the river and had a" connection"made with it and an important, well-identified corner of the Los Animos five-league survey--a grant made by King and a fig- a dried, Smyrna, dago- stand fig:Fig:无花果,亦有“微不足道的东西”之意:(你的学识)只 是个无花果,一个干瘪的士麦那小摊贩上的无花果 0 Out of pocket:原意为“赔钱”,此指玫小姐现在不见了。 1 Jealously此为“警惕”意,珍藏了这张纸二十年
side of a charco on a Texas prairie. A piano," I went on, "with an automatic player in the sitting-room, three thousand head of cattle under fence for a starter, a buckboard and ponies always hitched at a post for 'the missus '--and May Martha Mangum to spend the profits of the ranch as she pleases, and to abide with me, and put my slippers and pipe away every day in places where they cannot be found of evenings. That," said I, "is what is to be; and a fig--a dried, Smyrna, dago-stand fig9 --for your curriculums, cults, and philosophy." "She is meant for higher things," repeated Goodloe Banks. "Whatever she is meant for," I answered, just now she is out of pocket10. And I shall find her as soon as I can without aid of the colleges." "The game is blocked," said Goodloe, putting down a domino and we had the beer. Shortly after that a young farmer whom I knew came into town and brought me a folded blue paper. He said his grandfather had just died. I concealed a tear, and he went on to say that the old man had jealously11 guarded this paper for twenty years. He left it to his family as part of his estate, the rest of which consisted of two mules and a hypotenuse of non-arable land. The sheet of paper was of the old, blue kind used during the rebellion of the abolitionists against the secessionists. It was dated June 14, 1863, and it described the hiding-place of ten burro-loads of gold and silver coin valued at three hundred thousand dollars. Old Rundle-- grandfather of his grandson, Sam--was given the information by a Spanish priest who was in on the treasure-burying, and who died many years before--no, afterward--in old Rundle's house. Old Rundle wrote it down from dictation. "Why didn't your father look this up?" I asked young Rundle. "He went blind before he could do so," he replied. "Why didn't you hunt for it yourself?" I asked. "Well," said he, "I've only known about the paper for ten years. First there was the spring ploughin' to do, and then choppin' the weeds out of the corn; and then come takin' fodder; and mighty soon winter was on us. It seemed to run along that way year after year." That sounded perfectly reasonable to me, so I took it up with young Lee Rundle at once. The directions on the paper were simple. The whole burro cavalcade laden with the treasure started from an old Spanish mission in Dolores County. They travelled due south by the compass until they reached the Alamito River. They forded this, and buried the treasure on the top of a little mountain shaped like a pack-saddle standing in a row between two higher ones. A heap of stones marked the place of the buried treasure. All the party except the Spanish priest were killed by Indians a few days later. The secret was a monopoly. It looked good to me. Lee Rundle suggested that we rig out a camping outfit, hire a surveyor to run out the line from the Spanish mission, and then spend the three hundred thousand dollars seeing the sights in Fort Worth. But, without being highly educated, I knew a way to save time and expense. We went to the State land-office and had a practical, what they call a "working," sketch made of all the surveys of land from the old mission to the Alamito River. On this map I drew a line due southward to the river. The length of lines of each survey and section of land was accurately given on the sketch. By these we found the point on the river and had a "connection" made with it and an important, well- identified corner of the Los Animos five-league survey--a grant made by King 9 And a fig--a dried, Smyrna, dago-stand fig ：Fig：无花果，亦有“微不足道的东西”之意；（你的学识）只 是个无花果，一个干瘪的士麦那小摊贩上的无花果。 10 Out of pocket：原意为“赔钱”，此指玫小姐现在不见了。 11 Jealously 此为“警惕”意，珍藏了这张纸二十年
Philip of spain By doing this we did not need to have the line run out by a surveyor. It was a great expense and time So, Lee Rundle and I fitted out a two-horse wagon team with all the accessories, and drove a hundred and forty-nine miles to Chico, the nearest town to the point we wished to reach. There we picked up a deputy county surveyor. He found the corner of the Los Animos survey for us, ran out the five thousand seven hundred and twenty varas west that our sketch called for, laid a stone on the spot, had coffee and bacon, and caught the mail-stage back to Chico I was pretty sure we would get that three hundred thousand dollars. Lee Rundle's was to be butterflies in old man Mangum's dove-cot, too. If I could find that treasure, 3 only one-third, because I was paying all the expenses. With that two hundred thousand dollars I new I could find May Martha Mangum if she was on earth And with it I could flutter the But Lee and I established camp. Across the river were a dozen little mountains densely covered by cedar-brakes, but not one shaped like a pack-saddle. That did not deter us Appearances are deceptive. A pack-saddle, like beauty, may exist only in the eye of the beholder I and the grandson of the treasure examined those cedar-covered hills with the care of a lady hunting for the wicked flea. We explored every side, top, circumference, mean elevation, angle, slope, and concavity of every one for two miles up and down the river. We spent four days doing sO. Then we hitched up the roan and the dun, and hauled the remains of the coffee and bacon the one hundred and forty- nine miles back to Concho City Lee rundle chewed much tobacco on the return trip. I was busy driving because I was in a As shortly as could be after our empty return Goodloe Banks and I forgathered in the back room of Snyder's saloon to play dominoes and fish for infomation. I told Goodloe about my expedition after the buried treasure If i could have found that three hundred thousand dollars "i said to him. "i could have scoured and sifted the surface of the earth to find May Martha Mangum She is meant for higher things, said Goodloe. "I shall find her myself. But, tell me how you went about discovering the spot where this unearthed increment was im prudently buried I told him in the smallest detail. i showed him the draughtsman,s sketch with the distances marked plainly upon it. After glancing over it in a masterly way, he leaned back in his chair and bestowed upon me an explosion of sardonic, superior, collegiate laughter Well, you are a fool, Jim, "he said, when he could speak It's your play, "said l, patiently, fingering my double-Six Twenty, "said Goodloe, making two crosses on the table with his chalk Why am I a fool? " I asked. "Buried treasure has been found before in many places Because, "said he, "in calculating the point on the river where your line would strike you neglected to allow for the variation. The variation there would be nine degrees west. Let me have your pencil. Goodloe Banks figured rapidly on the back of an envelope "The distance, from north to south, of the line run from the Spanish mission, "said he,"is exactly twenty-two miles. It was run by a pocket-compass, according to your story. Allowing for the variation, the point on the Alamito River where you should have searched for your treasure is
Philip of Spain. By doing this we did not need to have the line run out by a surveyor. It was a great saving of expense and time. So, Lee Rundle and I fitted out a two-horse wagon team with all the accessories, and drove a hundred and forty-nine miles to Chico, the nearest town to the point we wished to reach. There we picked up a deputy county surveyor. He found the corner of the Los Animos survey for us, ran out the five thousand seven hundred and twenty varas west that our sketch called for, laid a stone on the spot, had coffee and bacon, and caught the mail-stage back to Chico. I was pretty sure we would get that three hundred thousand dollars. Lee Rundle's was to be only one-third, because I was paying all the expenses. With that two hundred thousand dollars I knew I could find May Martha Mangum if she was on earth. And with it I could flutter the butterflies in old man Mangum's dove-cot, too. If I could find that treasure! But Lee and I established camp. Across the river were a dozen little mountains densely covered by cedar-brakes, but not one shaped like a pack-saddle. That did not deter us. Appearances are deceptive. A pack-saddle, like beauty, may exist only in the eye of the beholder. I and the grandson of the treasure examined those cedar-covered hills with the care of a lady hunting for the wicked flea. We explored every side, top, circumference, mean elevation, angle, slope, and concavity of every one for two miles up and down the river. We spent four days doing so. Then we hitched up the roan and the dun, and hauled the remains of the coffee and bacon the one hundred and forty- nine miles back to Concho City. Lee Rundle chewed much tobacco on the return trip. I was busy driving, because I was in a hurry. As shortly as could be after our empty return Goodloe Banks and I forgathered in the back room of Snyder's saloon to play dominoes and fish for information. I told Goodloe about my expedition after the buried treasure. "If I could have found that three hundred thousand dollars," I said to him, "I could have scoured and sifted the surface of the earth to find May Martha Mangum." "She is meant for higher things," said Goodloe. "I shall find her myself. But, tell me how you went about discovering the spot where this unearthed increment was imprudently buried." I told him in the smallest detail. I showed him the draughtsman's sketch with the distances marked plainly upon it. After glancing over it in a masterly way, he leaned back in his chair and bestowed upon me an explosion of sardonic, superior, collegiate laughter. "Well, you are a fool, Jim," he said, when he could speak. "It's your play," said I, patiently, fingering my double-six. "Twenty," said Goodloe, making two crosses on the table with his chalk. "Why am I a fool?" I asked. "Buried treasure has been found before in many places." "Because," said he, "in calculating the point on the river where your line would strike you neglected to allow for the variation. The variation there would be nine degrees west. Let me have your pencil." Goodloe Banks figured rapidly on the back of an envelope. "The distance, from north to south, of the line run from the Spanish mission," said he, "is exactly twenty-two miles. It was run by a pocket-compass, according to your story. Allowing for the variation, the point on the Alamito River where you should have searched for your treasure is
exactly six miles and nine hundred and forty-five varas farther west than the place you hit upon Oh, what a fool you are, Jim! What is this variation that you speak of? "I asked. "I thought figures never lied The variation of the magnetic compass, "said Goodloe, "from the true meridian He smiled in his superior way; and then I saw come out in his face the singular, eager onsuming cupidity of the seeker after buried treasure Sometimes, " he said with the air of the oracle, these old traditions of hidden money are not without foundation. Suppose you let me look over that paper describing the location. Perhaps together we might The result was that Goodloe Banks and I, rivals in love, became companions in adventure le went to Chico by stage from Huntersburg, the nearest railroad town In Chico we hired a team drawing a covered spring-wagon and camping paraphernalia. We had the same surveyor run out our distance, as revised by Goodloe and his variations, and then dismissed him and sent him on his homeward road It was night when we arrived I fed the horses and made a fire near the bank of the river and cooked supper. Goodloe would have helped, but his education had not fitted him for practical But while I worked he cheered me with the expression of great thoughts handed down from the dead ones of old. He quoted some translations from the Greek at much length Anacreon, "he explained. "That was a favorite passage with Miss Mangum--as I recited for higher things, "said I, repeating his phrase Can there be anything higher, asked Goodloe, " than to dwell in the society of the classics, to live in the atmosphere of learning and culture? You have often decried education. what of your wasted efforts through your ignorance of simple mathematics? How soon would you have found your treasure if my knowledge had not shown you your error? Well take a look at those hills across the river first. said l "and see what we find I am still doubtful about variations. I have been brought up to believe that the needle is true to the pole 3 The next morning was a bright June one. We were up early and had breakfast. Goodloe was charmed. He recited--Keats, I think it was, and Kelly or Shelley-while I broiled the bacon. We were getting ready to cross the river, which was little more than a shallow creek there, and explore the many sharp-peaked cedar-covered hills on the other side "My good Ulysses, "said Goodloe, slapping me on the shoulder while I was washing the tin breakfast-plates, "let me see the enchanted document once more. I believe it gives directions for climbing the hill shaped like a pack-saddle. I never saw a pack-saddle. What is it like, Jim? Score one against culture "said I. "I' ll know it when I see it Goodloe was looking at old Rundle's document when he ripped out5 a most uncollegiate swear-word Come here, " he said, holding the paper up against the sunlight. " Look at that, he said, laying his finger against it On the blue paper--a thing I had never noticed before--l saw stand out in white letters word and figures: "Malvern, 1898 12用古时候死人流传下的伟大思想来为我打气 13 The needle is true to the pole:磁针是正对北极的 14 Ulysses:利西斯,希腊神话中长途跋涉的英雄。 15 Ripped out:狠狠地发出
exactly six miles and nine hundred and forty-five varas farther west than the place you hit upon. Oh, what a fool you are, Jim!" "What is this variation that you speak of?" I asked. "I thought figures never lied." "The variation of the magnetic compass," said Goodloe, "from the true meridian." He smiled in his superior way; and then I saw come out in his face the singular, eager, consuming cupidity of the seeker after buried treasure. "Sometimes," he said with the air of the oracle, "these old traditions of hidden money are not without foundation. Suppose you let me look over that paper describing the location. Perhaps together we might--" The result was that Goodloe Banks and I, rivals in love, became companions in adventure. We went to Chico by stage from Huntersburg, the nearest railroad town. In Chico we hired a team drawing a covered spring-wagon and camping paraphernalia. We had the same surveyor run out our distance, as revised by Goodloe and his variations, and then dismissed him and sent him on his homeward road. It was night when we arrived. I fed the horses and made a fire near the bank of the river and cooked supper. Goodloe would have helped, but his education had not fitted him for practical things. But while I worked he cheered me with the expression of great thoughts handed down from the dead ones of old.12 He quoted some translations from the Greek at much length. "Anacreon," he explained. "That was a favorite passage with Miss Mangum--as I recited it." "She is meant for higher things," said I, repeating his phrase. "Can there be anything higher," asked Goodloe, "than to dwell in the society of the classics, to live in the atmosphere of learning and culture? You have often decried education. What of your wasted efforts through your ignorance of simple mathematics? How soon would you have found your treasure if my knowledge had not shown you your error?" "We'll take a look at those hills across the river first," said I, "and see what we find. I am still doubtful about variations. I have been brought up to believe that the needle is true to the pole13." The next morning was a bright June one. We were up early and had breakfast. Goodloe was charmed. He recited--Keats, I think it was, and Kelly or Shelley--while I broiled the bacon. We were getting ready to cross the river, which was little more than a shallow creek there, and explore the many sharp-peaked cedar-covered hills on the other side. "My good Ulysses14," said Goodloe, slapping me on the shoulder while I was washing the tin breakfast-plates, "let me see the enchanted document once more. I believe it gives directions for climbing the hill shaped like a pack-saddle. I never saw a pack-saddle. What is it like, Jim?" "Score one against culture," said I. "I'll know it when I see it." Goodloe was looking at old Rundle's document when he ripped out15 a most uncollegiate swear-word. "Come here," he said, holding the paper up against the sunlight. "Look at that," he said, laying his finger against it. On the blue paper--a thing I had never noticed before--I saw stand out in white letters the word and figures : "Malvern, 1898." 12 用古时候死人流传下的伟大思想来为我打气。 13 The needle is true to the pole：磁针是正对北极的。 14 Ulysses：尤利西斯，希腊神话中长途跋涉的英雄。 15 Ripped out：狠狠地发出
What about it? " I asked It's the water-mark, "said Goodloe. "The paper was manufactured in 1898. The writing on the paper is dated 1863. This is a palpable fraud Oh, I don't know, "said l. " The Rundles are pretty reliable, plain, uneducated country people May be the paper manufacturers tried to perpetrate a swindle And then Goodloe Banks went as wild as his education permitted. He dropped the glasses off his nose and glared at me I've often told you you were a fool, " he said. "You have let yourself be posed upo by a clodhopper. And you have imposed upon me How, I asked, "have I imposed upon you? By your ignorance, "said he. "Twice I have discovered serious flaws in your plans that a common-school education should have enabled you to avoid. And, "he continued, "I have been put to expense that I could ill afford in pursuing this swindling quest. I am done with it. I rose and pointed a large pewter spoon at him, fresh from the dish-water Goodloe Banks, " I said, "I care not one parboiled navy bean for your education. I always barely tolerated it in any one, and I despised it in you. What has your learning done for you? It is a urse to yourself and a bore to your friends. Away, "I said--"away with your water-marks and variations! They are nothing to me. They shall not deflect me from the quest I pointed with my spoon across the river to a small mountain shaped like a pack-saddl I am going to search that mountain, "I went on, "for the treasure. Decide now whether you are in it or not If you wish to let a water-mark or a variation shake your soul, you are no true venturer. Decide A white cloud of dust began to rise far down the river road. It was the mail-wagon from Hesperus to Chico. Goodloe flagged it. I am done with the swindle, "said he, sourly. "No one but a fool would pay any attention to that paper now. Well, you always were a fool, Jim. I leave you to your fate He gathered his personal traps, climbed into the mail-wagon, adjusted his glasses nervously, and flew away in a cloud of dust After I had washed the dishes and staked the horses on new grass, I crossed the shallow river nd made my way slowly through the cedar- brakes up to the top of the hill shaped like a It was a wonderful June day. Never in my life had I seen so many birds, so many butter-flies, Iragon-flies, grasshoppers, and such winged and stinged beasts of the air and fields I investigated the hill shaped like a pack-saddle from base to summit. I found an absolute absence of signs relating to buried treasure. There was no pile of stones, no ancient blazes on the trees. none of the evidences of the three hundred thousand dollars. as set forth in the document of old man Rundle I came down the hill in the cool of the afternoon. Suddenly, out of the cedar-brake I stepped into a beautiful green valley where a tributary small stream ran into the Alamito river And there I was started to see what I took to be a wild man, with unkempt beard and ragged hair, pursuing a giant butterfly with brilliant wings Perhaps he is an escaped madman, "I thought, and wondered how he had strayed so far from 6 By your ignorance:用你的无知
"What about it?" I asked. "It's the water-mark," said Goodloe. "The paper was manufactured in 1898. The writing on the paper is dated 1863. This is a palpable fraud." "Oh, I don't know," said I. "The Rundles are pretty reliable, plain, uneducated country people. Maybe the paper manufacturers tried to perpetrate a swindle." And then Goodloe Banks went as wild as his education permitted. He dropped the glasses off his nose and glared at me. "I've often told you you were a fool," he said. "You have let yourself be imposed upon by a clodhopper. And you have imposed upon me." "How," I asked, "have I imposed upon you ?" "By your ignorance16," said he. "Twice I have discovered serious flaws in your plans that a common-school education should have enabled you to avoid. And," he continued, "I have been put to expense that I could ill afford in pursuing this swindling quest. I am done with it." I rose and pointed a large pewter spoon at him, fresh from the dish- water. "Goodloe Banks," I said, "I care not one parboiled navy bean for your education. I always barely tolerated it in any one, and I despised it in you. What has your learning done for you? It is a curse to yourself and a bore to your friends. Away," I said--"away with your water-marks and variations! They are nothing to me. They shall not deflect me from the quest." I pointed with my spoon across the river to a small mountain shaped like a pack-saddle. "I am going to search that mountain," I went on, "for the treasure. Decide now whether you are in it or not. If you wish to let a water- mark or a variation shake your soul, you are no true adventurer. Decide." A white cloud of dust began to rise far down the river road. It was the mail-wagon from Hesperus to Chico. Goodloe flagged it. "I am done with the swindle," said he, sourly. "No one but a fool would pay any attention to that paper now. Well, you always were a fool, Jim. I leave you to your fate." He gathered his personal traps, climbed into the mail-wagon, adjusted his glasses nervously, and flew away in a cloud of dust. After I had washed the dishes and staked the horses on new grass, I crossed the shallow river and made my way slowly through the cedar- brakes up to the top of the hill shaped like a pack-saddle. It was a wonderful June day. Never in my life had I seen so many birds, so many butter-flies, dragon-flies, grasshoppers, and such winged and stinged beasts of the air and fields. I investigated the hill shaped like a pack-saddle from base to summit. I found an absolute absence of signs relating to buried treasure. There was no pile of stones, no ancient blazes on the trees, none of the evidences of the three hundred thousand dollars, as set forth in the document of old man Rundle. I came down the hill in the cool of the afternoon. Suddenly, out of the cedar-brake I stepped into a beautiful green valley where a tributary small stream ran into the Alamito River. And there I was started to see what I took to be a wild man, with unkempt beard and ragged hair, pursuing a giant butterfly with brilliant wings. "Perhaps he is an escaped madman," I thought; and wondered how he had strayed so far from 16 By your ignorance：用你的无知
seats of education and learning And then I took a few more steps and saw a vine-covered cottage near the small stream. And in a little grassy glade I saw May Martha Mangum plucking wild flowers She straightened up and looked at me. For the first time since I knew her I saw her face--which was the color of the white keys of a new piano--turn pink I walked toward her without a word She let the gathered flowers trickle slowly from her hand to the grass I knew you would come, Jim, she said clearly. "Father wouldn,'t let me write, but I knew you would come What followed you may guess--there was my wagon and team just across the river I've often wondered what good too much education is to a man if he can ' t use it for himself. If all the benefits of it are to go to others, where does it come in? For May Martha Mangum abides with me. There is an eight-room house in a live-oak grove and a piano with an automatic player, and a good start toward the three thousand head of cattle is under fence And when I ride home at night my pipe and slippers are put away in places where they cannot be found But who cares for that? Who cares--who cares? 赏析 知识使人进步。可惜,在欧·亨利这篇精悍的小说中,知识却成了人的桎梏。文章开始, 作者便点名了“我”是个傻瓜,而在文末,却只有我得到了最好的结局。典型的“欧·亨利 式结尾”一出,读者也又一次在惊喜中体会到了深刻的生活哲理 古德洛便是反面的典型。他纵然学富五车,却在心上人藏身的山谷前愤然离去。这不能 不说是一种遗憾,却也不能不说是自作自受。借这个矫揉造作的大学生,作者深刻而不失幽 默地讽刺了一把所有那些故作高深的知识分子,将他们的肤浅和虚伪尽显无遗 古德洛每逢作者便少不了一番吹嘘卖弄,即使在共同寻宝的路程中他什么实际的活都做 不了,却仍满口文绉绉的话。而作者则多次悉心地不忘提及他的自鸣得意,看似不经意,却 使得读者在现实与古德洛自我感觉的反差中读出些许讽刺。另一方面,当得知“我”有藏宝 图时,尽管古德洛冷嘲热讽地挖苦“我”不懂得磁偏角,心里却急切地觊觎宝藏,面子上还 要说得冠冕堂皇。虚伪尽显。再者,开篇作者即言自己还没当过狂热寻宝的笨蛋,而这儿古 德洛却正是这种笨蛋。看来知识确赋予他“金玉其外”了。何况,通篇,古德洛一会儿成为 “情敌”,一会儿又变成“伙伴”。这让人不得不赞叹作者反讽的精妙。 比较潜在讽刺则表现在对玛莎爸爸的讽剌上。昆虫博士曼格姆,身为专心术业的科学家 却竟至把失去了母亲的亲生女儿当做“法律上的附属品”,甚至为了科学而将女儿带到荒无 人烟的深山中。尽管深山客观上美不胜收,这件事却暴露了科学家的冷漠无情—一竟想让女 儿一辈子踏不出家门半步。当然,最终曼格姆先生一副野人的模样,成了不折不扣的科学怪 人,连“我”都以为他远离教育和学问。这便是科学家得到的最终评价,追求了一生的教育 和学问的科学家的最终评价 另外,表面上看,或许结尾有些荒诞:尽管知识分子没有善果,但“我”的善终也更多 是纯运气的成分,并非是未受教育人民的执着淳朴的必然结果。在此,我想或许这样的安排 1 Seats of education and learning:有教育与学问的地方
seats of education and learning17 . And then I took a few more steps and saw a vine-covered cottage near the small stream. And in a little grassy glade I saw May Martha Mangum plucking wild flowers. She straightened up and looked at me. For the first time since I knew her I saw her face--which was the color of the white keys of a new piano--turn pink. I walked toward her without a word. She let the gathered flowers trickle slowly from her hand to the grass. "I knew you would come, Jim," she said clearly. "Father wouldn't let me write, but I knew you would come. What followed you may guess--there was my wagon and team just across the river. I've often wondered what good too much education is to a man if he can't use it for himself. If all the benefits of it are to go to others, where does it come in? For May Martha Mangum abides with me. There is an eight-room house in a live-oak grove, and a piano with an automatic player, and a good start toward the three thousand head of cattle is under fence. And when I ride home at night my pipe and slippers are put away in places where they cannot be found. But who cares for that? Who cares--who cares? 赏析 知识使人进步。可惜，在欧·亨利这篇精悍的小说中，知识却成了人的桎梏。文章开始， 作者便点名了“我”是个傻瓜，而在文末，却只有我得到了最好的结局。典型的“欧·亨利 式结尾”一出，读者也又一次在惊喜中体会到了深刻的生活哲理。 古德洛便是反面的典型。他纵然学富五车，却在心上人藏身的山谷前愤然离去。这不能 不说是一种遗憾，却也不能不说是自作自受。借这个矫揉造作的大学生，作者深刻而不失幽 默地讽刺了一把所有那些故作高深的知识分子，将他们的肤浅和虚伪尽显无遗。 古德洛每逢作者便少不了一番吹嘘卖弄，即使在共同寻宝的路程中他什么实际的活都做 不了，却仍满口文绉绉的话。而作者则多次悉心地不忘提及他的自鸣得意，看似不经意，却 使得读者在现实与古德洛自我感觉的反差中读出些许讽刺。另一方面，当得知“我”有藏宝 图时，尽管古德洛冷嘲热讽地挖苦“我”不懂得磁偏角，心里却急切地觊觎宝藏，面子上还 要说得冠冕堂皇。虚伪尽显。再者，开篇作者即言自己还没当过狂热寻宝的笨蛋，而这儿古 德洛却正是这种笨蛋。看来知识确赋予他“金玉其外”了。何况，通篇，古德洛一会儿成为 “情敌”，一会儿又变成“伙伴”。这让人不得不赞叹作者反讽的精妙。 比较潜在讽刺则表现在对玛莎爸爸的讽刺上。昆虫博士曼格姆，身为专心术业的科学家， 却竟至把失去了母亲的亲生女儿当做“法律上的附属品”，甚至为了科学而将女儿带到荒无 人烟的深山中。尽管深山客观上美不胜收，这件事却暴露了科学家的冷漠无情——竟想让女 儿一辈子踏不出家门半步。当然，最终曼格姆先生一副野人的模样，成了不折不扣的科学怪 人，连“我”都以为他远离教育和学问。这便是科学家得到的最终评价，追求了一生的教育 和学问的科学家的最终评价。 另外，表面上看，或许结尾有些荒诞：尽管知识分子没有善果，但“我”的善终也更多 是纯运气的成分，并非是未受教育人民的执着淳朴的必然结果。在此，我想或许这样的安排 17 Seats of education and learning：有教育与学问的地方
有更深的意味。其实,古德洛并没失去宝藏,更进一步,可以说他用他的学识避免了一场浪 费人力财力的寻宝妄想,他失去的实为找到爱人的巧合与奇迹,而这才恰恰是“我”所得到 知识给了我们理性,却让我们远离了奇迹。 最后,我认为文章稍欠的一点即是“回顾的我”的全知视角。很多时候,作者与其说是 在“展现”,不如说是在“阐述”,然而这阐述又出自第一人称单方面的声音,其他角色的声 音被全然屏蔽。这就导致了叙述者一定程度上的不可靠。比如在介绍曼格姆先生时,作者就 直接写道他把女儿当做精美的标本,因为他认为女儿可以照顾他起居。这不禁使读者生疑 一作者是如何知道的呢?而一旦叙事者的权威被削弱,反面人物在读者心中便有了翻盘的 机会,或许这并不利于主题的表达。不过即使如此,这仍是一篇不失水准的上乘之作
有更深的意味。其实，古德洛并没失去宝藏，更进一步，可以说他用他的学识避免了一场浪 费人力财力的寻宝妄想，他失去的实为找到爱人的巧合与奇迹，而这才恰恰是“我”所得到 的。 知识给了我们理性，却让我们远离了奇迹。 最后，我认为文章稍欠的一点即是“回顾的我”的全知视角。很多时候，作者与其说是 在“展现”，不如说是在“阐述”，然而这阐述又出自第一人称单方面的声音，其他角色的声 音被全然屏蔽。这就导致了叙述者一定程度上的不可靠。比如在介绍曼格姆先生时，作者就 直接写道他把女儿当做精美的标本，因为他认为女儿可以照顾他起居。这不禁使读者生疑 ——作者是如何知道的呢？而一旦叙事者的权威被削弱，反面人物在读者心中便有了翻盘的 机会，或许这并不利于主题的表达。不过即使如此，这仍是一篇不失水准的上乘之作