登陆注册
14189800000073

第73章 XXII(2)

I shall here state the dimensions of the largest I could find among several that had been blown down by the wind. At three feet from the ground its circumference is fifty-seven feet, nine inches; at one hundred and thirty-four feet, seventeen feet five inches; the extreme length two hundred and forty-five feet.... As it was impossible either to climb the tree or hew it down, I endeavored to knock off the cones by firing at them with ball, when the report of my gun brought eight Indians, all of them painted with red earth, armed with bows, arrows, bone-tipped spears, and flint knives.

They appeared anything but friendly. I explained to them what I wanted and they seemed satisfied and sat down to smoke; but presently I saw one of them string his bow and another sharpen his flint knife with a pair of wooden pincers and suspend it on the wrist of his right hand. Further testimony of their intentions was unnecessary. To save myself by flight was impossible, so without hesitation I stepped back about five paces, cocked my gun, drew one of the pistols out of my belt, and holding it in my left hand, the gun in my right, showed myself determined to fight for my life. As much as possible I endeavored to preserve my coolness, and thus we stood looking at one another without making any movement or uttering a word for perhaps ten minutes, when one at last, who seemed to be the leader, gave a sign that they wished for some tobacco; this I signified they should have if they fetched a quantity of cones. They went off immediately in search of them, and no sooner were they all out of sight than I picked up my three cones and some twigs of the trees and made the quickest possible retreat, hurrying back to my camp, which I reached before dusk.

The Indian who last undertook to be my guide to the trees I sent off before gaining my encampment, lest he should betray me. How irksome is the darkness of night to one under such circumstances.

I cannot speak a word to my guide, nor have I a book to divert my thoughts, which are continually occupied with the dread lest the hostile Indians should trace me hither and make an attack. I now write lying on the grass with my gun cocked beside me, and penning these lines by the light of my Columbian candle, namely, an ignited piece of rosin-wood.

Douglas named this magnificent species Pinus Lambertiana, in honor of his friend Dr. Lambert, of London. This is the noblest pine thus far discovered in the forests of the world, surpassing all others not only in size but in beauty and majesty. Oregon may well be proud that its discovery was made within her borders, and that, though it is far more abundant in California, she has the largest known specimens. In the Sierra the finest sugar pine forests lie at an elevation of about five thousand feet. In Oregon they occupy much lower ground, some of the trees being found but little above tide-water.

No lover of trees will ever forget his first meeting with the sugar pine. In most coniferous trees there is a sameness of form and expression which at length becomes wearisome to most people who travel far in the woods. But the sugar pines are as free from conventional forms as any of the oaks. No two are so much alike as to hide their individuality from any observer. Every tree is appreciated as a study in itself and proclaims in no uncertain terms the surpassing grandeur of the species. The branches, mostly near the summit, are sometimes nearly forty feet long, feathered richly all around with short, leafy branchlets, and tasseled with cones a foot and a half long. And when these superb arms are outspread, radiating in every direction, an immense crownlike mass is formed which, poised on the noble shaft and filled with sunshine, is one of the grandest forest objects conceivable. But though so wild and unconventional when full-grown, the sugar pine is a remarkably regular tree in youth, a strict follower of coniferous fashions, slim, erect, tapering, symmetrical, every branch in place. At the age of fifty or sixty years this shy, fashionable form begins to give way. Special branches are thrust out away from the general outlines of the trees and bent down with cones.

Henceforth it becomes more and more original and independent in style, pushes boldly aloft into the winds and sunshine, growing ever more stately and beautiful, a joy and inspiration to every beholder.

Unfortunately, the sugar pine makes excellent lumber. It is too good to live, and is already passing rapidly away before the woodman's axe.

Surely out of all of the abounding forest wealth of Oregon a few specimens might be spared to the world, not as dead lumber, but as living trees. A park of moderate extent might be set apart and protected for public use forever, containing at least a few hundreds of each of these noble pines, spruces, and firs. Happy will be the men who, having the power and the love and benevolent forecast to do this, will do it. They will not be forgotten. The trees and their lovers will sing their praises, and generations yet unborn will rise up and call them blessed.

同类推荐
  • 嘉树斋稿

    嘉树斋稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 平蜀记

    平蜀记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 抱朴子外篇

    抱朴子外篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说佛十力经

    佛说佛十力经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 乐论

    乐论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 放手天下:紧握一人

    放手天下:紧握一人

    “给你半年,让我爱上你,我便为你留在这。”他强压下心中早已存在的悸动,却始终不能向她伸出自己的手。给她的半年,也只不为了不让她心灰意冷,可又或许是,自己放不了手罢了。强势回归夺天下,怎奈已经有个人将要代替他,“莫宸漓,你可愿再回我的怀抱?”听出了他的挽留,她放任心中心中的悲凉布满全身。“你说可能吗?我心里已经有人了。你?凭什么再进来?”她冷冷一笑,转身,微耸的肩膀泄露了她的一切。
  • 冷面杀神

    冷面杀神

    顾叶磊,退伍军人。一把卡巴1217军刀,一柄银镖使得出神入化,由于神情冰冷,出手精准狠辣,故而被称为冷面杀神。由于一条陌生短信,救了黑道大佬的女儿,卷入黑道争斗之中,被各路人马追杀拉拢,走投无路。无奈,建立自己的势力,从一个黑道新秀一路成长为黑道大佬。终控制全球黑道网,掌握多国政权命运,影响政界重要活动,成最年轻世界首富,创造出一段段传奇。由一个退伍军人到黑白两道的大佬。顾叶磊的奋斗路,奋斗史如何呢?在这奋斗中又有什么样的恩怨情仇呢?敬请期待《冷面杀神》
  • 乱世无极

    乱世无极

    这是一个庞大无疆的世界,这是一个纷争不断的世界。在这里,人类与其他族群共同生存,相生相灭,文明世界经历了一代又一代的诞生和陨灭,从辉煌到沧桑,时间变幻,永无止境。这里,人们称之为“无极”。
  • 痰门

    痰门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 极品送子专家

    极品送子专家

    以前他认为,让女人生孩子不算本事,让医院都没办法的女人生孩子才算本事。现在他认为,让女人生孩子太小儿科了,打破医学定律,让男人生孩子才算真本事。笨蛋、普通、天才只在他的一念之间——边送孩子边升级,钱权美女全都有,踏破阴阳路,逍遥天地间。
  • 离婚不是一件容易的事

    离婚不是一件容易的事

    婚后三年,他们的爱情败给了时间和空间的距离,他出轨了,从此新欢旧爱成了鱼和熊掌。
  • 武林大爆炸

    武林大爆炸

    真功夫从来不怕传,拳术本身不存在高低,差的是人。崔山鹰年少习武,一生无败绩!斗天下,战擂台,见生死,北名南扬,血雨腥风铸造一代形意宗师之路!
  • 易烊千玺命中注定遇见你

    易烊千玺命中注定遇见你

    从喜欢到爱她一直在蜕变,而他,易烊千玺,他一直越来越优秀,是谁的有心变成无心,那个夏天她遇见了他,他觉得世界上再也没有人会让她这样,她一直让自己待在一个角落里,难道让他爱自己一下就那么难吗?易烊千玺,让你说爱她一下就那么难吗?世界原来那么大原来她就早该放弃了,在我消失的那一次,你会不会有一点点难过,不舍,哪怕是一点点,我一直在等你,易烊千玺。
  • 天降妻宝:帝少等的好心焦

    天降妻宝:帝少等的好心焦

    多年前的一场大雪,慕锦城踏雪拾美,红色襁褓里有个糯米团子,粉嫩肉嘟嘟,眨眼笑盈盈,像伴她降临的小雪花可爱洁雅。没错,正是一个将来会一笑倾人心的小女婴,很好,很好,总统爷爷说她就是他的小媳妇。他可高兴,从此便守着这小雪花一起成长,可小八岁的她真心长的慢,……某天他真急了——为理想他不得不离家奔向他国,初中生的她依依不舍。几年后回来,可人儿是长大了,但是他靠近,她后退。她说:男女有别;他说:我们不能有别……是前缘再续还是重塑前缘?总之他又心焦的不要不要的(说明:本书只浅显大致完成简介的内容,不算完篇小说,请谨慎入坑)
  • 玄剑之战神无敌

    玄剑之战神无敌

    轩源,蓬莱仙岛弟子,为报父母血仇,仗剑下山,却陷入了一个个可怕的阴谋之中,掀起天地浩劫的一幕。六界风云,江湖飘摇,正道摒弃,魔道背离,是否还可坚持本心,维持心中那份正义?如此乱世,英才辈出,英雄侠义,儿女柔肠,还看今朝。爱恨,悲欢,离合,背叛,救赎,正道,魔道,尽在本书。有完本作品《玄剑之真爱无悔》,拜求大家支持。