自考英语综合一上册 lesson 8

　　[00:00.00]Text  A Fiddle 1 and the Law

[00:06.30]Special Agent X came to a cabin about two miles up the mountain.

[00:12.96]He had come to get Cal Richards,an armed and dangerous killer 2.

[00:19.20]Through a broken window,he saw a man with a beard watching him closely.

[00:25.57]Agent X drew a deep breath.

[00:29.10]He stepped up to the cabin door with a cheerful"Hello!"

[00:34.43]Beside the fireplace,an old man sat silently.

[00:39.29]Still standing 3 near the window was the bearded man--a gun in his hands.

[00:45.64]"Government man,aren't you?"said the man with the gun.

[00:50.78]"Yes,"replied the agent with a friendly smile.

[00:55.01]"You must be Pappy Richards."

[00:58.36]"Sure.I'm Cal's pa.And you're not going to get him."

[01:04.31]The gun pointed 4 at the G-man.

[01:07.66]Agent X looked around the cabin.

[01:11.21]I've been assigned to do it."he said.

[01:14.76]But I can see he isn't here today.

[01:18.32]I guess I'll have to come again.

[01:21.79]Then he caught sight of a violin hanging on the wall.

[01:25.84]"Who plays the fiddle?"he asked.

[01:29.10]For a moment there was silence.

[01:32.55]Then the old man by the fire spoke 5 up.

[01:36.52]"Pappy,"he said."He's the best fiddler in these parts.

[01:41.98]"You ought to hear him play Turkey in the Straw."

[01:45.82]The G-man seemed deeply impressed.

[01:49.58]"You don't say!I play a little myself.

[01:54.26]Mind if I look at the violin?"

[01:57.63]As he crossed the room to the instrument,

[02:00.69]he knew that the gun was still aimed at him.

[02:04.63]He felt sweat on his forehead,

[02:08.18]but he took the violin from the wall as calmly as if he were a welcome visitor.

[02:14.14]He turned it carefully and wiped off the bow.

[02:19.39]Then he broke into the lively music of Turkey in the Straw.

[02:24.54]The old man began to beat time,tapping one foot on the dirt floor.

[02:30.41]But Pappy stood unmoved,gun in hand and eyes alert.

[02:35.38]One tune 6 after another Agent X played,occasionally glancing at Pappy.

[02:41.62]Suddenly the music changed,

[02:44.88]and from the strings 7 came the sweet notes of an old folk song.

[02:50.21]Agent X was playing better than he had ever played in his life.

[02:55.18]Pappy Richards stood enchanted 8,

[02:58.83]the defiance 9 in his eyes giving way to a look of wonder.

[03:03.98]The gun was now pointed toward the floor.

[03:07.74]When the final notes of the song died away,Pappy placed the gun in a corner.

[03:13.59]"Well,stranger,"Pappy said,"that was first-class fiddling 10.

[03:19.65]Maybe you'll stay for dinner and play some more for us."

[03:23.81]After they had eaten,

[03:26.76]the three men sat in the spring sunshine outside that cabin.

[03:32.01]They talked about fiddle tunes 11 and the fiddlers that Pappy and the old man had known here in the mountains.

[03:38.96]They talked for an hour,and not once did anyone speak of the reason for the G-man's visit.

[03:45.52]Once more the bow danced across the strings;

[03:50.19]and so another hour passed quickly.

[03:53.95]Still not a word was said about Cal Richards.

[03:58.60]Finally the agent said,"Sorry!I must be getting back to the village."

[04:04.64]Pappy's friend eyed him for a moment and said,

[04:08.76]"How about Cal?You want him,don't you?"

[04:13.62]There was a touch of amusement in his voice.

[04:17.59]"Well,no,"said the G-man with a smile. "I don't want him.

[04:22.56]The government wants him,and you know how it is when the government wants a man.

[04:28.20]It may take days or months or years to get him,

[04:32.93]but they'll get him.And the longer it takes,the worse off he is."

[04:39.20]"Does the government always get the guy it wants?"

[04:43.04]"No,not always.Sometimes he dies."

[04:47.90]Pappy,sitting on a nearby log,was deep in thought.

[04:52.26]"See here,stranger,"he interrupted suddenly.

[04:56.52]"I like the way you talk and I like the way you fiddle.

[05:00.98]I guess you're a decent guy."

[05:04.22]He paused as if it were hard to go on.

[05:08.38]Then,he said in a thick voice,"I--well,I'll have a talk with Cal.

[05:15.82]I think he might give himself up tomorrow.

　　[05:19.90]You be at the sheriff's office at noon!"

[05:23.66]"Noon tomorrow!"said the agent,

[05:27.03]wondering if he looked as surprised as he felt." So long until then."

[05:32.67]After he left,he wiped his sweating forehead and sighed with relief.

[05:38.63]The next day as the village clock struck twice,

[05:43.28]announcing the hour of noon,

[05:46.62]a bearded man came up the street toward the sheriff's office.

[05:51.37]With him was a young fellow whose appearance told of many days in hiding.

[05:57.33]The G-man was waiting.

[06:00.49]"Stranger,"said Pappy."Here is Cal,my son."