文档介绍：Across The Plains
Across The Plains
by Robert Louis Stevenson
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Across The Plains
CHAPTER I - ACROSS THE
PLAINS
LEAVES FROM THE NOTEBOOK OF AN EMIGRANT BETWEEN
NEW YORK AND SAN FRANCISCO
MONDAY. - It was, if I remember rightly, five o'clock when we were
all signalled to be present at the Ferry Depot of the railroad. An
emigrant ship had arrived at New York on the Saturday night, another on
the Sunday morning, our own on Sunday afternoon, a fourth early on
Monday; and as there is no emigrant train on Sunday a great part of the
passengers from these four ships was concentrated on the train by which
I was to travel. There was a babel of bewildered men, women, and
children. The wretched little booking-office, and the baggage-room,
which was not much larger, were crowded thick with emigrants, and
were heavy and rank with the atmosphere of dripping clothes. Open
carts full of bedding stood by the half-hour in the rain. The officials
loaded each other with recriminations. A bearded, mildewed little man,
whom I take to have been an emigrant agent, was all over the place, his
mouth full of brimstone, blustering and interfering. It was plain that
the whole system, if system there was, had utterly broken down under
the strain of so many passengers.
My own ticket was given me at once, and an oldish man, who
preserved his head in the midst of this turmoil, got my baggage
registered, and counselled me to stay quietly where I was till he should
give me the word to move. I had taken along with me a small valise, a
knapsack, which I carried on my shoulders, and in the bag of my railway
rug the whole of BANCROFT'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES,
in six fat volumes. It was as much as I could carry with convenience
even for short distances, but it insured me plenty of clothing, and the
valise was at that moment, and often after, useful for a stool. I am sure
I sat for an hour in the baggage- room, and wretched enough it was; yet,
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Across The P