Of course we know that Holden was at a disadvantage. He was powerless to use his arms, which were held close to his sides by the wrappings, and it was with difficulty that he breathed. But his legs were comparatively free, and it would not have required much energy to make such resistance as would have considerably1 hampered2 Red Fox in his purpose.
The reason for the lad's passive demeanour is not difficult to understand.[Pg 181]
Alf was no fool. Indeed, he possessed3 a more than usual degree of common sense, together with a gift for rapid reasoning. He quickly decided4 that, for the time being at least, he was at the Indian's mercy. His instinct told him that, for some unknown reason, he must have incurred6 the native's wrath7; and, even though he might have struggled with a measure of success, the Indian was both powerful and passionate8 enough to murder him then and there.
No person, even in the direst straits, is anxious to incur5 a violent death. Holden was no exception to that rule, so he deemed it best to make pretence9 of fainting, on the chance that time might release him from his plight10. It would only be a needless exhaustion11 to struggle now, when he would be easily overpowered. Moreover, a show of resistance might mean the sudden plunge12 of a hunting-knife.
So he lay still, and the Indian laughed aloud, believing the lad to be unconscious through fright.
"Huh! White dog laugh at Red Fox? He say Red Fox face hideous13?" the redskin exclaimed jeeringly14, as he pressed the horse to the race. "'Tis well. Red Fox face bad—very[Pg 182] bad; but white boy worse when Indian hand have used knife!"
Then the boy understood the mystery. His careless words had been understood, as Bob had suggested. And his fate was to be vengeance15 of a like mutilation of his own fair cheeks!
Not if he knew it!
It was little wonder if the lad felt his blood run cold as he listened to the Indian's vaunt, and it is little wonder that his head swam until he was near in reality to the very faintness that he had assumed.
But real pluck is never subdued16 for long. The very threat was enough to rouse a strong determination to thwart17 the brutal18 intention, and his mental decision was that which we have just recorded in the third person: "Not if I know it!"
Red Fox had quite forgotten about the ermine robe. That was quite Indian-like. The object of the moment was all that he cared about. To gain that aim he would have sacrificed a thousand robes of costliest19 fur—nay, even life itself, if he could have the satisfaction of vengeance first.
Guiding the broncho by the swaying of his[Pg 183] body and the occasional use of a halter-rope, the redskin did not permit the animal to slacken speed for an instant.
Once, owing to the stillness of his burden, he drew aside a portion of the blanket to look at the boy's face.
He saw that the eyes were closed, and a fear came into his heart that perhaps he was to be robbed of his pleasure after all.
But the lips trembled, and, on bending down the Indian could hear the sound of breathing.
"Huh!" he laughed, as he replaced the cloth. "That good! Pale-face—he sleep, but he wake soon when Red Fox make sign of totem. Then white boy laugh not again at Indian. Red Fox, he laugh at hideous white boy."
A peal20 of harsh, savage21 laughter rang through the woods at this delicious humour, and startled the horse so that it strained harder in the gallop22.
Through the woods, the burnt clearing, across the marsh23 where Bob had tracked so steadily24, the broncho passed in the mad race. It was rough riding for the boy as he lay on his back—half across the Indian's knee, with his head partly free of the blanket; but he set his teeth, determined25 to bear the ordeal26 without a whimper, that he[Pg 184] might be more ready for the later critical moment.
Then something (he never knew what) startled the horse. It sprang sideways from the path right into the bush, where a heavy branch caught Red Fox right in the forehead.
One cry the Indian gave. Next moment both the riders were thrown violently to the ground, while the broncho went off wildly and riderless.
The folds of the blanket considerably lessened27 the shock of Alf's fall, and as soon as he had collected his rudely scattered28 senses he did not take long to emerge from his chrysalis-like state.
He sprang to his feet, prepared to be instantly on the defensive29.
To his surprise he was unaccosted, and on turning he saw the Indian lying face downwards30 upon the ground, while a red stream was making a ghastly pool around his head.
Holden was by his enemy's side in an instant. He knelt down and turned the man on his back. The movement was answered by a groan31, but apparently32 the Dacotah was unconscious, for he did not attempt to move, and his eyes were closed.
A spring was close at hand. Alf tore off the scarf that he wore round his throat in bushman[Pg 185] fashion, soaked it in the water, and mopped the redman's brow. Still there was no sign of returning senses, and the lad was now grievously distressed33 at his enemy's disaster. He would have been rejoiced to have vanquished35 the man, had the adventure terminated in an unavoidable encounter. But now that Red Fox was in distress34, all hard feelings and resentment36 had left the lad's heart. He was all sympathy for misfortune. That is the way of the truly brave.
Seeing that recovery was tardy37, Alf tore the scarf in two pieces. With one strip he bound the ugly wound that gaped38 in the Indian's forehead; with the other he resumed his attentions by moistening his lips and temples.
And by and by the redman opened his eyes. He looked up vacantly before him, not seeming to understand what had taken place.
"That's good!" remarked Alf cheerfully. "You feel better now, don't you?"
Red Fox looked straight into the boy's face, but without appearing to recognise him. Then he muttered a few words in Indian and closed his eyes again.
For some time he lay with his head resting against his nurse, while Alf's thoughts began to[Pg 186] wander to his absent father and the chum whom he had left in such strange fashion.
Then he looked down again, and saw that the Indian was regarding him with eyes wide open—looking at him in a peculiar39 wondering fashion, as if he saw for the first time a being of some strange creation.
Holden smiled encouragingly as he touched the man's brow with the damp cloth.
"How does the head feel now?" he asked. "Does the cut pain you much?"
Red Fox did not answer immediately, but continued to stare at the lad with the same open-eyed wonder.
"Pale-face kind," he said at length, in quiet tones. "He touch Red Fox like wing of a dove. Why is the white boy so good?"
"Nonsense," returned Alf. "It's nothing at all. You don't think that Englishmen would leave a fellow to bleed to death, do you?"
"No—English boy good," said the redskin. Then he added, with a sort of wistfulness: "But Indian would leave pale-face——"
"Rot!" was the sharp interruption. "If I had been hurt as you have been, you would do just the same. Now lie quiet for a while. You'll feel[Pg 187] better soon, and then you can go back to your people."
The Indian shook his head slowly.
"Red Fox understand. Red Fox know English tongue good. But—he no' go back to people. He go—Manito—Happy Hunting-ground—soon."
Alf was silent. He had never been in the presence of death, and never before in the presence of the dying. The thought awed40 him.
"Yes—white papoose good," the redskin went on falteringly41. "He kind to hand—that would have cut face for revenge. Ugh! Red Fox bad Indian, but—he sorry—now. Can brave white boy forgive poor Indian?"
"Of course," returned Alf huskily. "You did not understand. English people speak words that they do not mean to hurt. It is I who should ask forgiveness for what I said about you. I, too, am sorry."
"Then—white and red are—brothers. They bury the hatchet42 and—my white brother will stay with Red Fox while he go Happy Hunting-ground?"
"Yes, yes," the boy assented43 readily. "I won't leave you. Don't you be afraid of that."[Pg 188]
"It is well, for Red Fox would speak before he go. He would speak true words to the pale-face. He spoke44 forked words like serpent tongue when he say that white man sent Red Fox to bring papooses to Indian camp. But he speak well now when he say white men with Mighty45 Hand now——"
"Safe?" exclaimed Holden, as the information came to him with sudden joy and sudden dread46.
And the answer was at once a relief and double anxiety.
"White men safe—now. But before another sun they—they die——"
"Die?" was the exclamation47 of horror that greeted this announcement.
"Yes," the Indian answered. "Dacotahs foolish. They say white men spirits that brought great trouble of water to Indian. They say that serpent totem call them to Pleasant Valley, and there they burn unless serpent appear to save them from fire." Here the Indian seemed to gather strength, for, without allowing the horrified48 boy time for utterance49, he slightly raised himself and spoke with a flash of energy.
"But white boy brave—white boy good. He kind to Red Fox who would have used cruel[Pg 189] knife. But Red Fox no' papoose now. He know that white boy too brave to suffer; Red Fox too bad to live. And he would save the pale-face man—
"Go, my brother—go to the village of the Dacotahs and find Thunder-maker, the Medicine Man. Tell him that Red Fox die sorry that he made bad promise—that before he die he bid Thunder-maker speak true to foolish Dacotahs, and tell that white men no' spirits. Thunder-maker know. Thunder-maker can save white men, and——"
The last word choked in the Indian's throat. He gave a gasp50, fell back into Alf's arms, while his eyes looked up hungrily into the lad's face.
"Be brave!" whispered the boy. "Be brave, Red Fox. Manito waits for you. I have forgiven you; He has forgiven you. All will be well."
"Red Fox understand. He—happy——" were the last words that the poor misguided redman spoke, as he died gazing lovingly in his young friend's tear-clouded eyes.
And it was thus that Bob found his chum—tenderly holding his red brother in his arms while the great journey was taken to Manito's happy land for the sorrowful.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
hampered
|
|
| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
incur
|
|
| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
incurred
|
|
| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
passionate
|
|
| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
pretence
|
|
| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
plight
|
|
| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
exhaustion
|
|
| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
plunge
|
|
| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
jeeringly
|
|
| adv.嘲弄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
subdued
|
|
| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
thwart
|
|
| v.阻挠，妨碍，反对；adj.横(断的) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
brutal
|
|
| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
costliest
|
|
| adj.昂贵的( costly的最高级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
peal
|
|
| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
gallop
|
|
| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
marsh
|
|
| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
ordeal
|
|
| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
lessened
|
|
| 减少的，减弱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
defensive
|
|
| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
downwards
|
|
| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
groan
|
|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
distressed
|
|
| 痛苦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
vanquished
|
|
| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
tardy
|
|
| adj.缓慢的，迟缓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
gaped
|
|
| v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
awed
|
|
| adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
falteringly
|
|
| 口吃地，支吾地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
hatchet
|
|
| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
assented
|
|
| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
horrified
|
|
| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
utterance
|
|
| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
gasp
|
|
| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |