—Shakspeare.
A second glance sufficed to convince the whole of the startled party, that the young Pawnee, whom they had already encountered, again stood before them. Surprise kept both sides mute, and more than a minute was passed in surveying each other, with eyes of astonishment1, if not of distrust. The wonder of the young warrior2 was, however, much more tempered and dignified3 than that of his Christian4 acquaintances. While Middleton and Paul felt the tremor5, which shook the persons of their dependant6 companions, thrilling through their own quickened blood, the glowing eye of the Indian rolled from one to another, as if it could never quail7 before the rudest assaults. His gaze, after making the circuit of every wondering countenance8, finally settled in a steady look on the equally immovable features of the trapper. The silence was first broken by Dr. Battius, in the ejaculation of—“Order, primates9; genus, homo; species, prairie!”
“Ay—ay—the secret is out,” said the old trapper, shaking his head, like one who congratulated himself on having mastered the mystery of some knotty10 difficulty. “The lad has been in the grass for a cover; the fire has come upon him in his sleep, and having lost his horse, he has been driven to save himself under that fresh hide of a buffaloe. No bad invention, when powder and flint were wanting to kindle11 a ring. I warrant me, now, this is a clever youth, and one that it would be safe to journey with! I will speak to him kindly12, for anger can at least serve no turn of ours. My brother is welcome again,” using the language, which the other understood; “the Tetons have been smoking him, as they would a racoon.”
The young Pawnee rolled his eye over the place, as if he were examining the terrific danger from which he had just escaped, but he disdained13 to betray the smallest emotion, at its imminency. His brow contracted, as he answered to the remark of the trapper by saying—
“A Teton is a dog. When the Pawnee war-whoop is in their ears, the whole nation howls.”
“It is true. The imps14 are on our trail, and I am glad to meet a warrior, with the tomahawk in his hand, who does not love them. Will my brother lead my children to his village? If the Siouxes follow on our path, my young men shall help him to strike them.”
The young Pawnee turned his eyes from one to another of the strangers, in a keen scrutiny16, before he saw fit to answer so important an interrogatory. His examination of the males was short, and apparently17 satisfactory. But his gaze was fastened long and admiringly, as in their former interview, on the surpassing and unwonted beauty of a being so fair and so unknown as Inez. Though his glance wandered, for moments, from her countenance to the more intelligible18 and yet extraordinary charms of Ellen, it did not fail to return promptly19 to the study of a creature who, in the view of his unpractised eye and untutored imagination, was formed with all that perfection, with which the youthful poet is apt to endow the glowing images of his brain. Nothing so fair, so ideal, so every way worthy20 to reward the courage and self-devotion of a warrior, had ever before been encountered on the prairies, and the young brave appeared to be deeply and intuitively sensible to the influence of so rare a model of the loveliness of the sex. Perceiving, however, that his gaze gave uneasiness to the subject of his admiration21, he withdrew his eyes, and laying his hand impressively on his chest, he, modestly, answered—
“My father shall be welcome. The young men of my nation shall hunt with his sons; the chiefs shall smoke with the grey-head. The Pawnee girls will sing in the ears of his daughters.”
“And if we meet the Tetons?” demanded the trapper, who wished to understand, thoroughly22, the more important conditions of this new alliance.
“The enemy of the Big-knives shall feel the blow of the Pawnee.”
“It is well. Now let my brother and I meet in council, that we may not go on a crooked23 path, but that our road to his village may be like the flight of the pigeons.”
The young Pawnee made a significant gesture of assent24 and followed the other a little apart, in order to be removed from all danger of interruption from the reckless Paul, or the abstracted naturalist25. Their conference was short, but, as it was conducted in the sententious manner of the natives, it served to make each of the parties acquainted with all the necessary information of the other. When they rejoined their associates, the old man saw fit to explain a portion of what had passed between them, as follows—
“Ay, I was not mistaken,” he said; “this good-looking young warrior—for good-looking and noble-looking he is, though a little horrified26 perhaps with paint—this good-looking youth, then, tells me he is out on the scout27 for these very Tetons. His party was not strong enough to strike the devils, who are down from their towns in great numbers to hunt the buffaloe, and runners have gone to the Pawnee villages for aid. It would seem that this lad is a fearless boy, for he has been hanging on their skirts alone, until, like ourselves, he was driven to the grass for a cover. But he tells me more, my men, and what I am mainly sorry to hear, which is, that the cunning Mahtoree instead of going to blows with the squatter28, has become his friend, and that both broods, red and white, are on our heels, and outlying around this very burning plain to circumvent29 us to our destruction.”
“How knows he all this to be true?” demanded Middleton.
“Anan?”
“In what manner does he know, that these things are so?”
“In what manner! Do you think newspapers and town criers are needed to tell a scout what is doing on the prairies, as they are in the bosom30 of the States? No gossiping woman, who hurries from house to house to spread evil of her neighbour, can carry tidings with her tongue, so fast as these people will spread their meaning, by signs and warnings, that they alone understand. 'Tis their l'arning, and what is better, it is got in the open air, and not within the walls of a school. I tell you, captain, that what he says is true.”
“For that matter,” said Paul, “I'm ready to swear to it. It is reasonable, and therefore it must be true.”
“And well you might, lad; well you might. He furthermore declares, that my old eyes for once were true to me, and that the river lies, hereaway, at about the distance of half a league. You see the fire has done most of its work in that quarter, and our path is clouded in smoke. He also agrees that it is needful to wash our trail in water. Yes, we must put that river atween us and the Sioux eyes, and then, by the favour of the Lord, not forgetting our own industry, we may gain the village of the Loups.”
“Words will not forward us a foot,” said Middleton; “let us move.”
The old man assented31, and the party once more prepared to renew its route. The Pawnee threw the skin of the buffaloe over his shoulder and led the advance, casting many a stolen glance behind him as he proceeded, in order to fix his gaze on the extraordinary and, to him, unaccountable loveliness of the unconscious Inez.
An hour sufficed to bring the fugitives32 to the bank of the stream, which was one of the hundred rivers that serve to conduct, through the mighty33 arteries34 of the Missouri and Mississippi, the waters of that vast and still uninhabited region to the Ocean. The river was not deep, but its current was troubled and rapid. The flames had scorched35 the earth to its very margin36, and as the warm streams of the fluid mingled37, in the cooler air of the morning, with the smoke of the raging conflagration38, most of its surface was wrapped in a mantle39 of moving vapour. The trapper pointed40 out the circumstance with pleasure, saying, as he assisted Inez to dismount on the margin of the watercourse—
“The knaves41 have outwitted themselves! I am far from certain that I should not have fired the prairie, to have got the benefit of this very smoke to hide our movements, had not the heartless imps saved us the trouble. I've known such things done in my day, and done with success. Come, lady, put your tender foot upon the ground—for a fearful time has it been to one of your breeding and skeary qualities. Ah's me! what have I not known the young, and the delicate, and the virtuous42, and the modest, to undergo, in my time, among the horrifications and circumventions of Indian warfare43! Come, it is a short quarter of a mile to the other bank, and then our trail, at least, will be broken.”
Paul had by this time assisted Ellen to dismount, and he now stood looking, with rueful eyes, at the naked banks of the river. Neither tree nor shrub44 grew along its borders, with the exception of here and there a solitary45 thicket46 of low bushes, from among which it would not have been an easy matter to have found a dozen stems of a size sufficient to make an ordinary walking-stick.
“Harkee, old trapper,” the moody-looking bee-hunter exclaimed; “it is very well to talk of the other side of this ripple47 of a river, or brook48, or whatever you may call it, but in my judgment49 it would be a smart rifle that would throw its lead across it—that is, to any detriment50 to Indian, or deer.”
“That it would—that it would; though I carry a piece, here, that has done its work in time of need, at as great a distance.”
“And do you mean to shoot Ellen and the captain's lady across; or do you intend them to go, trout51 fashion, with their mouths under water?”
“Is this river too deep to be forded?” asked Middleton, who, like Paul, began to consider the impossibility of transporting her, whose safety he valued more than his own, to the opposite shore.
“When the mountains above feed it with their torrents52, it is, as you see, a swift and powerful stream. Yet have I crossed its sandy bed, in my time, without wetting a knee. But we have the Sioux horses; I warrant me, that the kicking imps will swim like so many deer.”
“Old trapper,” said Paul, thrusting his fingers into his mop of a head, as was usual with him, when any difficulty confounded his philosophy, “I have swam like a fish in my day, and I can do it again, when there is need; nor do I much regard the weather; but I question if you get Nelly to sit a horse, with this water whirling like a mill-race before her eyes; besides, it is manifest the thing is not to be done dry shod.”
“Ah, the lad is right. We must to our inventions, therefore, or the river cannot be crossed.” Then, cutting the discourse54 short, he turned to the Pawnee, and explained to him the difficulty which existed in relation to the women. The young warrior listened gravely, and throwing the buffaloe-skin from his shoulder he immediately commenced, assisted by the occasional aid of the understanding old man, the preparations necessary to effect this desirable object.
The hide was soon drawn56 into the shape of an umbrella top, or an inverted57 parachute, by thongs58 of deer-skin, with which both the labourers were well provided. A few light sticks served to keep the parts from collapsing59, or falling in. When this simple and natural expedient60 was arranged, it was placed on the water, the Indian making a sign that it was ready to receive its freight. Both Inez and Ellen hesitated to trust themselves in a bark of so frail61 a construction, nor would Middleton or Paul consent that they should do so, until each had assured himself, by actual experiment, that the vessel62 was capable of sustaining a load much heavier than it was destined63 to receive. Then, indeed, their scruples64 were reluctantly overcome, and the skin was made to receive its precious burden.
“Now leave the Pawnee to be the pilot,” said the trapper; “my hand is not so steady as it used to be; but he has limbs like toughened hickory. Leave all to the wisdom of the Pawnee.”
The husband and lover could not well do otherwise, and they were fain to become deeply interested, it is true, but passive spectators of this primitive65 species of ferrying. The Pawnee selected the beast of Mahtoree, from among the three horses, with a readiness that proved he was far from being ignorant of the properties of that noble animal, and throwing himself upon its back, he rode into the margin of the river. Thrusting an end of his lance into the hide, he bore the light vessel up against the stream, and giving his steed the rein67, they pushed boldly into the current. Middleton and Paul followed, pressing as nigh the bark as prudence68 would at all warrant. In this manner the young warrior bore his precious cargo69 to the opposite bank in perfect safety, without the slightest inconvenience to the passengers, and with a steadiness and celerity which proved that both horse and rider were not unused to the operation. When the shore was gained, the young Indian undid70 his work, threw the skin over his shoulder, placed the sticks under his arm, and returned, without speaking, to transfer the remainder of the party, in a similar manner, to what was very justly considered the safer side of the river.
“Now, friend Doctor,” said the old man, when he saw the Indian plunging71 into the river a second time, “do I know there is faith in yonder Red-skin. He is a good-looking, ay, and an honest-looking youth, but the winds of Heaven are not more deceitful than these savages72, when the devil has fairly beset73 them. Had the Pawnee been a Teton, or one of them heartless Mingoes, that used to be prowling through the woods of York, a time back, that is, some sixty years agone, we should have seen his back and not his face turned towards us. My heart had its misgivings74 when I saw the lad choose the better horse, for it would be as easy to leave us with that beast, as it would for a nimble pigeon to part company from a flock of noisy and heavy winged crows. But you see that truth is in the boy, and make a Red-skin once your friend, he is yours so long as you deal honestly by him.”
“What may be the distance to the sources of this stream?” demanded Doctor Battius, whose eyes were rolling over the whirling eddies75 of the current, with a very portentous76 expression of doubt. “At what distance may its secret springs be found?”
“That may be as the weather proves. I warrant me your legs would be a-weary before you had followed its bed into the Rocky Mountains; but then there are seasons when it might be done without wetting a foot.”
“And in what particular divisions of the year do these periodical seasons occur?”
“He that passes this spot a few months from this time, will find that foaming77 water-course a desert of drifting sand.”
The naturalist pondered deeply. Like most others, who are not endowed with a superfluity of physical fortitude78, the worthy man had found the danger of passing the river, in so simple a manner, magnifying itself in his eyes so rapidly, as the moment of adventure approached, that he actually contemplated79 the desperate effort of going round the river, in order to escape the hazard of crossing it. It may not be necessary to dwell on the incredible ingenuity80, with which terror will at any time prop66 a tottering81 argument. The worthy Obed had gone over the whole subject, with commendable82 diligence, and had just arrived at the consoling conclusion, that there was nearly as much glory in discerning the hidden sources of so considerable a stream, as in adding a plant, or an insect, to the lists of the learned, when the Pawnee reached the shore for the second time. The old man took his seat, with the utmost deliberation, in the vessel of skin (so soon as it had been duly arranged for his reception), and having carefully disposed of Hector between his legs, he beckoned83 to his companion to occupy the third place.
The naturalist placed a foot in the frail vessel, as an elephant will try a bridge, or a horse is often seen to make a similar experiment, before he will trust the whole of his corporeal84 treasure on the dreaded85 flat, and then withdrew, just as the old man believed he was about to seat himself.
“Venerable venator,” he said, mournfully, “this is a most unscientific bark. There is an inward monitor which bids me distrust its security!”
“Anan?” said the old man, who was pinching the ears of the hound, as a father would play with the same member in a favourite child.
“I incline not to this irregular mode of experimenting on fluids. The vessel has neither form, nor proportions.”
“It is not as handsomely turned as I have seen a canoe in birchen bark, but comfort may be taken in a wigwam as well as in a palace.”
“It is impossible that any vessel constructed on principles so repugnant to science can be safe. This tub, venerable hunter, will never reach the opposite shore in safety.”
“You are a witness of what it has done.”
“Ay; but it was an anomaly in prosperity. If exceptions were to be taken as rules, in the government of things, the human race would speedily be plunged86 in the abysses of ignorance. Venerable trapper, this expedient, in which you would repose88 your safety, is, in the annals of regular inventions, what a lusus naturae may be termed in the lists of natural history—a monster!”
How much longer Doctor Battius might have felt disposed to prolong the discourse, it is difficult to say, for in addition to the powerful personal considerations, which induced him to procrastinate89 an experiment which was certainly not without its dangers, the pride of reason was beginning to sustain him in the discussion. But, fortunately for the credit of the old man's forbearance, when the naturalist reached the word, with which he terminated his last speech, a sound arose in the air that seemed a sort of supernatural echo to the idea itself. The young Pawnee, who had awaited the termination of the incomprehensible discussion, with grave and characteristic patience, raised his head, and listened to the unknown cry, like a stag, whose mysterious faculties90 had detected the footsteps of the distant hounds in the gale91. The trapper and the Doctor were not, however, entirely92 so uninstructed as to the nature of the extraordinary sounds. The latter recognised in them the well-known voice of his own beast, and he was about to rush up the little bank, which confined the current, with all the longings93 of strong affection, when Asinus himself galloped94 into view, at no great distance, urged to the unnatural95 gait by the impatient and brutal96 Weucha, who bestrode him.
The eyes of the Teton, and those of the fugitives met. The former raised a long, loud, and piercing yell, in which the notes of exultation97 were fearfully blended with those of warning. The signal served for a finishing blow to the discussion on the merits of the bark, the Doctor stepping as promptly to the side of the old man, as if a mental mist had been miraculously99 removed from his eyes. In another instant the steed of the young Pawnee was struggling with the torrent53.
The utmost strength of the horse was needed to urge the fugitives, beyond the flight of arrows that came sailing through the air, at the next moment. The cry of Weucha had brought fifty of his comrades to the shore, but fortunately among them all, there was not one of a rank sufficient to entitle him to the privilege of bearing a fusee. One half the stream, however, was not passed, before the form of Mahtoree himself was seen on its bank, and an ineffectual discharge of firearms announced the rage and disappointment of the chief. More than once the trapper had raised his rifle, as if about to try its power on his enemies, but he as often lowered it, without firing. The eyes of the Pawnee warrior glared like those of the cougar100, at the sight of so many of the hostile tribe, and he answered the impotent effort of their chief, by tossing a hand into the air in contempt, and raising the war-cry of his nation. The challenge was too taunting101 to be endured. The Tetons dashed into the stream in a body, and the river became dotted with the dark forms of beasts and riders.
There was now a fearful struggle for the friendly bank. As the Dahcotahs advanced with beasts, which had not, like that of the Pawnee, expended102 their strength in former efforts, and as they moved unincumbered by any thing but their riders, the speed of the pursuers greatly outstripped103 that of the fugitives. The trapper, who clearly comprehended the whole danger of their situation, calmly turned his eyes from the Tetons to his young Indian associate, in order to examine whether the resolution of the latter began to falter105, as the former lessened106 the distance between them. Instead of betraying fear, however, or any of that concern which might so readily have been excited by the peculiarity107 of his risk, the brow of the young warrior contracted to a look which indicated high and deadly hostility108.
“Do you greatly value life, friend Doctor?” demanded the old man, with a sort of philosophical109 calmness, which made the question doubly appalling110 to his companion.
“Not for itself,” returned the naturalist, sipping111 some of the water of the river from the hollow of his hand, in order to clear his husky throat. “Not for itself, but exceedingly, inasmuch as natural history has so deep a stake in my existence. Therefore—”
“Ay!” resumed the other, who mused112 too deeply to dissect113 the ideas of the Doctor with his usual sagacity, “'tis in truth the history of natur', and a base and craven feeling it is! Now is life as precious to this young Pawnee, as to any governor in the States, and he might save it, or at least stand some chance of saving it, by letting us go down the stream; and yet you see he keeps his faith manfully, and like an Indian warrior. For myself, I am old, and willing to take the fortune that the Lord may see fit to give, nor do I conceit114 that you are of much benefit to mankind; and it is a crying shame, if not a sin, that so fine a youth as this should lose his scalp for two beings so worthless as ourselves. I am therefore disposed, provided that it shall prove agreeable to you, to tell the lad to make the best of his way, and to leave us to the mercy of the Tetons.”
“I repel115 the proposition, as repugnant to nature, and as treason to science!” exclaimed the alarmed naturalist. “Our progress is miraculous98; and as this admirable invention moves with so wonderful a facility, a few more minutes will serve to bring us to land.”
The old man regarded him intently for an instant, and shaking his head he said—
“Lord, what a thing is fear! it transforms the creatur's of the world and the craft of man, making that which is ugly, seemly in our eyes, and that which is beautiful, unsightly! Lord, Lord, what a thing is fear!”
A termination was, however, put to the discussion, by the increasing interest of the chase. The horses of the Dahcotahs had, by this time, gained the middle of the current, and their riders were already filling the air with yells of triumph. At this moment Middleton and Paul who had led the females to a little thicket, appeared again on the margin of the stream, menacing their enemies with the rifle.
“Mount, mount,” shouted the trapper, the instant he beheld116 them; “mount and fly, if you value those who lean on you for help. Mount, and leave us in the hands of the Lord.”
“Stoop your head, old trapper,” returned the voice of Paul, “down with ye both into your nest. The Teton devil is in your line; down with your heads and make way for a Kentucky bullet.”
The old man turned his head, and saw that the eager Mahtoree, who preceded his party some distance, had brought himself nearly in a line with the bark and the bee-hunter, who stood perfectly117 ready to execute his hostile threat. Bending his body low, the rifle was discharged, and the swift lead whizzed harmlessly past him, on its more distant errand. But the eye of the Teton chief was not less quick and certain than that of his enemy. He threw himself from his horse the moment preceding the report, and sunk into the water. The beast snorted with terror and anguish118, throwing half his form out of the river in a desperate plunge87. Then he was seen drifting away in the torrent, and dyeing the turbid119 waters with his blood.
The Teton chief soon re-appeared on the surface, and understanding the nature of his loss, he swam with vigorous strokes to the nearest of the young men, who relinquished120 his steed, as a matter of course, to so renowned121 a warrior. The incident, however, created a confusion in the whole of the Dahcotah band, who appeared to await the intention of their leader, before they renewed their efforts to reach the shore. In the mean time the vessel of skin had reached the land, and the fugitives were once more united on the margin of the river.
The savages were now swimming about in indecision, as a flock of pigeons is often seen to hover122 in confusion after receiving a heavy discharge into its leading column, apparently hesitating on the risk of storming a bank so formidably defended. The well-known precaution of Indian warfare prevailed, and Mahtoree, admonished123 by his recent adventure, led his warriors124 back to the shore from which they had come, in order to relieve their beasts, which were already becoming unruly.
“Now mount you, with the tender ones, and ride for yonder hillock,” said the trapper; “beyond it, you will find another stream, into which you must enter, and turning to the sun, follow its bed for a mile, until you reach a high and sandy plain; there will I meet you. Go; mount; this Pawnee youth and I, and my stout125 friend the physician, who is a desperate warrior, are men enough to keep the bank, seeing that show and not use is all that is needed.”
Middleton and Paul saw no use in wasting their breath in remonstrances126 against this proposal. Glad to know that their rear was to be covered, even in this imperfect manner, they hastily got their horses in motion, and soon disappeared on the required route. Some twenty or thirty minutes succeeded this movement before the Tetons on the opposite shore seemed inclined to enter on any new enterprise. Mahtoree was distinctly visible, in the midst of his warriors, issuing his mandates127 and betraying his desire for vengeance128, by occasionally shaking an arm in the direction of the fugitives; but no step was taken, which appeared to threaten any further act of immediate55 hostility. At length a yell arose among the savages, which announced the occurrence of some fresh event. Then Ishmael and his sluggish129 sons were seen in the distance, and soon the whole of the united force moved down to the very limits of the stream. The squatter proceeded to examine the position of his enemies, with his usual coolness, and, as if to try the power of his rifle, he sent a bullet among them, with a force sufficient to do execution, even at the distance at which he stood.
“Now let us depart!” exclaimed Obed, endeavouring to catch a furtive130 glimpse of the lead, which he fancied was whizzing at his very ear; “we have maintained the bank in a gallant131 manner, for a sufficient length of time; quite as much military skill is to be displayed in a retreat, as in an advance.”
The old man cast a look behind him, and seeing that the equestrians132 had reached the cover of the hill, he made no objections to the proposal. The remaining horse was given to the Doctor, with instructions to pursue the course just taken by Middleton and Paul. When the naturalist was mounted and in full retreat, the trapper and the young Pawnee stole from the spot in such a manner as to leave their enemies some time in doubt as to their movements. Instead, however, of proceeding133 across the plain towards the hill, a route on which they must have been in open view, they took a shorter path, covered by the formation of the ground, and intersected the little water-course at the point where Middleton had been directed to leave it, and just in season to join his party. The Doctor had used so much diligence in the retreat, as to have already overtaken his friends, and of course all the fugitives were again assembled.
The trapper now looked about him for some convenient spot, where the whole party might halt, as he expressed it, for some five or six hours.
“Halt!” exclaimed the Doctor, when the alarming proposal reached his ears; “venerable hunter, it would seem, that on the contrary, many days should be passed in industrious134 flight.”
Middleton and Paul were both of this opinion, and each in his particular manner expressed as much.
The old man heard them with patience, but shook his head like one who was unconvinced, and then answered all their arguments, in one general and positive reply.
“Why should we fly?” he asked. “Can the legs of mortal men outstrip104 the speed of horses? Do you think the Tetons will lie down and sleep; or will they cross the water and nose for our trail? Thanks be to the Lord, we have washed it well in this stream, and if we leave the place with discretion135 and wisdom, we may yet throw them off its track. But a prairie is not a wood. There a man may journey long, caring for nothing but the prints his moccasin leaves, whereas in these open plains a runner, placed on yonder hill, for instance, could see far on every side of him, like a hovering136 hawk15 looking down on his prey137. No, no; night must come, and darkness be upon us, afore we leave this spot. But listen to the words of the Pawnee; he is a lad of spirit, and I warrant me many is the hard race that he has run with the Sioux bands. Does my brother think our trail is long enough?” he demanded in the Indian tongue.
“Is a Teton a fish, that he can see it in the river?”
“But my young men think we should stretch it, until it reaches across the prairie.”
“Mahtoree has eyes; he will see it.”
“What does my brother counsel?”
The young warrior studied the heavens a moment, and appeared to hesitate. He mused some time with himself, and then he replied, like one whose opinion was fixed—
“The Dahcotahs are not asleep,” he said; “we must lie in the grass.”
“Ah! the lad is of my mind,” said the old man, briefly138 explaining the opinion of his companion to his white friends. Middleton was obliged to acquiesce139, and, as it was confessedly dangerous to remain upon their feet, each one set about assisting in the means to be adopted for their security. Inez and Ellen were quickly bestowed140 beneath the warm and not uncomfortable shelter of the buffaloe skins, which formed a thick covering, and tall grass was drawn over the place, in such a manner as to evade141 any examination from a common eye. Paul and the Pawnee fettered142 the beasts and cast them to the earth, where, after supplying them with food, they were also left concealed143 in the fog of the prairie. No time was lost when these several arrangements were completed, before each of the others sought a place of rest and concealment144, and then the plain appeared again deserted145 to its solitude146.
The old man had advised his companions of the absolute necessity of their continuing for hours in this concealment. All their hopes of escape depended on the success of the artifice147. If they might elude148 the cunning of their pursuers, by this simple and therefore less suspected expedient, they could renew their flight as the evening approached, and, by changing their course, the chance of final success would be greatly increased. Influenced by these momentous149 considerations the whole party lay, musing150 on their situation, until thoughts grew weary, and sleep finally settled on them all, one after another.
The deepest silence had prevailed for hours, when the quick ears of the trapper and the Pawnee were startled by a faint cry of surprise from Inez. Springing to their feet, like men, who were about to struggle for their lives, they found the vast plain, the rolling swells151, the little hillock, and the scattered152 thickets153, covered alike in one, white, dazzling sheet of snow.
“The Lord have mercy on ye all!” exclaimed the old man, regarding the prospect154 with a rueful eye; “now, Pawnee, do I know the reason why you studied the clouds so closely; but it is too late; it is too late! A squirrel would leave his trail on this light coating of the 'arth. Ha! there come the imps to a certainty. Down with ye all, down with ye; your chance is but small, and yet it must not be wilfully155 cast away.”
The whole party was instantly concealed again, though many an anxious and stolen glance was directed through the tops of the grass, on the movements of their enemies. At the distance of half a mile, the Teton band was seen riding in a circuit, which was gradually contracting itself, and evidently closing upon the very spot where the fugitives lay. There was but little difficulty in solving the mystery of this movement. The snow had fallen in time to assure them that those they sought were in their rear, and they were now employed, with the unwearied perseverance156 and patience of Indian warriors, in circling the certain boundaries of their place of concealment.
Each minute added to the jeopardy157 of the fugitives. Paul and Middleton deliberately158 prepared their rifles, and as the occupied Mahtoree came, at length, within fifty feet of them, keeping his eyes riveted159 on the grass through which he rode, they levelled them together and pulled the triggers. The effort was answered by the mere160 snapping of the locks.
“Enough,” said the old man, rising with dignity; “I have cast away the priming; for certain death would follow your rashness. Now let us meet our fates like men. Cringing161 and complaining find no favour in Indian eyes.”
His appearance was greeted by a yell, that spread far and wide over the plain, and in a moment a hundred savages were seen riding madly to the spot. Mahtoree received his prisoners with great self-restraint, though a single gleam of fierce joy broke through his clouded brow, and the heart of Middleton grew cold as he caught the expression of that eye, which the chief turned on the nearly insensible but still lovely Inez.
The exultation of receiving the white captives was so great, as for a time to throw the dark and immovable form of their young Indian companion entirely out of view. He stood apart, disdaining162 to turn an eye on his enemies, as motionless as if he were frozen in that attitude of dignity and composure. But when a little time had passed, even this secondary object attracted the attention of the Tetons. Then it was that the trapper first learned, by the shout of triumph and the long drawn yell of delight, which burst at once from a hundred throats, as well as by the terrible name, which filled the air, that his youthful friend was no other than that redoubtable163 and hitherto invincible164 warrior, Hard-Heart.
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1
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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2
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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3
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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4
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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5
tremor
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| n.震动，颤动，战栗，兴奋，地震 | |
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6
dependant
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| n.依靠的，依赖的，依赖他人生活者 | |
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7
quail
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| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
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8
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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9
primates
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| primate的复数 | |
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10
knotty
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| adj.有结的，多节的，多瘤的，棘手的 | |
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11
kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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12
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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13
disdained
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| 鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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14
imps
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| n.（故事中的）小恶魔( imp的名词复数 )；小魔鬼；小淘气；顽童 | |
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15
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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16
scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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17
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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18
intelligible
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| adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的 | |
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19
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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20
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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21
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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22
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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23
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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24
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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25
naturalist
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| n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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26
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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27
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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28
squatter
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| n.擅自占地者 | |
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29
circumvent
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| vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜 | |
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30
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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31
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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33
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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34
arteries
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| n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道 | |
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35
scorched
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| 烧焦，烤焦( scorch的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（植物）枯萎，把…晒枯； 高速行驶； 枯焦 | |
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36
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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37
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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38
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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39
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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40
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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41
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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42
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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43
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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44
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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45
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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46
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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47
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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48
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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49
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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50
detriment
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| n.损害；损害物，造成损害的根源 | |
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51
trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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52
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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53
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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54
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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55
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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56
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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57
inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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59
collapsing
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| 压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂 | |
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60
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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61
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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62
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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63
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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64
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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65
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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66
prop
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| vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山 | |
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67
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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68
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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69
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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70
Undid
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| v. 解开, 复原 | |
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71
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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72
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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73
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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74
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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75
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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76
portentous
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| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
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77
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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78
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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79
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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80
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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81
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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82
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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83
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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84
corporeal
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| adj.肉体的，身体的；物质的 | |
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85
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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86
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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87
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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88
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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89
procrastinate
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| v.耽搁，拖延 | |
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90
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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91
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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92
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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93
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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94
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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95
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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96
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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97
exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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98
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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miraculously
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| ad.奇迹般地 | |
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100
cougar
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| n.美洲狮；美洲豹 | |
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101
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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102
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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103
outstripped
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| v.做得比…更好，（在赛跑等中）超过( outstrip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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104
outstrip
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| v.超过，跑过 | |
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105
falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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106
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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107
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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108
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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109
philosophical
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| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
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110
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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111
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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112
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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113
dissect
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| v.分割；解剖 | |
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114
conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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115
repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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116
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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117
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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118
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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119
turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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120
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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121
renowned
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| adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的 | |
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122
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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123
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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124
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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126
remonstrances
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| n.抱怨，抗议( remonstrance的名词复数 ) | |
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127
mandates
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| 托管（mandate的第三人称单数形式） | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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furtive
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| adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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equestrians
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| n.骑手（equestrian的复数形式） | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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139
acquiesce
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| vi.默许，顺从，同意 | |
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140
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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swells
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| 增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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wilfully
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| adv.任性固执地；蓄意地 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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jeopardy
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| n.危险；危难 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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cringing
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| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
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disdaining
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| 鄙视( disdain的现在分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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