CHAPTER XXX WHITE AND RED SAVAGES

At the main camp on that fatal 19th of March, La Salle had left Joutel with four others—the Abbé, young Cavelier, Pierre Talon¹, and another young boy called Barthelemy. From time to time during the day Joutel had lighted fires on rising ground near the camp so that La Salle, if he lost his way, could return easily. He was alone on one of these little hills toward evening, looking down upon the horses grazing in the field near by, when some one came running up to him in great excitement. It was L’Archevêque, a man who had always been kindly² disposed toward Joutel. There was very bad news to tell, he said, confused and almost beside himself.

“What is it?” asked Joutel in quick alarm.

“La Salle is dead,” he replied, “and also Moranget, his nephew, and two others.” He added that they had been murdered and that the assassins had sworn to come on and kill Joutel as well.

Joutel stood dazed, scarcely knowing what to say or do. Should he fly to the woods and trust to Providence³ to guide him to civilization? Having come away from camp without his gun, life was scarcely more secure in the wilds than in the camp with the murderers. But, added L’Archevêque, the conspirators⁴ had decided⁵ on the way home not to kill Joutel unless he offered resistance. After all, perhaps it was better to risk death in the company of white men than in the wilderness⁶ alone; and so the two men turned back to the camp.

There they found the Abbé Cavelier in a corner praying, and Father Douay still overwhelmed and not daring to speak to Joutel for fear of the murderers. The murderers had come wildly into camp and had seized the belongings⁷ of La Salle. Duhaut had assumed the place of leader.

“You may kill me if you wish,” said the Abbé, “but give me a half-hour to prepare for the end.”

But the white savages⁹ had had enough of killing¹⁰. If all would yield to the new leaders they might keep their lives. There was nothing else to do. Those who were not in the plot stood guard that night; and in the long hours Joutel and the Abbé, young Cavelier and Douay, made a solemn agreement to stand by each other until death—which now seemed very near to them.

The next morning, under Duhaut’s direction, the forlorn band of thirteen packed up their camp supplies and continued their journey toward the Cenis village. A common tie—the need of escape from the wilderness—held them together. Yet even that tie was honeycombed with fears and hates and distrusts. Joutel, his soul rising in rebellion, wanted to kill the murderers in their sleep, but the Abbé dissuaded¹¹ him.

With the guidance of Indians they soon crossed the Trinity River, and as they drew near to the town of the Cenis, four of the number—Joutel, Liotot, Hiens, and Teissier—were sent in advance to buy food. They camped at night outside the village; and the next morning they were met and escorted into the town by chiefs and elders dressed in great pomp with painted goatskins over their shoulders, crowns of feathers on their heads, and streaks¹² of black and red paint on their faces.

The Cenis lived in round huts, shaped like old-fashioned beehives and made of a circle of poles bent¹³ over and lashed¹⁴ together at the top. The poles were interlaced with willow¹⁵ rods, and covered over with a thick thatch¹⁶ of grass. In the middle of the floor the Indians built their lodge¹⁷-fire, which the several families living in the hut used in common.

Joutel’s three companions soon left him to trade with the villagers while they went back to camp. Alone in the village of people whom his experiences on the shores of the Gulf¹⁸ had taught him to fear, Joutel drove his little bargains and listened and nodded his head to the chiefs as they told him of the war they were getting ready to make upon their enemies.

Fearful lest they should steal his merchandise, Joutel did not sleep well one night. He was tossing upon his robes about one o’clock when he heard some one move near him. Looking up, he saw, by the light of the fire in the center of the lodge, a man who was naked except for the tattoo¹⁹ marks upon his body. This stranger came and sat down by him, without saying a word. In his hands were a bow and two arrows. Joutel watched him a moment, then spoke²⁰. The man did not answer. Joutel reached for his pistol; whereupon the man rose, walked over to the fire, and again sat down.

Utterly²¹ puzzled, Joutel rose from his bed and followed the man, studying him intently all the while. The man returned his gaze, then threw his arms about Joutel, embraced him, and spoke to him with French words. He was Ruter, one of La Salle’s sailors who had deserted²² him, two years before, for the woods and the wild life of the Indian camps. Another deserter, Grollet, had been afraid to come with him to the grass house where Joutel slept, for fear of La Salle.

For two years these white men had lived like the red men, they had married Indian women, and they had fought in the Indian wars. There was little now to distinguish Ruter from his dusky companions—except that long-buried yearning²³ for his own people which made him come to Joutel and listen eagerly to his tale of adventures. The story of La Salle’s death seemed to affect him deeply, and for a long time in the passing night the two men talked beside the fire in the Indian lodge. Later, Grollet also came to see and talk to Joutel.

For several days Joutel stayed in the village. Then messengers came from the camp to say that the leaders had decided to return to the fort on the Bay of St. Louis and there build a ship and sail for the West Indies. With what provisions he had secured, Joutel went back to the camp of the murderers, where he and the Abbé took counsel together. It was intolerable to continue life in the same camp with those who had killed La Salle, and so they made up their minds to leave their murderous companions and go on with those who had not been in the plot, toward the Mississippi River. They told Duhaut they were too fatigued²⁴ to make the trip back to the Gulf and would remain with the Cenis, to which Duhaut finally agreed.

Hiens and several others, who had been sent to the village for horses on which to carry supplies back to the fort, had not yet returned. While they were waiting, one of the French deserters, who knew of the true plans of the Abbé and Joutel, told them to Duhaut and added that he believed the Mississippi to be not far off to the northeast; whereupon Duhaut changed his plan and decided that he too would go to the Mississippi.

News of Duhaut’s decision soon reached Hiens at the Cenis village, and in a few days he came back to the camp, accompanied by Ruter and others. Hiens walked directly to Duhaut and declared that it was not safe to go to the Mississippi and on to the white settlements. As for himself, he would not go, and he demanded his share of the goods. When Duhaut refused, Hiens raised his gun and fired, saying, “You wretch²⁵! You murdered my master!” Duhaut fell dead. Almost at the same instant Ruter, the half-savage⁸ deserter, opened fire upon Liotot and mortally wounded him. Thus did the murderers of La Salle and Moranget come to their end.

Hiens was now in command of the party, which had decreased to eleven. The old buccaneer had promised the Cenis to go to their wars with them and, with Ruter and Grollet and three or four other Frenchmen, started out with the exultant²⁶ Indian warriors²⁷, leaving the Abbé and his party in the village with the women and old men. Late in May the warriors returned, flushed with a great victory which the guns of the white allies had enabled them to win.

The Abbé and Joutel and their little group now asked leave to separate and try to make their way across to the Mississippi. Hiens gave his consent with much reluctance²⁸. As for himself he did not care to risk his life going back to civilized²⁹ people; and the wild savage life in the Indian villages held him with a strong fascination³⁰. He divided supplies and merchandise with those who were leaving, gave them six horses to carry their goods, and with much advice set them on their way. Thus they took their departure—a band of seven—to make the last long march toward the settlements of white men. Hiens and L’Archevêque, Meusnier, and Pierre Talon cast in their lot with the Indians.

Innumerable were the adventures of the seven travelers. Town after town they passed, stopping often to smoke the pipe of peace, trade merchandise, and gather news of the way. One morning De Marie, while bathing in the river near an Indian village, was drowned before the Indians could rescue him. The six moved on, Indian guides leading them, until at last with a great feeling of joy they came to the establishment of Couture on the Arkansas.

Couture was the last man in America to whom they related the story of La Salle’s death. The Abbé decided to keep it a secret from both the Indians and from Tonty, and not even to tell it in Canada, but to take the news across the seas with them to the court of France. Dreading³¹ that young Barthelemy would disclose their secret, they left him with Couture. The young boy told many things to the men at the Arkansas post. And now Couture was pouring out the whole tale to the commander of Fort St. Louis on the Illinois.

1 talon   

n.爪；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物

参考例句：

• Can you get a little tighter with the talon?你能不能把摄像探头固定住不动？
• This kind of spice is made of eagle's talon and has a unique flavor.这种香料味道独特，是用鹰爪作原料制成的。

2 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

3 providence   

n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝

参考例句：

• It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
• To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。

4 conspirators   

n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The conspirators took no part in the fighting which ensued. 密谋者没有参加随后发生的战斗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The French conspirators were forced to escape very hurriedly. 法国同谋者被迫匆促逃亡。 来自辞典例句

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 wilderness   

n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

7 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。

8 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

9 savages   

未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There're some savages living in the forest. 森林里居住着一些野人。
• That's an island inhabited by savages. 那是一个野蛮人居住的岛屿。

10 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

11 dissuaded   

劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was easily dissuaded from going. 他很容易就接受劝告不走了。
• Ulysses was not to be dissuaded from his attempt. 尤利西斯想前去解救的决心不为所动。

12 streaks   

n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹

参考例句：

• streaks of grey in her hair 她头上的绺绺白发
• Bacon has streaks of fat and streaks of lean. 咸肉中有几层肥的和几层瘦的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

13 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

14 lashed   

adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
• The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 willow   

n.柳树

参考例句：

• The river was sparsely lined with willow trees.河边疏疏落落有几棵柳树。
• The willow's shadow falls on the lake.垂柳的影子倒映在湖面上。

16 thatch   

vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋)

参考例句：

• They lit a torch and set fire to the chapel's thatch.他们点着一支火把，放火烧了小教堂的茅草屋顶。
• They topped off the hut with a straw thatch. 他们给小屋盖上茅草屋顶。

17 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

18 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

19 tattoo   

n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于

参考例句：

• I've decided to get my tattoo removed.我已经决定去掉我身上的纹身。
• He had a tattoo on the back of his hand.他手背上刺有花纹。

20 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

21 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

22 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

23 yearning   

a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的

参考例句：

• a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
• He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。

24 fatigued   

adj. 疲乏的

参考例句：

• The exercises fatigued her. 操练使她感到很疲乏。
• The President smiled, with fatigued tolerance for a minor person's naivety. 总统笑了笑，疲惫地表现出对一个下级人员的天真想法的宽容。

25 wretch   

n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人

参考例句：

• You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他，还埋怨他，真不知好歹。
• The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。

26 exultant   

adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的

参考例句：

• The exultant crowds were dancing in the streets.欢欣的人群在大街上跳起了舞。
• He was exultant that she was still so much in his power.他仍然能轻而易举地摆布她，对此他欣喜若狂。

27 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

28 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

29 civilized   

a.有教养的，文雅的

参考例句：

• Racism is abhorrent to a civilized society. 文明社会憎恶种族主义。
• rising crime in our so-called civilized societies 在我们所谓文明社会中日益增多的犯罪行为

30 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

31 dreading   

v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She was dreading having to broach the subject of money to her father. 她正在为不得不向父亲提出钱的事犯愁。
• This was the moment he had been dreading. 这是他一直最担心的时刻。