The stolen horses were put in charge of the two sons, who had refused totake part in the events of the night. They were ordered to follow thehuntsmen carefully.
Again they crept through the night and approached the home of Wilkinson,the member of the Legislature from the County. Brown had carefullysurveyed his place and felt sure of a successful attack unless the houseshould be alarmed by a surly dog which no member of his surveying partyhad been able to approach.
When they arrived within two hundred yards of the gate, it was oneo'clock. Brown carefully watched the house for ten minutes to see thatno light gleamed through a window or a chink. The wife had been sickwith the measles3 when the survey was made. There was no sign of a light.
Salmon4 and Owen Brown were sent by the men on a protest to Brown.
Salmon was spokesman.
"We've got something to say to you, Father, before we take outWilkinson--""Well?" the old man growled6.
"You gave every man strict orders to fire no guns or revolver unlessnecessary--didn't you?""I did.""You fired the only shot heard to-night.""I'll not do it again. I didn't intend to. I don't know why I did it.
Stick to my order.""See that _you_ stick to it," the boy persisted.
"I will. Use only your knives and cutlasses. The cutlass first always."The men began to move slowly forward.
Brown called softly.
"Just a minute. This dog of Wilkinson's is sure to bark. Don't stop totry to kill him. Rush the house double quick and pay no attention to hisbarking--""If he bites?" Owen asked.
"Take a chance, don't try to kill him--Wilkinson might wake. Now, alltogether--rush the house!"They rushed the house at two hundred yards. They had taken but tensteps when the dog barked so furiously Brown called a halt. They waited.
Then, minutes later the dog raged, approaching the house and retreating.
His wild cry of alarm rang with sinister7 echo through the woods. Thefaithful brute8 was calling his master and mistress to arms.
Still the man inside slept. The Territory of Kansas to this time hadbeen as free from crime as any state on its border. The lawmaker hadnever felt a moment's uneasiness.
Footsteps approached the door. The sick woman saw the shadow of a manpass the window. The starlight sharply silhouetted9 his face against theblack background.
Some one knocked on the door.
The woman asked:
"Who's that?"No one answered.
"Henry, Henry!" she called tensely.
"Well?" the husband answered.
"There's somebody knocking at the door."Wilkinson half raised in bed.
"Who is that?"A voice replied:
"We've lost the road. We want you to tell us the way to Dutch Henry's."Wilkinson began to call the directions.
"We can't understand--""You can't miss the way.""Come out and show us!"The request was given in tones so sharp there could be no mistake. Itwas a command not a plea.
"I'll have to go and tell them," he said to his wife.
"For God's sake, don't open that door," she whispered.
"It's best."She seized and held him.
"You shall not go!"Wilkinson sought to temporize10.
"I'm not dressed," he called. "I can tell you the way as well withoutgoing outdoors."The men stepped back from the door and held a consultation11. John Brownat once returned and began his catechism:
"You are Wilkinson, the Member of the Legislature?""I am, sir.""You are opposed to the Free Soil Party?""I am."The answers were sharp to the point of curtness12 and his daring rousedthe wrath13 of Brown to instant action.
"You're my prisoner, sir."He waited an instant for an answer and, getting none, asked:
"Do you surrender?""Gentlemen, I do.""Open the door!""In just a minute.""Open it--""When I've made a light.""We've got a light. Open that door or we'll smash it!"Again the sick woman caught his arm.
"Don't do it!""It's better not to resist," he answered, opening the door.
Brown held the lantern in his face.
"Put on your clothes."Wilkinson began to dress.
The men covered him with drawn14 revolvers. The sick woman sank limply onthe edge of the bed.
"Are there any more men in this house?" Brown asked sharply.
"No.""Have you any arms?""Only a quail15 gun.""Search the place."The guard searched the rooms, ransacking16 drawers and chests. They tookeverything of value they could find, including the shotgun and powderflask.
The sick woman at length recovered her power of speech and turned toBrown.
"If you've arrested my husband for anything, he's a law-abiding man. Youcan let him stay here with me until morning.""No!" Brown growled.
"I'm sick and helpless. I can't stay here by myself.""Let me stay with my wife, gentlemen," Wilkinson pleaded, "until I canget some one to wait on her and I'll remain on parole until you returnor I'll meet you anywhere you say."Brown looked at the woman and at the little children trembling by herside and curtly18 answered:
"You have neighbors.""So I have," Wilkinson agreed, "but they are not here and I cannot gofor them unless you allow me.""It matters not," Brown snapped. "Get ready, sir."Wilkinson took up his boots to pull them on when Brown signaled his mento drag him out.
Without further words they seized him and hurried into the darkness.
They dragged him a few yards from the house into a clump19 of dead brush.
Weiner was the chosen headsman. He swung his big savage20 figure beforeWilkinson and his cutlass flashed in the starlight.
The woman inside the darkened house heard the crash of the blade againstthe skull21 and the dying groan22 from the lips of the father of her babies.
When the body crumpled23, Weiner knelt, plunged24 his knife into the throat,turned it and severed25 the jugular26 vein27.
Standing28 over the body John Brown spoke5 to one of his men.
"The horses, saddles and bridles from the stable--quick!"The huntsman hurried to the stable and took Wilkinson's horse.
It was two o'clock before they reached the home of James Harris on theother side of the Pottawattomie. Harris lived on the highway and kept arude frontier boarding place where travelers stopped for the night.
With him lived Dutch Henry Sherman and his brother, William.
Brown had no difficulty in entering this humble29 one-room house. It wasnever locked. The latch30 string was outside.
Without knocking Brown lifted the latch and sprang into the room withhis son, Owen, and another armed huntsman.
He surveyed the room. In one bed lay Harris, his wife and child. In twoother beds were three men, William Sherman, John Whitman and a strangerwho had stopped for the night and had given no name.
"You are our prisoners," Brown announced. "It is useless for you toresist."The old man stood by one bed with drawn saber and Owen stood by theother while Weiner searched the room. He found two rifles and a bowieknife which he passed through the door to the guard outside.
Brown ordered the stranger out first. He kept him but a few minutes andbrought him back. He next ordered Harris to follow him.
Brown confronted his prisoner in the yard. A swordsman stood close byhis side to catch his nod.
"Where is Dutch Henry Sherman?""On the plains hunting for lost cattle.""You are telling me the truth?" Brown asked, boring him through with histerrible eyes.
"The truth, sir!"He studied Harris by the light of his lantern.
"Have you ever helped a Southern settler to enter the Territory ofKansas?""No.""Did you take any hand in the troubles at Lawrence?""I've never been to Lawrence.""Have you ever done the Free State Party any harm?""No. I don't take no part in politics.""Have you ever intended to do that party any harm?""I don't know nothin' about politics or parties.""What are you doing living here among these Southern settlers?""Because I can get better wages.""Any horses, bridles, or saddles?""I've one horse.""Saddle him and bring him here."A swordsman walked by his side while he caught and saddled his horse anddelivered him to his captors.
Brown went back into the house and brought out William Sherman. Harriswas ordered back to bed, and a new guard was placed inside until theceremony with Sherman should be ended.
It was brief.
Brown had no questions to ask this man. He was the brother of HenrySherman, the most hated member of the settlement. Brown called Thompsonand Weiner and spoke in tones of quick command.
"Take him down to the Pottawattomie Creek31. I want this man's blood tomingle with its waters and flow to the sea!"The doomed32 man did not hear the sentence of his judge. The two huntsmencaught his arms and rushed him to the banks of the creek. He stood for amoment trembling and dazed. Not a word had passed his lips. Not one hadpassed his guards.
They loosed their grip on his arms, stepped back and two cutlasseswhistled through the air in a single stroke. The double blow was soswiftly and evenly delivered that the body stood erect33 until the secondstroke of the sharpened blades had cut off one hand and split open thebreast.
When the body fell at the feet of the huntsmen they seized the quiveringlimbs and hurled34 them into the creek.
They reported at once to their Captain. He stood in front of the housewith his restless gaze sweeping35 the highway for any possible, belatedtraveler. The one hope uppermost in his mind was that Dutch HenrySherman might return with his lost cattle in time.
He raised his lantern and looked at his watch. The men who had butcheredWilliam Sherman stood with red swords for orders.
Brown had not yet uttered a word. He knew that the work on the bankof the Pottawattomie was done. The attitude of his swordsmen wassufficient.
He asked but one question.
"You threw him into the water?""Yes.""Good."He closed his silver watch with a snap.
"It's nearly four o'clock. We have no more time for work to-night. Backto camp."The men turned to repeat his orders.
"Wait!"His order rang like vibrant36 metal.
The men stopped.
"We'll mount the horses we have taken, and march single file. I'll ridethe horse taken here. Bring him to the door."With quick springing step Brown entered the house where the husband andwife and the two lodgers37 were still shivering under the eye of the guardwith drawn sword.
The leader's voice rang with a note of triumph.
"You people whose lives have been spared will stay in this house untilsunrise. And the less you say about what's happened to-night the longeryou'll live."He turned to his guard.
"Come on."Brown had just mounted his horse to lead the procession back to the campin the ravine, when the first peal38 of thunder in a spring shower crashedoverhead.
He glanced up and saw that the sky was being rapidly overcast39 by swiftlymoving clouds. A few stars still glimmered40 directly above.
The storm without was an incident of slight importance. The rain wouldgive him a chance to test the men inside. He ordered his followers41 totake refuge in the long shed under which Harris stabled the horses andvehicles of travelers.
He stationed a sentinel at the door of the house.
His orders were clear.
"Cut down in his tracks without a word, the man who dares to come out."The swordsman threw a saddle blanket around his shoulders and took hisplace at the doorway42.
The storm broke in fury. In five minutes the heavens were a sea offlame. The thunder rolled over the ravine, the hills, the plains indeafening peals43. Flash after flash, roar after roar, an endless throb44 ofearth and air from the titanic45 bombardment from the skies. The flamingsky was sublime--a changing, flashing, trembling splendor46.
Townsley was the only coward in the group of stolid47 figures standingunder the shed. He watched by the lightning the expression of Brown'sface with awe17. There was something terrible in the joy that flamed inhis eyes. Never had he seen such a look on human face. He forgot thestorm and forgot his fears of cyclones48 and lightning strokes in thefascination with which he watched the seamed, weather-beaten featuresof the man who had just committed the foulest49 deed in the annals ofAmerican frontier life. There was in his shifting eyes no shadow ofdoubt, of fear, of uncertainty50. There was only the look of satisfaction,of supreme51 triumph. The coward caught the spark of red that flashed fromhis soul.
For a moment he regretted that he had not joined the bloody52 work withhis own hand. He was ashamed of his pity for the stark53 masses of fleshthat still lay on the deluged54 earth. In spite of the contagion55 ofBrown's mind which he felt pulling him with resistless power, his ownweaker intellect kept playing pranks56 with his memory.
He recalled the position of the bodies which they had left in thedarkness. He had seen them by the light of the lantern which Brown hadflashed each time before leaving. He remembered with a shiver that thetwo Doyle boys had died with their big soft blue eyes wide open, staringupward at the starlit skies. He wondered if the rain had beaten theireyelids down.
A blinding flash filled the sky and lighted every nook and corner of thewoods and fields. He shook at its glare and put his hand over his eyes.
For a moment he could see nothing but the wide staring gaze upwardof those stalwart young bodies. He shivered and turned away from theleader.
The next moment found him again watching the look of victory on theterrible face.
As the lightning played about Brown's form he wondered at the impressionof age he gave with his face turned away and his figure motionless. Hewas barely fifty-seven and yet he looked seventy-five, until he moved.
The moment his wiry body moved there was something uncanny in theimpression he gave of a wild animal caught in human form.
Brown had tired waiting for the shower to pass and had begun to paceback and forth57 with his swinging, springy step. When he passed, Townsleyinstinctively drew aside. He knew that he was a coward and yet hecouldn't feel the consciousness of cowardice58 in giving this man room. Itwas common sense.
The storm passed as swiftly as it came.
Without a word the leader gave the signal. His men mounted the stolenhorses. With Townsley's grays and Weiner's pony59 the huntsmen returned tothe camp in the ravine, a procession of cavalry60.
The eastern sky was whitening with the first touch of the coming sunwhen they dismounted.
The leader ordered the fire built and a hearty61 breakfast cooked for eachman. As was his custom he wandered from the camp alone, his arms grippedbehind his stooped back. He climbed the hill, stood on its crest62 andwatched the prairie.
The storm had passed from west to east. On the eastern horizon a lowfringe of clouds was still slowly moving. They lay in long ribbons ofdazzling light. The sun's rays flashed through them every color of therainbow. Now they were a deep purple, growing brighter with each moment,until every flower in the waving fields was touched with its glory. Thepurple melted into orange; the waving fields were set with dazzlingbuttercups; the buttercups became poppies. And then the mounting sunkissed the clouds again. They blushed scarlet63, and the fields were red.
The grim face gave no sign that he saw the glory and beauty of awonderful Sabbath morning. His figure was rigid64. His eyes set. A sweetodor seemed to come from the scarlet rays of the sun. The man lifted hishead in surprise to find the direction from which the perfume came.
He looked at the ground and saw that he was standing in a bed ofripening wild strawberries.
He turned from the sunrise, stooped and ate the fruit. He was ravenouslyhungry. His hunger satisfied, he walked deliberately65 back to camp as thewhite light of day flooded the clean fields and woods.
He called his men about the fire and searched for marks of the night'swork. As the full rim2 of the sun crept over the eastern hills and itsfirst rays quivered on the surface of the water, the huntsmen knelt bythe bank of the Pottawattomie and washed the stains from their swords,hands and clothes.
Breakfast finished, the leader divided among his headsmen the goodsstolen from his victims and called his men to Sunday prayers.
With folded hands and head erect in the attitude of victory he read frommemory a passage from the old Hebrew prophet, singing in triumph overthe enemies of the Lord. From the scripture66 recitation, given in tonesso cold and impersonal67 that they made Townsley shiver, his voice driftedinto prayer:
"We thank thee, oh, Lord, God of Hosts, for the glorious victory Thouhast given us this night over Thy enemies. We have heard Thy voice. Wehave obeyed Thy commands. The wicked have been laid low. And Thy gloryshines throughout the world on this beautiful Sabbath morning. Makestrong, oh, God, the arms of Thy children for the work that is yetbefore them. Thou art a jealous God. Thou dost rejoice always in bloodofferings on Thy altars. We have this night brought to Thee and laidbefore Thy face the five offerings which the sins of man have demanded.
May this blood seem good in Thy sight, oh, God, as it is glorious in theeyes of Thy servant whom Thou hast anointed to do Thy will. May it be asseed sown in good ground. May it bring forth a harvest whose red gloryshall cover the earth, even as the rays of the sun have baptized ourskies this morning. We wait the coming of Thy Kingdom, oh, Lord, God ofHosts. Speed the day we humbly68 pray. Amen."Townsley's eyes had gradually opened at the tones of weird69, religiousecstasy with which the last sentences of the prayer were spoken. He wasstaring at Brown's face. It was radiant with a strange joy. He had notsmiled; but he was happy for a moment. His happiness was so unusual,so sharply in contrast with his habitual70 mood, the sight of it chilledTownsley's soul.
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收听单词发音
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1
bridles
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| 约束( bridle的名词复数 )； 限动器； 马笼头； 系带 | |
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rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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measles
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| n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子 | |
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salmon
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| n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的 | |
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5
spoke
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| 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 | |
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6
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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7
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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9
silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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10
temporize
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| v.顺应时势；拖延 | |
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11
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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12
curtness
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| n.简短；草率；简略 | |
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13
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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14
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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15
quail
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| n.鹌鹑；vi.畏惧，颤抖 | |
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ransacking
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的现在分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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17
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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21
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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22
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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23
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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24
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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25
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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jugular
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| n.颈静脉 | |
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vein
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| n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络 | |
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28
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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29
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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32
doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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34
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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35
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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vibrant
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| adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的 | |
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lodgers
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| n.房客，租住者( lodger的名词复数 ) | |
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38
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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39
overcast
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| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
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40
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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42
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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43
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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44
throb
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| v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动 | |
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45
titanic
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| adj.巨人的，庞大的，强大的 | |
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46
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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47
stolid
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| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
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48
cyclones
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| n.气旋( cyclone的名词复数 )；旋风；飓风；暴风 | |
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49
foulest
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| adj.恶劣的( foul的最高级 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的 | |
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50
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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51
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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52
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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53
stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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54
deluged
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| v.使淹没( deluge的过去式和过去分词 )；淹没；被洪水般涌来的事物所淹没；穷于应付 | |
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55
contagion
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| n.(通过接触的疾病)传染；蔓延 | |
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56
pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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57
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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59
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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60
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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61
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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62
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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66
scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
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67
impersonal
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| adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的 | |
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68
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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69
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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