The steamship1 Elbe had crossed the equator on her long passage from Southampton to Buenos Ayres in September, 1893. All but the final phases of a well-regulated, fair-weather voyage on a big passenger ship had duly presented themselves. The first irksomeness of the long monotony had worn off; the invalids3 had begun to enjoy the slow, lazy rolling which at first had been their hopeless undoing5; companions of a fortnight were exchanging confidences which the friendship of years on land would not have induced. The frankness, the unrestraint, the offguard good fellowship of life at sea held full sway.
We are concerned with only two of the numerous ship’s company. Strangers to each other and to all on board at the outset of the voyage, they had by this time formed rather an odd intimacy6. Men of widely different types, it would be difficult to discover any natural bond of sympathy between Robert Brent and Duncan Fraser. The one an American, whose quiet, self-possessed bearing had in it that indescrib{8}able ease of manner which is the unfailing mark of thorough acquaintance with men and affairs in the best phases of fin2 de siècle existence. The other a Scotchman, of rougher mold, more advanced in years, and whose natural keenness had been sharpened into an intuitive suspicion by much grinding against the unpolished side of human nature.
Physically7 the two men were in marked contrast. It would have puzzled you to say whether or no the American had reached his thirtieth birthday. He was rather above the medium height, neither light nor dark, and of well-built, athletic8 frame. Few would have called him handsome, but his face combined strength, intelligence, and refinement9, with a touch of something which at first you might have described as cynicism or melancholy10. The Scotchman had evidently been a typical representative of his race. The large-boned, sturdy, close-knit body was well-preserved after fifty years spent, many of them, under suns less kind than those of his native moors11 and mountains. But the sandy complexion12 and almost flaxen hair had given place to a grizzled head and that peculiar13 deep-tanned, almost leathery skin which is always a record of whole chapters of adventure. The left cheek and tip of the left ear bore an index to some special record of violence. A furrow14 in the skin just over the high cheek-bone and a bit missing{9} from the top of the ear immediately back of it seemed to mark the course of a bullet that had failed by the smallest margin16 in the accomplishment17 of a deadly mission.
The vicissitudes18 of life ashore19 would seldom throw two such men into companionship, much less into close friendship. The sea fortunately is sometimes responsible for delightful20 bits of social phenomena21. Perhaps after all it was the lottery22 of seats at table that brought it about. One must be at least conventionally sociable23 with one’s vis-à-vis and nearest neighbors, in a steamship saloon. Fraser and Brent were assigned adjoining seats and after a day or two the acquaintance begun at table was continued on deck and in the smoking-room. They became interested each in the opposite tastes, antecedents, and manner of life of the other. Brent speedily gained a high respect for the Scotchman’s deep, though rather uncouth24 philosophy and downright hard sense. Fraser admired the American’s alert, broad-minded mastery of all the absorbing topics of the day. Both were men naturally reserved and each respected this quality in the other. Their talks did not become personal for some days, save for an occasional anecdote25 from the Scotchman’s varied26 experience. It came out that Fraser was well acquainted with Argentina and other parts of the continent to which the{10} ship was bound, while it was Brent’s first trip below the equator.
The young man’s close inquiries27 about Buenos Ayres led at length to some explanation of his mission there and the causes of it. He had suddenly found himself a month before face to face with the necessity for earning his living. The silver panic in America in the summer had swept away all but a few thousands of a comfortable fortune, which had enabled him to indulge a too enervating28 love of ease. His indulgences had not been vicious, they were intellectual rather than physical, and he had strength of character enough after the first disappointment of loss to welcome the coming struggle. He had been in London when the blow fell. His first determination was to return to New York and undertake the practice of law. He had prepared himself for admission to the bar after leaving college, but the sudden death of his father deprived him of his last family tie and led him to postpone29 active work at his profession. He went abroad to be gone a few months and his absence had lengthened30 into three years, when the disaster to his property compelled him to rouse his dormant31 talents to action.
When the necessity was upon him his energy was unbounded. He dreaded32 the dull days that would probably come before he could secure any opportu{11}nity for an active display of his powers. Besides he was not particularly in love with his profession. His sudden afflux of energy tempted33 him to challenge fortune in some more desperate struggle. The trip to Argentina, however, was not an unreasoning whim35. Two or three of his London friends had suffered severely36 by the financial misfortunes of the Argentine Republic in 1892-93. They had been informed by agents in Buenos Ayres that the prevailing37 depression offered tempting38 opportunities for the investment of fresh enterprise and capital in several directions, notably39 in mines, real estate, and manufacturing. Brent had decided40 to make a trip for investigation41, partly on his own account and partly on the assurance of his friends that they would join him financially in any promising42 enterprise.
These plain facts about his recent life and prospects44 Brent made known to his companion while they sat sheltered from the already tropical sun under the deck-awning one hot afternoon. The Scotchman was a sympathetic listener. It was, indeed, his genuine and apparent interest which induced the narration45 of most of the points in the simple biography. He did not refuse confidence in return, but what little he said about himself was in such general terms that Brent felt that it was modesty46 as well as natural reticence47 which withheld48 the details of a most adventurous{12} career. He had evidently taken a strong fancy to the younger man and he discussed with greatest interest the chances of success in his search for fortune amid the many difficulties then existing in the struggling republic. He was silent, however, about his own immediate15 plans and about the nature of the interests which were occupying him. His offers of assistance to his new friend in the strange city to which he was going were coupled with the announcement that he should remain only a few days in Buenos Ayres, because business called him further south immediately.
The heat of the tropics was unrelieved even by one of the sudden storms which often break the monotony of the long southern voyage. Those who hoped for something out of the ordinary to make the trip memorable49 had begun to content themselves with anticipations50 of early arrival in port, when they were informed that the steamer had already entered the waters of the Rio de la Plata. No land was in sight. The sea was apparently51 as boundless52 as it had been for three weeks past. Most of the passengers thought it was a joke of the steward53. There was only one river in the world, the Amazon, into whose mouth one could sail without sighting land—so, at least, they had read in their geographies. They were wrong, though, as they found when they applied54 to{13} the first officer for information and had looked the matter up on the large map in the saloon. Buenos Ayres was still more than one hundred miles distant and they would see no land during the remaining two hours of daylight.
But an experience much more exciting than the first sight of land was vouchsafed55 them. A white line upon the sea appeared suddenly on the port bow away off to the southwest. It was seen from the bridge first and two or three quick orders set sailors and stewards56 flying in their hasty execution. Awnings57 were taken down in a trice, passengers were driven from their comfortable lounging chairs on deck, everything movable was taken away or made fast. To most of the passengers the sudden excitement was inexplicable58 and alarming.
“The pampero” was the only explanation anybody would stop to give. It was not many moments before ample explanation arrived. The pampero was soon upon them and it explained itself. The wind-storm, or dry hurricane, which comes off the land from the southwest and without warning lashes59 the Rio de la Plata and the sea beyond with a fury sometimes worse than the heaviest ocean storms, is a phenomenon peculiar to these latitudes60. It never lasts long but its violence is often terrible. The Elbe faced the furious blast at first with dignified61 steadiness.{14} Then as the sea became white, tempestuous62, cyclonic63, the ship forgot her dignity and struggled with trembling, straining frame against her merciless enemies. It was a test of her sternest resources. It was not a new peril64. She had faced it before, not always unscathed, and this time again she survived the struggle. With only a few hurts, she emerged from the hour’s battle, shaken but safe.
It had been a trying hour below. Neptune’s transformation65 was full of terror for the passengers. His anger under the sudden assault of the winds seemed directed against those who had complained of his monotonous66 tranquillity67. The wise ones among the ship’s company acted on the advice of the stewards and sought their berths68 at the beginning of the outbreak. Those whose curiosity to witness the fury of the sea kept them upon their feet were glad to seek a safer anchorage before the storm reached its height. Fraser and Brent were among these latter. Both were fairly good sailors and nature’s outburst of passion was a sublime69 spectacle which they were loth to leave. But they had no choice. The pitching of the ship became wilder and more erratic70 every moment. It was impossible to stand upright at a port-hole to watch the chaos71 of wind and water without. They did not abandon the attempt until two or three sudden lurches had thrown them into violent{15} contact with tables, chairs, and other fixed73 objects.
They started at last to go to their staterooms below, but locomotion74 by this time was a dangerous experiment. They steered75 a zigzag76 course to the staircase, which they did not reach without several collisions, and Brent began to descend77. He clung to the reeling railing and had gone down half the steps, when there was a cry and a blow from behind. He was wrenched78 from his hold and in a moment both men were pitched headlong to the deck below. A great lurch72 of the ship added violence to the fall, and they lay for a moment almost senseless upon the rubber mat at the bottom of the staircase.
“Are ye hurt, lad?” said the Scotchman, finding voice presently and trying to rise. He sank back again with an exclamation79 of pain, saying, “A broken leg, I’m afraid.”
Brent sat up rather dazed. “I don’t know,” he began, trying to raise his voice above the roar of the storm and the creaking of the ship’s timbers. “My arm is hurt, I think. Let me help you.” But the movement to aid his friend gave him a twinge that made him desist. They called for aid, but when a steward managed with some difficulty to reach them he could do little.
“Lie flat on your backs till the worst of this is over. It won’t last much longer,” was his advice.{16} It was the only thing to do, though every motion of the ship was full of suffering, especially for Fraser.
The wind subsided80 almost as suddenly as it had risen. The doctor was summoned as soon as the ship became steadier. He found, as the Scotchman had feared, a broken leg and in Brent’s case a broken fore-arm, besides a few trifling81 bruises82. The painful experience of transfer to his stateroom in the still restless ship and the setting of the fractured limb did not seem a very dreadful matter to the hardy83 Scotchman. But he was much worried over the consequences of his accident.
“I can’t abide84 this bad luck,” he said anxiously to Brent, who made light of his own hurts and visited his friend after the doctor had finished his work. “This means six weeks on my back and I can’t stand it. I’ve engagements that must be kept. It means all the difference between riches and poverty,” and the grizzled head shook in such exasperation85 of helpless revolt against fate that Brent did his best to relieve his bitterness of spirit.
“Oh, not so bad as that, I hope,” he responded cheerfully. “What you cannot do yourself, I can do under your direction. We are going to the same place. I have nothing pressing to require my attention and shall be delighted to see you out of this mishap86. You just make a business of mending that{17} broken leg and the other business will be taken care of all right. You shall tell me about it to-morrow and then we’ll see. Get a good night’s rest now.”
“You’re the right sort, lad, and I’ll trust you,” said the other gratefully, gripping Brent’s uninjured hand. “Perhaps you can help me, and you won’t suffer for it if you do. I’ll think it over and we’ll have a good talk to-morrow.”
That night the Elbe reached Buenos Ayres. Brent sought the services of the best surgeon in the city, who came aboard and put Fraser’s damaged leg in a plaster cast. He assured the impatient Scotchman that with good care he might hope to be on foot again in about five weeks, but he must not attempt to get about even with crutches88 under a month.
Fraser did not attempt to bring up the subject of his business disappointments with his friend until he had been safely transferred to pleasant quarters in a hotel on the afternoon of the 6th of October. He had been preoccupied89 and silent most of the time and Brent had found it hard work to rally him into even passing interest in his surroundings. The young man superintended the landing and storage of a dozen or more large cases belonging to Fraser from the cargo90 of the Elbe. When the invalid4 had been made comfortable upon an adjustable91 cot procured92 from a nearby hospital, he invited Brent to return after he had{18} got a glimpse of the city. They would dine together and then have a long consultation93.
Brent readily assented94 and they enjoyed a very good but very awkward meal by the Scotchman’s bedside. They became quite merry over their respective infirmities. Brent with one arm in a sling95 was even more helpless than Fraser upon his back but with both hands free. They had a jovial96 hour over the repast before approaching serious subjects. When the waiter had been finally dismissed, the Scotchman dropped his gay mood.
“I like you, lad,” he remarked suddenly, after looking rather quizzically from under his heavy brows at his companion for some moments. “And because I like you and because I’m certain you’ll stick to a friend through thick and thin, I’m going to ask you to join me in an adventure that may make us both richer than anybody in all this country—or in any other maybe.”
“Have you found a new El Dorado?” asked Brent half banteringly, but a good deal impressed nevertheless by the other’s manner and words.
“Not that exactly, but I know a man who has or who has known about it for years and has never used his knowledge till now. I have some of the products of his secret in that box over there,” answered the Scotchman pointing to the smaller of his trunks on{19} the other side of the room. “I took something like a hundredweight of clean virgin97 gold to the Bank of England bullion-room a couple of months ago and it was so pure they allowed me weight for weight in new sovereigns for it.”
“And is there much more where that came from?” asked the now thoroughly98 interested American.
“I solemnly believe, lad, that there are millions more waiting to be carried away,” said the grizzled old man with grim emphasis, half raising himself in his earnestness and watching the effect of his words upon his companion.
Brent stared at the crippled figure before him in half stupefied amazement99. There was such a convincing sincerity100 in the bearing of the old Scotchman that the young man could not receive his astonishing statement with any incredulity. So it was with a full conviction of the other’s truthfulness101 that he finally found words to say:
“My friend, if you have such wealth within your reach, you should not intrust the secret to a stranger such as I. I am proud of the confidence you show in me, but you must not make me the object of such generosity102 as you suggest.”
“Well said, my lad, and I know you mean it,” replied the old man warmly, “but I don’t intend to make you a present of this gold. I haven’t it to{20} give you. I don’t even know where it is, and there’s many a difficulty and probably danger before we shall see it. What I propose is that you join me in the enterprise of securing it. I grant I should not have made the offer but for that confounded tumble,” pointing to his plaster leg, “but now I am compelled to seek assistance or to forfeit103 all chance of ever getting any of the treasure. So I invite you to share with me a rough experience of several weeks, perhaps months, and the much or little that may come of it.”
“That is what I came here hoping for,” responded Brent heartily104, “and I would have undertaken it under much smaller temptation than you offer. Your proposition is most generous and flattering in spite of your modest way of putting it.”
“Wait till you hear the particulars before you commit yourself,” interrupted Fraser settling back among his pillows. “I’ll spin you a little yarn105. It’s not long and I don’t think you’ll find it dull.”
“Go on; and don’t cut it short,” assented Brent keenly interested.
“You know that I’ve knocked about the world a good deal and among all sorts of people,” began the old man deliberately106. “Somehow I have spent nearly all of my life in new countries. Thirty years ago I went to California. I was for a long time in Aus{21}tralia, and for the last eight years I have been in the southern countries of South America. I have tried mining, ranching107, fruit farming, cattle raising, made and lost small fortunes at each, and on the whole have enjoyed life. About eighteen months ago, I visited the small colonies along the Argentine coast well down into Patagonian latitudes. I stopped finally at a little settlement near the mouth of the Rio Negro or Black River. There were strong indications there of mineral wealth. Then, too, the climate was agreeable, game was abundant, and I thought I might do a little profitable trading with the Indians. I had taken with me from Buenos Ayres quite a collection of small things in order to make the trip profitable if possible.
“I suppose you have heard the usual stories about the native Patagonians—that they are all giants and terribly ferocious108 and that they kill all foreigners who try to intrude109 into their country for fear they will discover the fabulous110 treasures that the Indians have been guarding for centuries. Well, those yarns111 are all bosh. I have traded with the Indians, picked up some of their lingo112, hunted with them, and visited some of their villages. They are much like other primitive113 races, more intelligent in some respects, better made physically but not giants, and there are no buried cities or ancient temples filled with gold for{22} them to guard. They have some admirable qualities not ruined yet by civilization, but they will not survive long after they become better acquainted with the trader and the whisky barrel.
“It’s a wonderful country, lad, that the Tehuelches live in. That’s the name of the general tribe of natives in all the region south of the Rio Negro. There isn’t a rougher, more inhospitable coast-line on all the footstool than the thousand miles or so from Rio Negro to Santa Cruz. The Indians themselves say it would take one of them at least two years to follow the coast by land from one point to the other. But there’s a fine country inland, back of nature’s barricade114. Never mind about that now; you’ll see it for yourself. I spent more than six months previous to last May in and around the little settlement at the mouth of the Rio Negro. I cultivated the natives from the first and managed to get on good terms with some of them. I made them small presents, traded with them, and taught them some new points in hunting and fishing. I prospected115 a good deal and became convinced that there was valuable mineral wealth in the rocky districts near the coast. I could do very little, however, toward testing this point with my primitive appliances, though I did manage to collect a few ounces of free gold in the course of several weeks’ search. I found that the Indians were{23} familiar with the metal, but they were absolutely close-mouthed on the subject. All my attempts to gain information about gold deposits served only to make them suspicious and silent.
“Most of the Indians I met belonged to a division or sub-tribe known as the Caillitchets, or non-speakers. For many years they have been morose116 and almost dumb. The story is that three or four of their chiefs, or caciques, whom they believed to be immortal117 and invulnerable were killed in battle three or four generations ago. Ever since the entire tribe has been gloomy, indifferent, and given up to a sort of savage118 cynicism. They used to bring gold-dust to the occasional traders who touched at points along the coast, but the yellow metal excited such evidences of cupidity119 in the white men that the Indians apparently became afraid it would tempt34 an invasion of their domicile. At all events they stopped all barter120, having nothing else of value to offer in exchange for traders’ goods. There are some interesting stories among the settlers at Rio Negro about those days. The same thing is said about these Indians that is told about the natives of Ecuador, that they brought quantities of gold-dust to the traders, made their bargains, and then threw into the river all they had remaining of the precious metal. Two or three small expeditions at one time or another{24} about thirty years ago attempted to follow the Indians back into the country, but none of the adventurers were ever heard of again.
“They are a tamer people now. A white man who takes care to treat them well is comparatively safe among them. They are not treacherous121 like their North American brethren and I have spent weeks with them without meeting any suggestion of hostility122.
“I made especial effort to gain the confidence of their principal cacique, a fine old warrior123 whom they call Casimiro. He is a wonderful old man, more than ninety years old he says, and I believe him. Centenarians are by no means rare among these people and I met one old fellow who claims more than one hundred and twenty birthdays. Casimiro is remarkably124 intelligent, remarkably broad in his ideas, for a savage. I became quite attached to him, hunted and fished with him, and we had many long talks together. He has picked up a good deal of Spanish, and he taught me enough of his language to enable me to get along very well with the others of the tribe. He took very deeply to heart the decadence125 of his people. In all Patagonia now there are not above twenty-five thousand of the native tribesmen remaining, while a century ago their numbers were probably almost ten times as great. Casimiro{25} lamented126 the growth of the white colonies, denounced indiscriminately the traders and the missionaries127 who had come among his people, and predicted gloomily the speedy extinction128 of his race. I sympathized with him and tried to convince him that there was good as well as bad in the civilization which he denounced.
“Finally a bit of adventure gave me a stronger hold upon the old chief’s regard. We had been wandering one afternoon last April through a very rough, half-wooded valley some miles inland. Making our way along the side of a steep declivity129, we came to a spot where there had been a recent landslide130. I stopped to examine what I thought were traces of gold in the fresh surface. Casimiro, picking his way some yards in advance of me, started somehow another movement of the loose earth and stones. He was swept off his feet in a moment, and before I realized what had happened I saw him whirled over and over in a great mass of débris toward the bottom of the defile131 more than a hundred yards below. I gave him up for lost, but about a third of the distance from the bottom, before the descent became almost perpendicular132, was a large jutting133 rock, which divided the small avalanche134, and the old man managed to catch and cling to it.
“Of course I went to his assistance. It was a{26} matter of great difficulty to reach him. There was danger of starting fresh slides which would sweep us both away and it was not easy to get a footing in the insecure earth. Two or three times I slipped a few feet, but by digging toes and fingers into the hillside I checked myself with no worse damage than a few scratches. The old Indian was badly shaken and bruised135 but he seemed to have no bones broken. I got him into a more comfortable position on the rock and in a few minutes his strength came back, so that with a little help from me he was finally able to scramble136 up the steep slope to an easier angle where we could stand on our feet again and make our way to sound earth.
“Well, the old man persisted in making a hero of me for my part in the incident and declared I had saved his life. Two or three days later, he came to the settlement and invited me to go with him to one of the principal native villages where he declared he wished to ‘make a big talk’ with me and intrust to me a great secret. I made up my mind, principally on account of his solemn manner, that he really had something more important on hand than a native celebration of his deliverance from the landslide and so I decided to go with him. It was nearly a week’s journey on foot and horseback to the west. When I arrived, I was invited to attend a council of four{27} caciques, Waki, Orkeke, Cuastro, and Casimiro. They had met, the old chief explained to me, to consider a great difficulty and peril which threatened the tribe. They needed a white man’s advice and assistance. He had in his intercourse137 with me for several weeks been testing my knowledge, my judgment138, and my good faith. The adventure of the avalanche had completed my establishment in his confidence. I did not feel particularly complimented by this expression of their esteem139 until they had described their problem. Then you will readily believe, I was dumfounded.
“Casimiro as spokesman told the story. There existed, he said, at a secret spot in a spur of the Cordilleras within the tribe’s domain140 a vast store of native gold. ‘How much?’ I inquired in astonishment141. ‘More, much more, than a thousand mules142 could carry,’ the chief declared solemnly. ‘But you mean ore, rock or sand with specks144 of gold in it,’ I said to him in Spanish, thinking I had misunderstood. ‘No,’ he replied, and going to a corner of the hut in which we were sitting, he produced presently a small bag of skin. He opened it and poured upon the floor in front of me a heap of yellow dust and nuggets—the purest virgin gold I had ever seen. ‘All like that,’ the old man remarked laconically145. I was too amazed to speak. I put out my hand and took up a{28} handful from the shining pile. There was no doubt about it. It was perfectly146 genuine—worth really four sovereigns an ounce, every speck143 of it. Then I looked from one to another of the four chiefs. They were watching me stoically.
“‘What do you want me to do?’ I asked finally.
“‘Take the gold away from our country,’ was Casimiro’s answer; whereat my surprise was so great that I must have shown signs of approaching idiocy147. The four chiefs talked rapidly for a few moments in their own tongue, but I was too dazed to try to understand what they said. Involuntarily I was calculating roughly the amount of the treasure they had described. A mule-load I knew was about two hundredweight. Could there be two hundred thousand pounds, equivalent to twelve hundred thousand pounds sterling148, or sixty millions of your American dollars, in this Patagonian treasure-bed? Presently Casimiro explained himself more clearly. What he said amounted to this:
“‘My people have long known of this gold which you white men love, fight for, suffer for, and die for. It is of no use to my people. It neither feeds them nor clothes them. The traders tell us they will give us food and clothing and much whisky for it. We know better. If they discover we have it, they will come with many soldiers and seize our country and{29} drive us out and kill us. The white man knows no mercy in seeking gold. We have tried to cover it up and keep it secret. We fear we have been betrayed. Two or three times in recent moons white men have penetrated149 near to its hiding-place. The first seeker met his death, the second likewise. But more are coming. Our people are in peril. We must save them. We love our country, we love our simple life. We want none of your civilization, none of its cruelties, its vices87, its death. With this gold tempting the white multitude, we shall become as chaff150 before the wind in front of you. So we say, Take the gold. We have nothing else to excite your cupidity, take it and let us live in peace.’
“I was fairly humiliated151, lad, before that grand old savage. His words were simple; they were not spoken in anger. Yet he stood there melancholy, powerless before a relentless152 fate, looking fearlessly into a future full of peril for his people. There was something sublime in the dignity of the old Patagonian that I had never seen in any other man and for a moment I felt almost like going down in the dust before him. He came back presently to his usual mood and noticing, I suppose, my shamefacedness he assured me I was by no means included in the denunciation into which the contemplation of his people’s wrongs had led him. A renegade member of the tribe, it{30} appeared, was held responsible for the betrayal of the secret. They asked me if I thought they had determined153 upon the right course to pursue. I told them they would be foolish to let such a vast treasure go without providing for certain lasting154 benefits to themselves in return. They might easily make themselves free of the traders, and secure all necessary annual supplies including harmless luxuries, besides providing for the practical exclusion155 of the white man’s liquor, which was already becoming a grave evil among them.
“They all seemed to think the suggestion a good one. When they had discussed it for a little while among themselves, Casimiro finally made me this proposition: His brother chiefs, he said, wished to make a test of my good faith. They would deliver into my hands at the Rio Negro settlement a small mule-load of gold. This I was to take to my own country and spend on behalf of the tribe in the purchase of arms, ammunition156, supplies of various kinds, and necessary tools, receptacles, etc., for the gathering157 and transportation of the treasure. I should bring these things in a ship to Rio Negro and meet Casimiro at a point near the settlement fourteen days previous to the longest day of the coming summer, which will be the sixth of December, two months hence. Casimiro would then accompany me on the{31} ship to a point on the coast farther south and nearer to the location of the treasure. If I failed to appear on the day appointed our treaty would be at an end. Of course I agreed. I received about one hundred and fifty pounds of gold-dust ten days later and immediately sailed for Buenos Ayres. I did not dare dispose of any considerable quantity of native gold here, for I am pretty well known and the location of my wanderings in the South was also known. Besides I wished to make a large portion of my purchases elsewhere in order to avoid exciting suspicion. So I sailed to England where I arrived early in August, turned my gold into money, bought all my supplies except food-stuffs, and now here I am laid up with a broken leg with none too great margin of time to keep my appointment with Casimiro in December.
“So you see, my lad, I am compelled to seek assistance. If I were well it would probably be impossible to charter a suitable sailing craft, do all that must be done here in buying, fitting, and other preparations, and sail before the end of the month. The five weeks remaining would be none too much for the uncertainties158 of such a voyage in a small ship. Now you know practically as much about this strange venture as I do. I have money enough left for the trip to Rio Negro and back besides all necessary pur{32}chases of supplies, etc. We may come back here penniless, we may bring the most valuable cargo that ship ever carried. Will you take the chances?”
Brent had listened to the Scotchman’s extraordinary narrative159 with ever increasing interest. The Patagonian chief’s description of buried millions in nature’s richest treasure-house bewildered him with its prodigality160 of wealth, its prodigious161 massing of riches. The story was almost incredible yet plausible162. He knew not what to think. He was unable at first to think at all with calmness. But he had only one answer to Fraser’s fascinating proposition. If the prospect43 of success had been but one in a thousand it would have been enough.
“Of course I will take the chances and gladly,” he exclaimed warmly. “But do you not suspect,” he added presently, “that the Indians have concocted163 this story in order to secure through you the purchase of a large quantity of goods at much lower rates than they could obtain them from the traders?”
“A very natural suspicion, my lad,” responded Fraser, “and it does credit to your bump of caution. But I have absolute faith in them. My reasons are not easy to define, perhaps. I have heard some wonderful yarns in my time and I have grown even more suspicious than is reasonable, I imagine, but I believe these Patagonians told me the simple truth. That is{33} far from saying we shall ever get possession of this treasure. Now, as for terms of partnership164, I will pay all the expenses of the expedition and give you a third of whatever proceeds it yields. You agree to see the thing through to the end, co?perating with me of course in every way that circumstances may make necessary. Is that satisfactory?”
“Perfectly, and generously liberal terms they are, too,” said Brent, and the two men clasped hands to seal the compact.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
steamship
|
|
| n.汽船，轮船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
fin
|
|
| n.鳍；(飞机的)安定翼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
invalids
|
|
| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
invalid
|
|
| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
undoing
|
|
| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
intimacy
|
|
| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
physically
|
|
| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
athletic
|
|
| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
refinement
|
|
| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
moors
|
|
| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
furrow
|
|
| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
margin
|
|
| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
accomplishment
|
|
| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
vicissitudes
|
|
| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ashore
|
|
| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
phenomena
|
|
| n.现象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
lottery
|
|
| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
sociable
|
|
| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
uncouth
|
|
| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
anecdote
|
|
| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
enervating
|
|
| v.使衰弱，使失去活力( enervate的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
postpone
|
|
| v.延期，推迟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
lengthened
|
|
| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
dormant
|
|
| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
dreaded
|
|
| 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) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
tempt
|
|
| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
whim
|
|
| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
severely
|
|
| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
prevailing
|
|
| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
tempting
|
|
| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
notably
|
|
| adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
investigation
|
|
| n.调查，调查研究 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
prospects
|
|
| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
narration
|
|
| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
modesty
|
|
| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
reticence
|
|
| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
withheld
|
|
| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
memorable
|
|
| adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
anticipations
|
|
| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
boundless
|
|
| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
steward
|
|
| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
vouchsafed
|
|
| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
stewards
|
|
| （轮船、飞机等的）乘务员( steward的名词复数 )； （俱乐部、旅馆、工会等的）管理员； （大型活动的）组织者； （私人家中的）管家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
awnings
|
|
| 篷帐布 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
inexplicable
|
|
| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
lashes
|
|
| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
latitudes
|
|
| 纬度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
tempestuous
|
|
| adj.狂暴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
cyclonic
|
|
| adj.气旋的，飓风的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
transformation
|
|
| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
monotonous
|
|
| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
tranquillity
|
|
| n. 平静, 安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
berths
|
|
| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
erratic
|
|
| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
chaos
|
|
| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
lurch
|
|
| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
locomotion
|
|
| n.运动，移动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
steered
|
|
| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
zigzag
|
|
| n.曲折，之字形；adj.曲折的，锯齿形的；adv.曲折地，成锯齿形地；vt.使曲折；vi.曲折前行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
wrenched
|
|
| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
subsided
|
|
| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
trifling
|
|
| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
bruises
|
|
| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
hardy
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，果断的，吃苦的；耐寒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
abide
|
|
| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
exasperation
|
|
| n.愤慨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
mishap
|
|
| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
vices
|
|
| 缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
crutches
|
|
| n.拐杖, 支柱 v.支撑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
preoccupied
|
|
| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
adjustable
|
|
| adj.可调整的，可校准的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
procured
|
|
| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
consultation
|
|
| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
assented
|
|
| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
sling
|
|
| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
jovial
|
|
| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
sincerity
|
|
| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
truthfulness
|
|
| n. 符合实际 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
generosity
|
|
| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
forfeit
|
|
| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
heartily
|
|
| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
yarn
|
|
| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
ranching
|
|
| adj.放牧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
ferocious
|
|
| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
intrude
|
|
| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
fabulous
|
|
| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
yarns
|
|
| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
lingo
|
|
| n.语言不知所云，外国话，隐语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
primitive
|
|
| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
barricade
|
|
| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
prospected
|
|
| vi.勘探（prospect的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
morose
|
|
| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
immortal
|
|
| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
cupidity
|
|
| n.贪心，贪财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
barter
|
|
| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
treacherous
|
|
| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
hostility
|
|
| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
decadence
|
|
| n.衰落，颓废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
lamented
|
|
| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
missionaries
|
|
| n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
extinction
|
|
| n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
declivity
|
|
| n.下坡，倾斜面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
landslide
|
|
| n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
defile
|
|
| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
perpendicular
|
|
| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
jutting
|
|
| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
avalanche
|
|
| n.雪崩，大量涌来 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
bruised
|
|
| [医]青肿的，瘀紫的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
scramble
|
|
| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
intercourse
|
|
| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
esteem
|
|
| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
domain
|
|
| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
mules
|
|
| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
speck
|
|
| n.微粒，小污点，小斑点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
specks
|
|
| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
laconically
|
|
| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
idiocy
|
|
| n.愚蠢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
sterling
|
|
| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
penetrated
|
|
| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
chaff
|
|
| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
humiliated
|
|
| 感到羞愧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
relentless
|
|
| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
154
lasting
|
|
| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
exclusion
|
|
| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
157
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
158
uncertainties
|
|
| 无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
159
narrative
|
|
| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
160
prodigality
|
|
| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
161
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
162
plausible
|
|
| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
163
concocted
|
|
| v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 )；调制；编造；捏造 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
164
partnership
|
|
| n.合作关系，伙伴关系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |