CHAPTER IX THE RETURN

 Just as the moon was rising Tevico came.

 

 

He was very tired, for his journey had been a long one, but he was glad to bring good news to his people and to Lodrix.

 

The Bear people had come together and were waiting for Tevico.

 

They were very glad to hear the message for it meant great wealth for them.

 

They would now have more bronze than any other land tribe¹.

 

“Lodrix must be sent home. We must have a messenger,” said the chief. “He must be very strong, for the bronze is heavy.”

 

 

Then he chose one of the strongest of the men, who started off with Lodrix.

 

At sunrise, they reached the shore of the lake.

 

There the Lake-Dweller messenger was waiting with the bronze.

 

 

Not a word was spoken.

 

The messenger of the Bear tribe took the bag of bronze, and Lodrix with the other messenger hurried across the bridge to his home.

 

There his mother and father and all his tribe were waiting to welcome him.

 

They crowded about the chief’s hut and listened, as Lodrix told the story of his capture.

 

When Lodrix had finished his story, he went into the hut to rest.

 

He soon fell asleep, tired from his long journey.

 

Then the chief sent two men to pull up the drawbridge which had been down since early morning.

 

He still feared that the Bear tribe would attack them.

 

 

After this had been done, the chief said to his people: “My son has returned to us. Now we must think of winter.

 

“Our fruit-trees have been destroyed by our enemies and we have very little dried fruit left.

 

“We will have to hunt and fish every day, that we may have enough food to last us through the winter.”

 

As the chief was talking, a messenger, who had been sent by the people of another Lake village, came up.

 

He said: “Chief, my people offer help to you and your tribe.

 

“They know that your fruit-trees have been destroyed.

 

“They have plenty of food to give you if you need it.

 

“They are glad that your son has been returned to you.”

 

 

This message made the Lake-Dweller people very happy, and before separating, they planned to come together that night for a feast² of thanksgiving.

 

At sunset, as they sat eating and drinking, they made a solemn pledge³ that some day they would conquer the Bear tribe and get back their bronze.

 

That night the moon shone upon them, as they stood with outstretched arms, praying to it for strength to fulfil their vow⁴.

 

THE END

1 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。

2 feast   

n.盛宴，筵席，节日

参考例句：

• After the feast she spent a week dieting to salve her conscience.大吃了一顿之后，她花了一周时间节食以安慰自己。
• You shouldn't have troubled yourself to prepare such a feast!你不该准备这样丰盛的饭菜，这样太麻烦你了！

3 pledge   

n.保证，誓言，抵押，抵押品；vt.保证，誓言，举杯祝...健康

参考例句：

• Take this ring as a pledge of our friendship.收下这枚戒指当作我们友谊的信物。
• The old man is willing to pledge for him.那位老人愿意为他担保。

4 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。