Everything had been prepared for it overnight; and, when we arrived at the house, a good breakfast was spread by Shorty: and old Tonoi was bustling2 about like an innkeeper. Several of his men, also, were in attendance to accompany us with calabashes of food; and, in case we met with any success, to officiate as bearers of burdens on our return.
Apprised4, the evening previous, of the meditated5 sport, the doctor had announced his willingness to take part therein.
Now, subsequent events made us regard this expedition as a shrewd device of the Yankee's. Once get us off on a pleasure trip, and with what face could we afterward6 refuse to work? Beside, he enjoyed all the credit of giving us a holiday. Nor did he omit assuring us that, work or play, our wages were all the while running on.
A dilapidated old musket7 of Tonoi's was borrowed for the doctor. It was exceedingly short and heavy, with a clumsy lock, which required a strong finger to pull the trigger. On trying the piece by firing at a mark, Long Ghost was satisfied that it could not fail of doing execution: the charge went one way, and he the other.
Upon this, he endeavoured to negotiate an exchange of muskets8 with Shorty; but the Cockney was proof against his blandishments; at last, he intrusted his weapon to one of the natives to carry for him.
Marshalling our forces, we started for the head of the valley; near which a path ascended9 to a range of high land, said to be a favourite resort of the cattle.
Shortly after gaining the heights, a small herd10, some way off, was perceived entering a wood. We hurried on; and, dividing our party, went in after them at four different points; each white man followed by several natives.
I soon found myself in a dense11 covert12; and, after looking round, was just emerging into a clear space, when I heard a report, and a bullet knocked the bark from a tree near by. The same instant there was a trampling13 and crashing; and five bullocks, nearly abreast14, broke into View across the opening, and plunged15 right toward the spot where myself and three of the islanders were standing16.
They were small, black, vicious-looking creatures; with short, sharp horns, red nostrils17, and eyes like coals of fire. On they came—their dark woolly heads hanging down.
By this time my island backers were roosting among the trees. Glancing round, for an instant, to discover a retreat in case of emergency, I raised my piece, when a voice cried out, from the wood, "Right between the 'orns, Paul! right between the 'orns!" Down went my barrel in range with a small white tuft on the forehead of the headmost one; and, letting him have it, I darted18 to one side. As I turned again, the five bullocks shot by like a blast, making the air eddy19 in their wake.
The Yankee now burst into view, and saluted20 them in flank. Whereupon, the fierce little bull with the tufted forehead flirted21 his long tail over his buttocks; kicked out with his hind22 feet, and shot forward a full length. It was nothing but a graze; and, in an instant, they were out of sight, the thicket23 into which they broke rocking overhead, and marking their progress.
The action over, the heavy artillery24 came up, in the person of the Long Doctor with the blunderbuss.
"Where are they?" he cried, out of breath.
"A mile or two h'off, by this time," replied the Cockney. "Lord, Paul I you ought to've sent an 'ailstone into that little black 'un."
While excusing my want of skill, as well as I could, Zeke, rushing forward, suddenly exclaimed, "Creation! what are you 'bout3 there, Peter?"
Peter, incensed25 at our ill luck, and ignorantly imputing26 it to the cowardice27 of our native auxiliaries28, was bringing his piece to bear upon his trembling squire—the musket-carrier—now descending29 a tree.
Pulling trigger, the bullet went high over his head; and, hopping30 to the ground, bellowing31 like a calf33, the fellow ran away as fast as his heels could carry him. The rest followed us, after this, with fear and trembling.
After forming our line of march anew, we went on for several hours without catching34 a glimpse of the game; the reports of the muskets having been heard at a great distance. At last, we mounted a craggy height, to obtain a wide view of the country. Prom this place, we beheld35 three cattle quietly browsing36 in a green opening of a wood below; the trees shutting them in all round.
A general re-examination of the muskets now took place, followed by a hasty lunch from the calabashes: we then started. As we descended37 the mountainside the cattle were in plain sight until we entered the forest, when we lost sight of them for a moment; but only to see them again, as we crept close up to the spot where they grazed.
They were a bull, a cow, and a calf. The cow was lying down in the shade, by the edge of the wood; the calf, sprawling38 out before her in the grass, licking her lips; while old Taurus himself stood close by, casting a paternal39 glance at this domestic little scene, and conjugally40 elevating his nose in the air.
"Now then," said Zeke, in a whisper, "let's take the poor creeturs while they are huddled41 together. Crawl along, b'ys; crawl along. Fire together, mind; and not till I say the word."
We crept up to the very edge of the open ground, and knelt behind a clump42 of bushes; resting our levelled barrels among the branches. The slight rustling43 was heard. Taurus turned round, dropped his head to the ground, and sent forth44 a low, sullen45 bellow32; then snuffed the air. The cow rose on her foreknees, pitched forward alannedly, and stood upon her legs; while the calf, with ears pricked46, got right underneath47 her. All three were now grouped, and in an instant would be off.
"I take the bull," cried our leader; "fire!"
The calf fell like a clod; its dam uttered a cry, and thrust her head into the thicket; but she turned, and came moaning up to the lifeless calf, going round and round it, snuffing fiercely with her bleeding nostrils. A crashing in the wood, and a loud roar, announced the flying bull.
Soon, another shot was fired, and the cow fell. Leaving some of the natives to look after the dead cattle, the rest of us hurried on after the bull; his dreadful bellowing guiding us to the spot where he lay. Wounded in the shoulder, in his fright and agony he had bounded into the wood; but when we came up to him, he had sunk to the earth in a green hollow, thrusting his black muzzle48 into a pool of his own blood, and tossing it over his hide in clots49.
The Yankee brought his piece to a rest; and, the next instant, the wild brute50 sprang into the air, and with his forelegs crouching51 under him, fell dead.
Our island friends were now in high spirits; all courage and alacrity52. Old Tonoi thought nothing of taking poor Taurus himself by the horns, and peering into his glazed53 eyes.
Our ship knives were at once in request; and, skinning the cattle, we hung them high up by cords of bark from the boughs54 of a tree. Withdrawing into a covert, we there waited for the wild hogs55; which, according to Zeke, would soon make their appearance, lured56 by the smell of blood. Presently we heard them coming, in two or three different directions; and, in a moment, they were tearing the offal to pieces.
As only one shot at these creatures could be relied on, we intended firing simultaneously57; but, somehow or other, the doctor's piece went off by itself, and one of the hogs dropped. The others then breaking into the thicket, the rest of us sprang after them; resolved to have another shot at all hazards.
The Cockney darted among some bushes; and, a few moments after, we heard the report of his musket, followed by a quick cry. On running up, we saw our comrade doing battle with a young devil of a boar, as black as night, whose snout had been partly torn away. Firing when the game was in full career, and coming directly toward him, Shorty had been assailed58 by the enraged59 brute; it was now crunching60 the breech of the musket, with which he had tried to club it; Shorty holding fast to the barrel, and fingering his waist for a knife. Being in advance of the others, I clapped my gun to the boar's head, and so put an end to the contest.
Evening now coming on, we set to work loading our carriers. The cattle were so small that a stout61 native could walk off with an entire quarter; brushing through thickets62, and descending rocks without an apparent effort; though, to tell the truth, no white man present could have done the thing with any ease. As for the wild hogs, none of the islanders could be induced to carry Shorty's; some invincible63 superstition64 being connected with its black colour. We were, therefore, obliged to leave it. The other, a spotted65 one, being slung66 by green thongs67 to a pole, was marched off with by two young natives.
With our bearers of burdens ahead, we then commenced our return down the valley. Half-way home, darkness overtook us in the woods; and torches became necessary. We stopped, and made them of dry palm branches; and then, sending two lads on in advance for the purpose of gathering68 fuel to feed the flambeaux, we continued our journey.
It was a wild sight. The torches, waved aloft, flashed through the forest; and, where the ground admitted, the islanders went along on a brisk trot69, notwithstanding they bent70 forward under their loads. Their naked backs were stained with blood; and occasionally, running by each other, they raised wild cries which startled the hillsides.
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1
jocund
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| adj.快乐的，高兴的 | |
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2
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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3
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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5
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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6
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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9
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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11
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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12
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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13
trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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14
abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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15
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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16
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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17
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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18
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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19
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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21
flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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24
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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imputing
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的现在分词 ) | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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28
auxiliaries
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| n.助动词 ( auxiliary的名词复数 )；辅助工，辅助人员 | |
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29
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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30
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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31
bellowing
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的现在分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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32
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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33
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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34
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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35
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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36
browsing
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| v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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37
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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38
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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39
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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40
conjugally
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41
huddled
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| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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42
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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43
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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44
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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45
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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46
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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47
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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48
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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49
clots
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| n.凝块( clot的名词复数 )；血块；蠢人；傻瓜v.凝固( clot的第三人称单数 ) | |
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50
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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51
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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52
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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53
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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54
boughs
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| 大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) | |
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55
hogs
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| n.（尤指喂肥供食用的）猪( hog的名词复数 )；（供食用的）阉公猪；彻底地做某事；自私的或贪婪的人 | |
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56
lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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57
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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58
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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59
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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60
crunching
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| v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄 | |
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62
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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63
invincible
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| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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64
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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65
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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66
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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67
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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68
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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69
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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70
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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