“Here—hi!”
This time some one heard him, and that small, silent man, Ben Abdi, stood in the doorway1 of the tent at attention.
“Are you keeping a good look-out down the valley?” asked Major Agar.
“Ee yess, sar.”
“No signs of any one?”
“No, sar.”
Agar shut up the diary, which book Ben Abdi had been taught to regard as strictly2 official, laid it aside, and passed out of the tent, the little Goorkha following close upon his heels with a quick intelligent interest in his every movement which somehow suggested a dusky and faithful little dog.
For some moments they stood thus on the edge of the small plateau, the big man in front, the little one behind—alert, with twinkling, beady eyes. Behind them towered a bleak4 grey slope of bare rock, like a cliff set back at a slight angle, so treeless, so smooth was the face of it. In front the great blue-shadowed valley lay beneath them, stretching away to the south, until in a distant haze5 the sharp hills seemed to close in and cut it short.
Perched thus, as it were, upon the roof of the world, these two men looked down upon it all with a calm sense of possession, and to him of the dominant6 race standing7 there some thousands of miles from his native land—alone—master of this great stretch of an alien shore, there must have come some passing thought of the strangeness of it all.
There was something wrong—he knew that. His orders had been to press forward and occupy this little ridge8, which was vaguely9 marked on the service maps as Mistley's Plateau, named after an adventurous10 soul, its discoverer. He had been instructed to hold this against all comers, and if possible to prevent communication between the two valleys, connected only by this narrow pass. All this Agar had carried out to the letter; but some one else had failed somewhere.
“It will be three days at the most,” his chief had said, “and the main body of the advance guard will join you!”
Jem Agar had been in occupation a week, and it seemed that he and his little band of men were forgotten of the world. Still this soldier held on, saying nothing to his men, writing his intensely practical diary, and trusting as a soldier should to the Deus ex machina who finally allows discipline to triumph. He looked down into the valley, piercing the shimmer11 of its hazes12 with his gentle blue eyes, looking to his chief, who had said, “In three days I will join you.”
It was not the first time that Agar and the little non-commissioned native officer, Ben Abdi, had stood thus together. They had taken their stand in this same spot in the keen air of the early morning, with the white frost crystallising the stones around them; in the glow of midday; and when the moon, hanging over the sharp-pointed13 hills, cast the valley into an opaque14 shade dark and fathomless15 as the valley of death.
Scanning the distant hills, Agar presently raised his eyes, noting the position of the sun in the heavens.
“Have you tried the heliograph a second time this morning?” he asked without looking round, which informality of manner warmed the little soldier's heart.
“Yes, sar. Three times since breakfast.”
It was the first time that Ben Abdi had found himself in a position of some responsibility, in immediate16 touch with one of the white-skinned warriors18 from over seas whose methods of making war had for him all the mystery and the infinite possibilities of a religion. This silent looking out for relief partook in some small degree of the nature of a council of war. Jem Sahib and himself were undoubtedly19 the chiefs of this expeditionary force, and to whom else than himself, Ben Abdi, should the Major turn for counsel and assistance? The little Goorkha preferred, however, that it should be thus; that Agar Sahib should say nothing, merely allowing him to stand silent three paces behind. He was a modest little man, this Goorkha, and knew the limit of his own capabilities20, which knowledge, by the way, is not always to be found in the hearts of some of us boasting a fairer skin. He knew that for hard fighting, snugly21 concealed22 behind a rock at two hundred yards, or in the open, with cunning bayonet or swinging kookery, he was as good as his fellows; but for strategy, for the larger responsibilities of warfare23, he was well pleased that his superior officer should manage these affairs in his quiet way unaided.
During a luncheon24 more remarkable25 for heartiness26 of despatch27 than delicacy28 of viand, James Edward Makerstone Agar devoted29 much thought to the affairs of Her Imperial Majesty30 the Empress of India. After luncheon he lighted a cheroot, threw himself on his bed, and there reflected further. Then he called to him Ben Abdi.
“No more promiscuous31 shooting,” he said to him. “No more volley firing at a single Ghilzai or a stray Bhutari. It seems that they do not know we are here, as we are left undisturbed. I do not want them to know—understand? If you see any one going along the valley, send two men after him; no shooting, Ben Abdi.”
And he pointed with his cheroot towards the evil-looking curved knife which hung at the Goorkha's side.
Ben Abdi grinned. He understood that sort of business thoroughly32.
Then followed many technical instructions—not only technical in good honest English, but interlarded with words from a language which cannot be written with our alphabet for the benefit of such as love details of a realistic nature.
The result of this council was that sundry33 little dusky warriors were busy clambering about the rocky slope all that day and well into the short hill-country evening, working in twos and threes with the alacrity34 of ants.
Jem Agar, in his own good time, was proceeding35 to further fortify36, as well as circumstances allowed, the position he had been told to hold until relief should come. In addition to the magic of the master's eye he lent the assistance of his strong right arm, laying his lithe37 weight against many a rock which his men could not move unaided. By the evening the position was in a fairly fortified38 state, and, after a copious39 dinner in the chill breeze that rushed from the mountain down to the valley after sunset, he walked placidly40 up and down at the edge of the plateau, watching, ever watching, but with calmness and no sign of anxiety.
Such it is to be an Englishman—the product of an English public school and country life. Thick-limbed, very quiet; thick-headed if you will!—that is as may be—but with a nerve of iron, ready to face the last foe41 of all—Death, without so much as a wink3.
To his ear came at times the low cautious cry of some night-bird sailing with heavy wing down to the haunt of mouse or mole42; otherwise the night was still as only mountain night-seasons are. Far down below him, the jungle and forest were rustling43 with game and beasts of prey44 seeking their meat from God, but the larger beasts of India, unlike their African brethren, move in silence, stealthy yet courageous45; and the distance was too great for the quickly stifled46 cry of the victim of panther or tiger to reach him.
When the moon rose he made the round of his pickets—a matter of ten minutes—and then to bed.
On the morning of the ninth day he thought he detected signs of uneasiness in the faces of the men. He found their keen little visages ever turned towards him, watching his every movement, noting the play of every feature. So in his simplicity47 he practised a simple diplomacy48. He hummed to himself as he went his rounds and while he sat over his diary. He only knew one song—“A Warrior17 Bold”—which every mess in India associated with old Jem Agar, for no evening was considered complete without the Major's one ditty if he were present. He had stood up and roared it in many strange places, quite without sentiment, without self-consciousness, without afterthought. He never thought it a matter of apology that he should have failed to learn another song. The smile with which many ladies of his acquaintance sat down to play the accompaniment by heart conveyed nothing to him. He did not pretend to be a singer—he knew that one song, and if they liked it he would sing it. Moreover, they did like it, and that was why they asked for it. It did some of them good to see honest Jem get on his legs and shout out, in a very musical voice, with perfect truth to air, what seemed to be a plain statement of his creed49 of life.
So, far up on Mistley Plateau, nine thousand feet above the level of the sea, Jem Agar advised his little dark-visaged fighters, sotto voce, while he puzzled over his diary, that his love had golden hair, with eyes so blue and heart so true, that none with her compared; moreover, that he didn't care if death were nigh, because he had fought for love, and for love would die.
It was not very deep or very subtle, but it served the purpose. It kept up the hearts of his handful of warriors, who, in common with their chief, had something child-like and simple in their honest, sporting souls.
Shortly after tiffin Ben Abdi came to the Major's tent, speaking hurriedly in his own tongue.
One of the men had seen the sunlight gleam on white steel far down in the valley. He had seen it several times—a long spiral flash, such as the sun would make on a fixed50 bayonet carried over the shoulder. Such a flash as this will carry twenty miles through a clear atmosphere; the spot pointed out by the sharp-eyed Goorkha was not more than ten miles distant. They stood in a group, this isolated51 little band, and gazed down into the depth below them. They gazed in vain for some time, then a little murmur52 of excitement told that the sun had glinted again on burnished53 steel. This time there were several flashes close together. These were men marching with fixed bayonets through an enemy's country.
“Heliograph,” said Agar quietly, without taking his eyes from the spot far down in the valley; and soon the little mirror was flashing out its question over the vale. After a few anxious moments the answering gleam sprang to life among the trees far below. Agar gave a quick little sigh of relief—that was all.
“No,” replied the Hill.
“Is the enemy in sight?”
“No,” replied the Mountain, again, with a sharp click.
“Are you all well?” flashed from below.
“Yes,” from above.
Two hours later Major Agar drew his absurd little force in line, and thus they received the relieving column, grimly conscious of dangers past but not forgotten.
At the head of the new-comers rode a little man with a prominent chin and a long drooping58 nose; such a remarkable-looking little man that the veriest tyro59 at physiognomy would have turned to look at him again. His black eyes, beaming with intelligence, moved so quickly beneath the steady lashes54 that it was next to an impossibility to state what he saw and what he failed to see.
He returned Agar's salute60 hurriedly, with a preoccupied61 air. He wore a quiet uniform tunic62 almost hidden by black braiding, a pith helmet which had seen brighter days and likewise fouler63, and the leg that he threw over his horse's head was cased in riding trousers and a neat little top-boot of brown leather.
He slipped from the saddle with a litheness64 which contrasted strangely with his closely cropped grey hair and white moustache and Imperial. He walked towards Agar's tent after the manner of one who had sat in the saddle for many hours. His spurs clanked with a sharp, business-like ring, and his every movement had that neat finish which indicates the soldier born and bred.
Wheeling round he faced Agar, who had followed him with a more leisurely65 gait based on longer legs, looking up keenly into the quiet fair face. Turning he shot his sword home into its scabbard with a click.
“Thank God,” he said, “you're safe!”
Agar awaited for further observations. This was not the man whom he had expected, but another, far greater, far higher up in the military scale—a man whom he had only met once before, and that at an official reception.
Seeing that his guest was unbuckling his sword, he presumed that the task of continuing this conversation lay with himself.
“M' yes!” he replied, rubbing his pannikin out clean with the corner of a towel, and proceeding to mix some brandy and water; “why?”
“Why!” answered the little man scornfully, “WHY! damn it, sir, Stevenor's command has been cut off by the enemy in force—massacred to a man. That is why I say 'Thank God, you're safe!' It is more than I expected.”
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收听单词发音
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1
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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4
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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6
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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7
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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8
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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9
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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10
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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11
shimmer
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| v./n.发微光，发闪光；微光 | |
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12
hazes
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| n.（烟尘等的）雾霭( haze的名词复数 )；迷蒙；迷糊；（尤指热天引起的）薄雾v.（使）笼罩在薄雾中( haze的第三人称单数 )；戏弄，欺凌（新生等，有时作为加入美国大学生联谊会的条件） | |
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13
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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14
opaque
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| adj.不透光的；不反光的，不传导的；晦涩的 | |
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15
fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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18
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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19
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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capabilities
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| n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力 | |
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21
snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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22
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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24
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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25
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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26
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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27
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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28
delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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29
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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30
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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31
promiscuous
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| adj.杂乱的，随便的 | |
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32
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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35
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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36
fortify
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| v.强化防御，为…设防；加强，强化 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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38
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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39
copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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41
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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42
mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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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
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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45
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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46
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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47
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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48
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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49
creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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50
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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51
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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52
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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53
burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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54
lashes
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| 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 | |
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55
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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57
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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58
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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59
tyro
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| n.初学者；生手 | |
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60
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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61
preoccupied
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| 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) | |
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62
tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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63
fouler
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| adj.恶劣的( foul的比较级 )；邪恶的；难闻的；下流的 | |
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64
litheness
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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