"Yes, but I do, Monsieur!" and the tone in which she said it was firm with decision. "The Indian asked my pledge in all solemnity, and has gone away trusting to it. My conscience could never again be clear did I prove false in such a matter. You also made a pledge, even before mine was given; was it not your purpose to abide2 by it?"
"No," I answered, a bit shortly. "I merely agreed to his proposition at your expressed desire that I should, and because I believed you had framed some plan of escape. Have you such small respect for me, Mademoiselle, as to think I could consent to leave you ? 348 ? here alone and at the mercy of these red fiends? Have I risked my life in coming here for no other end than this?"
I felt her reach her arm across the pile of skins lying between us, and grasp my hand within her own.
"But, dear friend, you must!" she said, pleadingly, her softly modulated4 voice dwelling5 upon the words as if they came hard. "Truly you must, John Wayland, and for my sake as well as your own. I am comparatively safe here,—safe at least from actual physical harm, so long as the savages6 dream that the sparing of my life will yield them profit. You have no right to remain in such peril8 as surrounds you here, when by so doing you benefit no one. You have father and mother awaiting in prayer your safe return to them yonder on the Maumee; while I,—I have no one even to ask how sad my fate may be. Think you that because I am a girl I must therefore be all selfishness? or that I would ever permit you thus to sacrifice yourself unnecessarily for me? No, no, Monsieur! I will remain prisoner to Little Sauk, for my sacred word has been pledged; and you must go, because there are others to whom your life is of value. Nor need you go empty-handed, for the one you have sought so far and long seems now ready enough to travel eastward9 with you."
Scarcely had her voice ceased, leaving me struggling to find fit words to change her mad decision, ? 349 ? when a rough hand flung back the entrance flap, and the naked body of an Indian, framed for a single instant against the light, lurched heavily through the opening. Even that brief glimpse told me the man had been drinking to excess; while for the moment, as I huddled10 down closer behind my robes, I was unable to make out his identity.
"Where white woman?" he ejaculated gruffly, as he paused, blinded by the darkness. "Why she not come help me?"
His quick ear evidently caught the slight rustle11 of the girl's skirt as she rose hastily to her feet, for with a muttered Indian oath the savage7 lurched forward. I could scarcely make out the dimmest shadow of them in the dense12 gloom, yet I seemed to know that he had grasped her roughly, though not the slightest sound of fear or pain came from her lips.
"Ugh! better come!" he muttered, a veiled savage threat growling13 in his tone. "You my squaw; cook in my lodge14; get meal now."
"But where? and how?" she asked, her voice trembling perceptibly, yet striving to placate15 him by a seeming willingness to obey. "I have nothing here to cook, nor have I fire."
"Indian squaw no talk back!" he retorted angrily. "This way I show white squaw to mind chief!"
I heard plainly the brutal16 blow he struck her, though even as she reeled back she managed to stifle17 ? 350 ? the scream upon her lips, so that it was barely audible. With one bound I was over the barrier of robes and clutching with tingling18 fingers for the brute19. I touched his feathered head-dress at last, and he must have supposed me his helpless victim, for with a grunt20 of satisfaction he struck once again, the blow meeting my shoulder, where he judged in the dark her face would be.
"White squaw mind now—"
I had him gripped by the throat before he ended, and we went down together for a death-struggle in the darkness, from which each realized in an instant both could never rise again. My furious grip sobered him, and he made desperate efforts to break free, struggling vainly to utter some cry for rescue. Once I felt him groping at his waist for a knife; but I got first clasp upon its hilt, though I twisted helplessly for some minutes before I could loosen his hold at my wrist so as to strike him with the blade. His teeth closed upon my hand, biting deep into the flesh like a wild-cat, and the sharp sting of it yielded me the desperate strength I needed to wrench22 my hand free, and with one quick blow the knife I clutched cut deep into his side, so that I could feel the hot blood spurt23 forth24 over my hand. I held him in a death grip, for I knew a single cry meant ruin to all our plans, until the last breath sped, and I knew I lay prostrate25 above a corpse26. It had been so swift and fierce a contest that ? 351 ? I staggered half-dazed to my feet, peering about me as if expecting another attack. I was steadied somewhat by the sound of a low sob21 from the darkness.
"'Tis well over with, Toinette," I murmured hastily, my voice trembling from the strain that still shook me.
"Oh, John! John Wayland! And you are truly unhurt of the struggle?" It was scarcely her voice speaking, so agitated27 was it. "Have you killed him?"
"Yes," I answered, finding my way cautiously toward her, and speaking in whispers. "I had no other choice. It was either his life or yours and mine. Knew you the savage?"
"It was Little Sauk," she replied, clinging to me, and growing somewhat calmer from my presence. "Oh, what can we do now?"
"There remains28 but one thing, and that is to accept the chance that Providence29 has given us. There remains no longer a shadow of excuse for your staying here, even by your own reasoning. You are no longer prisoner to Little Sauk. Your pledge has been dissolved by Fate, and it must be God's will that you go forth with me. What say you, Mademoiselle?" And I crushed her hands in mine.
I could feel her slight form tremble as I waited her reply, and believed she peered across my shoulder through the darkness, imagining she saw the dead Indian's form lying there.
? 352 ?
"Do you truly wish it?" she questioned at last, as though warring with herself. "Think you she would greatly care?"
'Tis a strangely perverse30 thing, the human mind. As there dimly dawned upon me a conception of her meaning,—a knowledge that this seemingly heart-free girl cared enough for me to exhibit such jealousy31 of another,—I would not undeceive her by a word of explanation.
"I certainly do wish it," was my grave answer, "nor does it greatly matter what the desire of any other may be. This is not an invitation to a ball, Mademoiselle. I beg you answer me; will you go?"
She looked toward me, wondering at my words.
"Yes," she said simply. "Has the time come?"
"I have no certain means of knowing; but it cannot be far from the hour, and we shall be much safer without."
I took the Indian's knife with me, wiping the long blade upon the pile of skins, and placing it convenient to my hand within the bosom32 of my hunting-shirt. It was dark enough back of the lodge away from the glare of the fires, and we rested there well within the shadow, for some time, while I scanned the surroundings and planned as best I might our future movements.
"Was it from dread33 of venturing once more upon the water that you held back so long?" I asked ? 353 ? her, seeking rudely to delve34 into the secret of her reserve.
"Have you ever found me of cowardly heart, Monsieur?" she questioned in return, parrying with quick skill, "that you should think any bodily terror could hold me back? If I had reasons other than those already given, they were worthy35 ones."
"No," she answered; "my heart beats fast, but 'tis not from fear."
Only a few scattered37 lodges38 had been raised to the eastward of where we were, nor did these show any signs of life. We crept forward with painful slowness, partially39 hiding our movements by following a shallow, curving gully, until we had gained the extreme limits of the encampment, where we crawled out into the gloom of the surrounding prairie. Not until then did either of us venture to stand erect40, or advance with any degree of freedom.
Directly ahead of us there was nothing by which I could safely guide our course. The flat sameness of the plain offered no landmarks41, while the night sky was so thickly overcast42 as to leave no stars visible. Nor was there light of any kind, save that of the fires in the camp we had just left. I hesitated to risk the open prairie thus unaided, lest we should wander astray and lose much valuable time; so, although it measurably increased our peril of encountering parties ? 354 ? of savages, I turned sharply northward43, keeping the bright Indian fires upon our left, and groping forward through the gloom toward where I knew the main branch of the river must lie. It was neither the time nor place for speech. I held her hand closely while we moved onward44 silently, carefully guarding each step lest by mischance it should bring betrayal. Once, after we had reached the river and were moving eastward again, a party of Indians passed us, coming so silently out of the black void, in their soft moccasins, that I had barely time to hold her motionless before they were fairly upon us. I counted nine of them, moving rapidly in single file, like so many black ghosts. We waited with wildly throbbing46 hearts, listening for fear others might follow in their trail.
We were almost beside the walls of the factory building before either of us was aware of its proximity47. Even then, as I lay prone48 on the earth and studied its dim outlines, they possessed49 nothing of familiarity, for the high-pitched roof had fallen in and carried with it the greater portion of the upper walls, leaving a mere3 shell, shapeless and empty. I rested there, gazing at it, and wondering how best we might proceed to find our way beneath where the boat was to be moored50, when I felt Mademoiselle's fingers press my arm warningly. Scarcely a yard away, on a ridge51 of higher ground, two dim figures came to a sudden pause.
"I perceive naught52 of the presence of your friends ? 355 ? as yet, Monsieur," spoke53 a soft voice, "but I will remain until certain of the outcome."
"Then your decision is unchanged?" asked the other, in deeper accent, full of earnest pleading. "All is to be over between us from this hour? And you deliberately54 choose to devote your life to the redemption of these savages?"
"We have discussed all this at length, Monsieur le Marquis, as we came along, and, as you fully45 know, my choice is made beyond recall. I am here to serve you to-night, because it seems to be a duty given unto me by some strange Providence; and I have relied upon your courtesy to make it as little unpleasant as possible. I pray you, beseech55 me no more. The girl I once was lives no longer; the woman I now am has been given a special mission by God, too sacred to be cast aside for aught that earth has to offer her of happiness. We part in kindness, Monsieur,—in friendship even; but that which was once between us may never be again."
There was no answer; even the reckless audacity56 of a courtier was silenced by that calm final dismissal. It was Mademoiselle who spoke in swift whisper, her lips at my ear.
"Speak! who is she?"
"The woman of whom you have heard so often,—the missionary57 in the Indian camp."
"Yes, I know," impatiently; "but I mean her name?"
? 356 ?
"She calls herself Sister Celeste; I have indeed heard mention of another, but it abides58 not in my memory."
"You deceive me, Monsieur; yet I know, and will speak with her," was the quick decision. "Mother of God! 'tis a voice too dear ever to be forgotten."
She was beside them with a step, seeming no doubt a most fair vision to be born so instantly of the night-shadows.
"Marie Faneuf!" she exclaimed, eagerly. "I know not by what strange fortune I meet you here, but surely you will not refuse greeting to an old friend?"
The girl drew hastily back a step, as if her first thought was flight; but ere such end could be accomplished59, Mademoiselle had clasped her arm impetuously.
"Marie!" she pleaded, "can it be possible you would flee from me?"
"Nay," returned the other, her voice trembling painfully, as she struggled to restrain herself. "It is not that. Dear, dear friend! I knew you were among the few saved from Dearborn. The American hunter told me, and ever since have I tried to avoid you in the camp. 'Twas not for lack of the old love, yet I feared to meet you. Much has occurred of late to make the keeping of my vow60 most difficult. I have been weak, and grievously tempted61; and I felt scarce ? 357 ? strong enough, even though protected by prayers, to withstand also my deep love for you."
Their voices insensibly merged62 into French, each speaking so rapidly and low that I could get little meaning of it. Then I noted63 De Croix, half lying upon the ground, his head hidden within his hands. With sudden remembrance of the work before us, I touched his shoulder.
"Come below, Monsieur, and help me search for the boat," I said, kindly64, for I was truly touched by his grief. "It will help clear your mind to have some labor65 to accomplish."
"I dare not, Wayland!" he answered hoarsely66, and the face he uplifted toward me was strangely white and drawn67. "I must stay with her; I dare not leave her again alone, lest she escape me once more. She is mine, truly mine by every law of the Church,—my wife, I tell you, and I would die here in the wilderness68 rather than permit her longer to doom69 herself to such a fate as this."
His words and manner were so wild they startled me. Surely, in his present frame of mind he would prove useless on such a mission as that before us.
"Then remain here, Monsieur!" I said, "and do your best to win her consent to accompany us. No doubt Mademoiselle will aid you all that is in her power."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
captivity
|
|
| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
abide
|
|
| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
modulated
|
|
| 已调整[制]的，被调的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
eastward
|
|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
huddled
|
|
| 挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
rustle
|
|
| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
dense
|
|
| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
growling
|
|
| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
lodge
|
|
| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
placate
|
|
| v.抚慰，平息(愤怒) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
brutal
|
|
| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
stifle
|
|
| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
tingling
|
|
| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
brute
|
|
| n.野兽，兽性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
grunt
|
|
| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
sob
|
|
| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
wrench
|
|
| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
spurt
|
|
| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
corpse
|
|
| n.尸体，死尸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
providence
|
|
| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
perverse
|
|
| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
delve
|
|
| v.深入探究，钻研 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
worthy
|
|
| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
perils
|
|
| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
lodges
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
erect
|
|
| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
landmarks
|
|
| n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
overcast
|
|
| adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
northward
|
|
| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
onward
|
|
| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
throbbing
|
|
| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
proximity
|
|
| n.接近，邻近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
prone
|
|
| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
moored
|
|
| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
beseech
|
|
| v.祈求，恳求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
audacity
|
|
| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
missionary
|
|
| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
abides
|
|
| 容忍( abide的第三人称单数 )； 等候； 逗留； 停留 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
vow
|
|
| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
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： |
|
|
|
|
62
merged
|
|
| （使）混合( merge的过去式和过去分词 )； 相融； 融入； 渐渐消失在某物中 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
labor
|
|
| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |