Tolta had not been idle since the shipwreck1. The restraint which the presence of the Spaniards had hitherto imposed upon him, was now removed. He was rarely seen with them, and indeed often disappeared for weeks at a time.
Kiana had never liked him. Tolta felt it at heart and resented it. At the bottom of this feeling was no doubt the attachment2 both had for Beatriz. We have seen the nature of Kiana’s; generous and profound, more from deep respect than from positive love, because in reality, while her character compelled, it at the same time repelled3 his passion. He had striven to win her, for he could not help it. In one sense, he was not disappointed at the result, because his reason told him it could not be otherwise. Having therefore obeyed both his own and her will, he now, in continuing his kindness, left her as free to act as himself.
It was different with Tolta. The Aztec saw even deeper into the impassable gulf4 between their two natures, but he was drawn5 to her with the[135] tenacity6 of the bloodhound to his scent7. In her presence he was gentle and serviceable. The passions which excited him when apart from her, became with her like those of a little child. He would gaze upon her for hours with eyes intense with his fiery8 emotions, but the moment she spoke9 to him the fire left them, and the good in him illumined his countenance10.
Beatriz read his character, and while from sympathy in his misfortunes she exerted herself to soothe11, she never could so overcome her repugnance12 as to trust in him as she did in Kiana. With the latter she felt safe; with Tolta never. The very fierceness which he was ever ready to display in her defence, might at any moment be turned upon her. It was well that her instincts prompted her to distrust him as much as she did, for often the only barrier between them was her own moral superiority. Tolta felt this to be indeed a far stronger obstacle than would have been the jealous precautions of lock or duenna. The possibility of Beatriz loving him as he did her never deluded13 him. He knew that was hopeless. Still his passion rather grew than abated14, especially in the freedom of his new life, which brought back the pride and ambition of his race. So long, however, as he saw that Beatriz did not love another, he was reconciled. She had so wisely avoided the subject whenever he sought to suggest his feelings, that he had all but persuaded himself that she was of a different mould from other women. She might be worshipped, but not sought in love.
[136]
He hated Juan and the seamen15 with all the intensity16 of an Aztec’s revenge, for their share in the conquest of his country. Olmedo he had ever respected for his virtues17, and would have exempted18 from the fate he cherished at heart for the others. In his excursions about Hawaii, he had come in contact with some of Pohaku’s warriors19. Gradually their intercourse20 had ripened21 into an intimacy22 with their chief, with whom he now conspired23 to overthrow24 Kiana and get possession of the Spaniards. So adroitly25 had he concealed26 his designs, that he had retained the friendship and confidence of all except a few individuals about him, for his manner was the same it had ever been. Their own consciousness of the opportunities he now had, and the provocation27 they had often given him, were more the causes of their secret distrust than anything they saw. His frequent absences were a relief rather than a cause of suspicion, for he was then forgotten.
He had no difficulty in obtaining a willing auditory to his plans in Pohaku, and the chiefs leagued with him. His inmost desire was to sacrifice the Spaniards to the war-god of Mexico, under any name his allies might choose from their mythology28, and to gloat over their dying agonies, while taunting29 them with their fate as due their crimes against his countrymen. Besides this, seeing the brutal30 nature of Pohaku and the easy confidence of Kiana, he conceived the design of eventually disposing of both, by turning their arms against each other, while he gradually united all Hawaii under his own sway and forced Beatriz to become his wife. As[137] hopeless as seemed such a plot, it was within the range of probability could the wily Aztec dispose of the chief actors. To this end he now bent31 all the resources of his cunning.
Pohaku listened eagerly to his seductive eloquence32 as he promised him the wealth of Kiana’s people, if he would unite his warriors under his direction. He excited his fears also, as he narrated33 the career of the white man in Mexico, insinuating34 that they were spies, to be followed by numbers sufficient for the conquest of Hawaii, as soon as their report should reach their countrymen in the ports whence they came.
At the suggestion of Tolta, some days before the declaration of Kiana to Beatriz, Pohaku had sent his heralds35 to summon the friendly chiefs to a grand council, at which the plot was to be finally discussed. They assembled at one of his principal fortresses36 on the southwestern bank of the crater38 of Kilauea, and there in silence and secrecy39 prepared their plans. Tolta knew too well the valor40 of the Spaniards, not to impress upon the chiefs the importance of securing them before marching in force upon Kiana. So artfully did he mingle41 his own revenge with their superstition42, that they with one accord decided43 to seize upon them by a secret expedition entrusted44 to Tolta, who agreed to put them into their hands for a solemn sacrifice to Pele, on condition only that the white woman was to be his own prize. Accordingly, some of the most active and trusty warriors were placed at his command. By slow marches and secret paths he led them[138] without discovery to the borders of the valley where the Spaniards dwelt, dividing them into different ambushes45, with orders to seize each one and bear him off at once to Pohaku’s fortress37, without taking his life, while he was to decoy the white men to them, and on each occasion make his own escape as if equally endangered. So successful was he, that the three seamen were abducted46 as arranged, without any alarm being given. Tolta then, with a select party lay in wait in the vicinity of Juan’s dwelling47, watching his opportunity to seize the main prize. Alvirez, he soon ascertained48, was for the present out of his reach, being in a distant part of the valley.
While watching for Olmedo and Beatriz, he had been witness to the scene between Kiana and the latter. Without overhearing their discourse49, he saw in their parting, as simple as it was, food for his jealousy50, for he well knew that her hand and tear had never been given him. His tiger blood was stirred, and he ground his teeth in rage. “What,” said he, “does she frown upon the Aztec noble, that she may smile upon this hind51 of Hawaii. Once in my power, and she shall be taught to love me or none.”
He watched her after movements more in amazement52 than anger, for they were to him contradictory53 and unintelligible54. Besides, until she was sufficiently55 far from her people, he dared not give the signal to seize her for fear of a general alarm; but not for one minute did he let her get out of his sight, following her movements under cover of the[139] thick undergrowth of the forest, with the silence and subtlety56 of a serpent. While thus engaged, a scene occurred which so astonished and fascinated him, that until he had seen it out, he seemed to have forgotten the object of his expedition.
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1 shipwreck | |
n.船舶失事,海难 | |
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2 attachment | |
n.附属物,附件;依恋;依附 | |
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3 repelled | |
v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 );使厌恶;排斥;推开 | |
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4 gulf | |
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂 | |
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5 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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6 tenacity | |
n.坚韧 | |
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7 scent | |
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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8 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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9 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 | |
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10 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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11 soothe | |
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
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12 repugnance | |
n.嫌恶 | |
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13 deluded | |
v.欺骗,哄骗( delude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14 abated | |
减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 ); 减去; 降价; 撤消(诉讼) | |
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15 seamen | |
n.海员 | |
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16 intensity | |
n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度 | |
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17 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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18 exempted | |
使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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20 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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21 ripened | |
v.成熟,使熟( ripen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22 intimacy | |
n.熟悉,亲密,密切关系,亲昵的言行 | |
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23 conspired | |
密谋( conspire的过去式和过去分词 ); 搞阴谋; (事件等)巧合; 共同导致 | |
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24 overthrow | |
v.推翻,打倒,颠覆;n.推翻,瓦解,颠覆 | |
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25 adroitly | |
adv.熟练地,敏捷地 | |
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26 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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27 provocation | |
n.激怒,刺激,挑拨,挑衅的事物,激怒的原因 | |
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28 mythology | |
n.神话,神话学,神话集 | |
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29 taunting | |
嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 ); 嘲弄; 辱骂; 奚落 | |
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30 brutal | |
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的 | |
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31 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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32 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
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33 narrated | |
v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34 insinuating | |
adj.曲意巴结的,暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 );巧妙或迂回地潜入;(使)缓慢进入;慢慢伸入 | |
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35 heralds | |
n.使者( herald的名词复数 );预报者;预兆;传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 );宣布(好或重要) | |
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36 fortresses | |
堡垒,要塞( fortress的名词复数 ) | |
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37 fortress | |
n.堡垒,防御工事 | |
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38 crater | |
n.火山口,弹坑 | |
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39 secrecy | |
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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40 valor | |
n.勇气,英勇 | |
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41 mingle | |
vt.使混合,使相混;vi.混合起来;相交往 | |
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42 superstition | |
n.迷信,迷信行为 | |
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43 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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44 entrusted | |
v.委托,托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45 ambushes | |
n.埋伏( ambush的名词复数 );伏击;埋伏着的人;设埋伏点v.埋伏( ambush的第三人称单数 );埋伏着 | |
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46 abducted | |
劫持,诱拐( abduct的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(肢体等)外展 | |
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47 dwelling | |
n.住宅,住所,寓所 | |
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48 ascertained | |
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49 discourse | |
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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50 jealousy | |
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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51 hind | |
adj.后面的,后部的 | |
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52 amazement | |
n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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53 contradictory | |
adj.反驳的,反对的,抗辩的;n.正反对,矛盾对立 | |
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54 unintelligible | |
adj.无法了解的,难解的,莫明其妙的 | |
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55 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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56 subtlety | |
n.微妙,敏锐,精巧;微妙之处,细微的区别 | |
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