As soon as he was away we began preparations for our own departure. The first thing was to arrange for launching the convertible3 automobile4, which Moit had been examining very carefully ever since daybreak. He reported that it had sustained no damage whatever from the storm or the shock of grounding and was in perfect condition. So all we had to do was to remove the guy ropes, let it slide down the slanting6 deck to the bulwarks—over which we lifted it with a crane attached to the mizzenmast—and then let the machine descend gently until it rested on the bosom7 of the river.
117
I was still so skeptical8 concerning some of Moit’s absurd claims that it would not have surprised me to see the huge car sink like a stone; but instead of that it rode the water like a duck, the wheels half submerged, the rail high above the water-line.
We now filled the ample lockers9 beneath the seats with provisions, put in a cask of fresh water in case the river water proved unpalatable, and took along such trinkets as we could gather together for trading purposes. We each carried a brace10 of revolvers, Moit and I (being slaves) concealing11 ours, while Nux and Bry carried theirs openly.
Finally we dressed for the excursion. The gay checked suit and tourist cap of Uncle Naboth we gave to Nux, and although they hung rather loosely he presented a most startling appearance in them. He swung a brass12 watch chain of gigantic size across his vest front and Uncle gave him a few of the big cigars to smoke when he wanted to “show off.”
118
Bry wore a white duck suit belonging to Duncan Moit, and to my astonishment13 looked as aristocratic as any Eastern potentate14 on his first visit to London. These Sulus were by no means bad looking men, if one could forget their color, and they took great delight in the transformations15 we thrust upon them.
As for Moit and myself, we hunted among the sailors’ cast-off togs for the most disreputable “land clothes” we could find, and those we selected were ragged16 and dirty enough, in all conscience. I wore a run-down shoe upon one foot and a red leather slipper17 on the other, and when I had rumpled18 my hair and soiled my face and hands I am sure I was as disgraceful in appearance as any ragged urchin19 you ever came across.
I was not wholly satisfied with Duncan, however. In spite of his apparel there was so thoughtful a look in his big gray eyes and so well-bred and composed an expression on his finely molded features that he could not look a servant’s part as fully5 as I did and the best I could hope was that the San Blas people would consider him an unfortunate gentleman in hard luck.
119
There was much laughter and amusement among the men we left behind on the wreck20, when they beheld21 our queer appearance. Uncle Naboth chuckled22 until he coughed, and coughed until he choked, badly frightening those who were unaware23 that this startling exhibition was usual with him whenever he reached that climax24 of joy which he called being “desp’ritly pleased.”
I bade him an affectionate farewell, and then we four got into the “auto-boat.” Moit sprung the paddles from the rims25 of the wheels and started the engines, and a minute later we were waving our hands to those on the wreck and gliding26 at a good rate of progress up the river.
The bulky machine did not draw so much water as one would imagine, owing to its broad displacement27 and the lightness of the material employed in its construction. We found the current gentle, and made such good time that at eleven o’clock we passed between the two hills indicated on Maurice Kleppisch’s map, a copy of which I had brought with us.
120
The current was swifter here because the mounds28 narrowed the river considerably29; but Moit gave the engines a little more speed and we went through without abating30 our rate of progress.
Just beyond the hills we saw a group of Indians standing31 beneath the trees on the left bank and regarding us earnestly but calmly. Perhaps they had seen small steamers and thought our craft belonged to that class, for they exhibited neither fear nor surprise, merely turning their grave faces toward us and remaining otherwise motionless and silent as we glided32 by.
I whispered to Bryonia and Nux to stand up and bow a greeting, which they proceeded to do with amusing and exaggerated dignity; and then I told Nux to box my ears, which he did so promptly33 and in so lusty a manner that they rang for several minutes afterward34.
121
I had explained to my blacks at great length our reasons for undertaking35 this queer adventure, and what we expected them to do to carry out the farce36 and assist us in securing the treasure. I had even read to them the dead man’s diary, from beginning to end, so that they would know as much about the San Blas as we did. They were, as I have said, both clever and resourceful, besides being devoted37 to me personally; so that I felt justified38 in relying to a great extent upon their judgment39 in case of emergency.
Should I need to give them any secret instructions, I could do so in their own language, which they had taught me during the tedium40 of several long voyages, and which I prided myself upon speaking fairly well. It was the language of their own island of Tayakoo, for these were not properly Sulus but natives belonging to a distinct tribe of South Sea Islanders which owed allegiance to no other ruler than their own.
Being aware that the king, and some others, of the San Blas knew English and Spanish, I could rely upon this almost unknown dialect to cover any secret instructions I wished to convey to my blacks.
122
Nux and Bry were not linguists41, however, and knew but a few Spanish words besides the imperfect English and their native tongue; but we arranged that they were to command me to interpret in Spanish whenever it was necessary. Duncan Moit, unfortunately, knew nothing but English.
The tributary42 that entered the river from the left side was a farther distance beyond the hills than the map seemed to indicate; but we came to it presently and began slowly to ascend43 it in a southerly direction, although it made many twists and turns. We found it easily navigable, with dense44 forests on either side, and several times we found we were observed by silent groups of Indians on the bank, to all of whom Nux and Bry bowed greetings with tremendous condescension45 and mock courtesy. The bows were never returned, however, and the Indians stood like statues until we had passed by.
“There is no way of avoiding these people,” said Moit, “so I think our best policy will be to go directly to the king’s village, which I see marked upon the map, and make friends with him. Bryonia can explain our presence by saying he merely wishes to examine the San Blas country, and when once we have established friendly relations with these natives we can visit several different parts of their territory, to throw them off their guard, and finally reach the valley for which we are bound and secure the diamonds at our leisure.”
123
“That seems to me a capital plan,” I agreed, and we decided46 then and there to follow it as closely as circumstances would allow.
After an hour’s cruise through the forest we came to the coastal47 plains, finding this a remarkably48 fertile country with fields under fine cultivation49. As soon as we discovered a low bank on our left we turned the machine toward the shore, and when the wheels touched bottom they climbed the bank easily and we quickly found ourselves upon dry land.
More Indians were observing us, and as we left the water and glided over the land I detected a look of amazement50 upon their faces that all their reserve could not control. Indeed, I was myself filled with wonder at the marvelous performances of Duncan Moit’s invention, so that small blame attaches to the San Blas if their stoicism could not master their astonishment.
124
We crossed the plain until we came upon a pretty stream, which we took to be the one indicated upon the map, and from there followed its course eastward51, making excellent time over the level meadows. We saw a few huts scattered52 along the way, and several herds53 of cattle and sheep, but no horses. The sheep seemed few to supply the wool for which these Indians were famous, but I imagined we would find larger flocks in the uplands.
It was about five o’clock in the afternoon when we sighted a considerable village, which at once we determined54 must be the place we sought. Bowling55 along at an increased pace we soon reached the town, but to our surprise we found our way barred by solid files of Indians, all standing with their arrows ready notched56 in their bowstrings.
Moit stopped the engines and we came to a halt. Hitherto we had been allowed to go where we pleased since entering this strange land, but it seemed that our license57 was now at an end.
Bry stood up in his seat, made a bow, and said in a loud voice:
125
“Any speak Englis’?—America—United States?”
In an instant we were surrounded by the stern-visaged natives, while one of them, a tall, powerful fellow and evidently a chief, stepped close to the machine and answered in a quiet voice:
“I the English speak.”
“Very good,” said Bry. “I am great chief of Tayakoo. My name is Honorable Bryonia. Here is my brother, also great chief of Tayakoo—he name Senator Nux. We come to visit the chiefs and great king of the San Blas. Then, say to me, oh, Chief, are we welcome? Are we all brothers?”
I thought this was a very good introduction. But the chief glanced at me and at Moit, frowning darkly, and asked:
“Who the white men? What bring them here?”
“You speak about our slaves? Bah! Have my brothers of San Blas, then, no slaves to do their work?”
The chief considered a moment.
126
“Where you get white slaves?” he questioned, suspiciously.
“Stan’ up, Dunc!” said Bry, giving the inventor a vicious kick that made him howl. “Where we get you, heh?”
He kicked him again, quite unnecessarily, I thought, and Moit stood up with a red and angry face and growled58:
“Stop that, you fool!”
At this rebellion Nux promptly fetched him a blow behind the knees that sent him tumbling backward upon his seat, and when I laughed—for I could not help it—I got another ear-splitter that made me hold my head and be glad to keep silent. Moit evidently saw the force of our blacks’ arguments, for he recovered his wits in time to avoid further blows.
The exhibition had one good effect, anyway; it lulled59 any suspicions of the chief that the Honorable Bryonia and Senator Nux might not be the masters in our little party. Although Duncan Moit and I constantly encountered looks of bitter hatred60, our men were thereafter treated with ample respect and consideration.
127
“You welcome,” said the chief. “I, Ogo—Capitan Ogo—green chief. You come to my house.”
He turned and marched away, and Moit started the machine and made it crawl after him.
The other natives followed in a grave procession, and so we entered the village and passed up its clean looking streets between rows of simple but comfortable huts to the further end where we halted at the domicile of the “green chief.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
descend
|
|
| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
grumbling
|
|
| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
convertible
|
|
| adj.可改变的，可交换，同意义的；n.有活动摺篷的汽车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
automobile
|
|
| n.汽车，机动车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
slanting
|
|
| 倾斜的，歪斜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
skeptical
|
|
| adj.怀疑的，多疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
lockers
|
|
| n.寄物柜( locker的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
brace
|
|
| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
concealing
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
potentate
|
|
| n.统治者；君主 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
transformations
|
|
| n.变化( transformation的名词复数 )；转换；转换；变换 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
slipper
|
|
| n.拖鞋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
rumpled
|
|
| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
urchin
|
|
| n.顽童；海胆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
wreck
|
|
| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
beheld
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
chuckled
|
|
| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
unaware
|
|
| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
climax
|
|
| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
rims
|
|
| n.（圆形物体的）边( rim的名词复数 )；缘；轮辋；轮圈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
gliding
|
|
| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
displacement
|
|
| n.移置，取代，位移，排水量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
mounds
|
|
| 土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
considerably
|
|
| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
abating
|
|
| 减少( abate的现在分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
glided
|
|
| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
promptly
|
|
| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
farce
|
|
| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
tedium
|
|
| n.单调；烦闷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
linguists
|
|
| n.通晓数国语言的人( linguist的名词复数 )；语言学家 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
tributary
|
|
| n.支流；纳贡国；adj.附庸的；辅助的；支流的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
ascend
|
|
| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
dense
|
|
| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
condescension
|
|
| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
coastal
|
|
| adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
cultivation
|
|
| n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
amazement
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
eastward
|
|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
herds
|
|
| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
bowling
|
|
| n.保龄球运动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
notched
|
|
| a.有凹口的，有缺口的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
license
|
|
| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
growled
|
|
| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
lulled
|
|
| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |