The perplexing question was settled by Brinton Kingsland's pony2 taking his bit in his mouth and speeding towards the camp of the supply train, as if driven by a hurricane.
The youth could not but feel conscience-smitten at this apparent desertion of a comrade in dire3 extremity4, but there was no help for it. Besides, Jackson was right when he urged Brinton to lose no time in saving himself, since it was out of his power to help the imperilled scout.
The pursuing hostiles had now approached near enough to make their shots effective. The whistling bullets warned Brinton of his danger, so he threw himself forward on the neck of his pony, who rushed ahead with arrowy swiftness.
The clatter7 of hoofs8 made young Kingsland glance to his left: there was Billberry, the scout's steed, with neck outstretched, going madly on.
He had been touched by one of the flying bullets, and in his panic forgot the weak leg that already had delayed him to a fatal extent. His desperate burst of speed brought him alongside of Jack5, whose rider, to his amazement9, saw him shoot ahead at a pace which none of his kind could surpass, and none there could equal.
But his bridle-reins and stirrup-straps were flying in the gale11 caused by his own tremendous swiftness. Brave Nick Jackson had been shot from the back, and was fighting his last fight.
Brinton Kingsland tugged12 at the rein10 of Jack, and shouted a savage13 command in the same breath, The pony would not stop, but, slackening his speed, described a circle, which brought him round with his head toward the pursuers.
Pierced by one of the balls of the bucks14, the scout fell from his saddle, but, recovering himself with wonderful dexterity16, turned about, and with levelled Winchester bravely faced his foes17.
The shots were rapid on both sides, and those of Jackson did much execution. But his fate was sealed from the first, and none knew it better than he.
"I can't stand that!" muttered young Kingsland, the moment he succeeded in facing Jack the other way; "I have already played the coward, though, heaven knows, I couldn't help it."
Something of his daring seemed to tingle19 in the veins20 of his pony; for, now that he was urged to return, he headed straight for the group of combatants, and shot forward at full speed.
Meanwhile the members of the supply train were not idle. They had descried21 the coming of two horsemen from afar, and were quick to recognise them as friends.
Had there been any doubt, it vanished at sight of the pursuing Indians behind them. Three were in the saddle in an instant, and scurrying22 away to the relief of the solitary23 man fighting for his life.
Brinton was not aware they were at his heels. He mistook the sound of their horses' hoofs for that of Jackson's animal, who, he supposed, had turned, and was rushing into the heart of the peril6, as his kind will do when forced out of a burning building.
The first warning the youth received of the true state of affairs was when the approaching horsemen fired from behind him at the group crowding around and pressing the scout so sorely. But the hostiles were quicker than he to see their peril. They wheeled hastily, and, flinging themselves over the necks of their ponies24, skurried in the direction of the Cheyenne.
It is the custom of the American Indians to carry off their dead and wounded. The latter probably looked after themselves in this instance, but in their haste the two that had fallen by the hand of Nick Jackson were left stretched on the ground.
An extraordinary incident now took place. In the furious struggle one of the hostiles had become dismounted. Disregarding the fate of his companions, or probably seeing that the brave scout had become so weakened that the peril no longer existed, he leaped from the back of his pony and dashed forward to give the white man his finishing-stroke. Before he could do this, the relief party were so close that he did not dare to tarry. He turned to remount his pony, but the animal had become panic-stricken in the flurry—it may have been that he was struck by a bullet—and was galloping25 off, as if for his own life. Furthermore, he made straight for the camp of the supply train, so that his capture was impossible.
But there were two other animals that had lost their riders, and, if he could secure one of these, he might yet save himself.
They, however, were galloping among the others riding for life toward the Big Cheyenne. The bucks, with less chivalry26 than the youth had shown in similar circumstances, gave no heed27 to the peril of their dismounted comrade, but sped across the prairie at the utmost speed of which they were capable.
Among them was possibly one who, seeing that the whites, instead of keeping up the pursuit, had halted around the fallen scout, gave a little thought to their comrade. This friend would not turn back himself, nor did any of the others do so, but with the palm of his hand the former smote28 one of the riderless ponies across the eyes and shouted a command in his ear. The horse checked himself with a cry of pain, reared, shook his head, and then, dropping out of the group running close together, wheeled and trotted29 toward the dismounted Indian.
The latter gave a thrilling exhibition of running. He saw that his only hope lay in reaching one of the ponies of his comrades that had basely deserted30 him, since to undertake to recapture his own animal must take him into the camp of his enemies. He therefore exerted himself to the utmost to overtake the party before the whites could overtake him.
Had there been none interested besides the three members of the supply train, all would have gone well with the buck15, for, as we have said, they gathered around the fallen scout and gave their whole attention to him. But there was another, who resolved that this miscreant31 should pay for his unpardonable barbarity to a brave and fallen enemy. That one was Brinton Kingsland.
Quick to grasp the situation, after finding himself too late to help poor Jackson, he noted32 the solitary Indian, and believing him to be the one who had laid the scout low (though if he had not struck the actual blow, he was equally guilty), he compressed his lips and muttered—
"I'll teach you a lesson, you assassin!"
The redskin, as he ran, grasped his Winchester in his right hand in a trailing position. The heavy blanket was secured at the throat by some fastening that held it in place. The lower portion streamed out over his back, as did his long black hair, in the wind created by his own fleetness, while his leggings doubled and twinkled so fast that they resembled the spokes33 of a swiftly-revolving wheel He was, indeed, running with astonishing speed.
"Now, Jack, do your best! There isn't any time to lose, and you are not going to let a miserable35 redskin outspeed you."
The pony flung up his head, snuffed the air, stretched out his neck, and away he went with arrowy swiftness. He knew what was wanted of him, and was not the one to shirk his duty.
It was at this juncture36 that the fugitive37, going like a whirlwind, turned his head for an instant and glanced back Brinton was watching him, and saw the scowling38 face glaring like a wild beast through the thicket39 of flying hair.
"Great heavens! it's Wolf Ear!"
During these exciting minutes the youth had forgotten about the young Ogalalla, until this glimpse of the well-remembered features told him the startling truth. The shock caused him involuntarily to tighten40 the rein of Jack, and the animal, obedient as he generally was, instantly slackened his pace.
But the hesitation41 was for a few seconds only. Brinton felt that he ought not to have been surprised after the events of the preceding day and night.
"He deserves death more than any of the rest, for his knowledge has been greater than theirs, and his excuse is less. I'll run him down and make him prisoner."
Again he spoke34 sharply to Jack and twitched42 the rein. The noble animal stretched away with the same graceful43 swiftness he had shown from the first.
But the Ogalalla was cunning. He had seen the Indian pony as it withdrew from the rest and came trotting44 toward him in a bewildered way, as though not quite understanding what it meant; but if the animal was perplexed45, Wolf Ear was not. He read the meaning aright, and saw that one desperate chance remained. If he could hurl46 himself upon the back of that same steed before the white youth overhauled47 him, the prospect48 was good for his ultimate escape.
Brinton comprehended everything as vividly49 as he, and did not spare Jack. He aimed to interpose himself between Wolf Ear and his pony, and thus prevent their meeting. Every nerve and muscle was strained to accomplish that end.
Young Kingsland was already close enough to shoot down the fugitive, and he felt he deserved to be laid low, but, as we have shown, such was not his purpose. An indefinable dislike to slay50 a foe18, even though ferocious51 and guilty, prevented his firing the shot that would speedily have ended it all.
Why did not Wolf Ear, when he saw he could not reach his pony in time, halt and bring his gun to bear on his fierce pursuer?
He did. The cunning fellow, almost within reach of the pony, and at the moment when his heart was beating high with hope, saw everything frustrated53 by the action of the animal. The sight of a person coming toward him at such terrific speed, even though belonging to the race to which he was accustomed, was too disturbing to be accepted with serenity54. He raised his head as he came to a halt, surveyed the bounding figure, and then, with a snort of affright, wheeled and trotted toward the river.
His speed was much less than that of the Ogalalla, but of necessity it compelled the latter to run farther than he would have done had the beast remained stationary55, and it was just that brief interval56 of enforced stay on the ground that told the Ogalalla the white youth must reach him before he could overtake the pony.
"Surrender, Wolf Ear!" called Brinton; "you can't help yourself."
Evidently Wolf Ear held a different opinion, for he wheeled like lightning, and levelled his rifle with the reply—
"That's the way I surrender! Do you surrender!"
It was, however, far from Brinton's thoughts to yield to this startling command. He flung himself over the other side of the saddle, so as to offer as little of his body as possible to the aim of the miscreant. He was certain he would fire and shoot down his horse, if not himself. He waited with an intensity58 of emotion which cannot be described.
One minute, two minutes passed, but no report came. Then Brinton heard the suspicious clatter of a horse's hoofs, and peeped over the spine59 of Jack. He was in time to see Wolf Ear galloping off on the hack60 of the pony. With inimitable dexterity he had secured the animal during the brief interval at his command, and was now going like the wind over the prairie, after his departed comrades.
"Wise young man, my gun was not loaded, but it served me as well."
There was no help for it, and the chagrined63 Brinton wheeled and galloped64 toward the group whom he had left some distance behind on the prairie. They were riding slowly to the camp, supporting a form between them. Dreading65 the truth, Brinton held back until the others reached the camp. Then he rode forward and asked—
"Was Nick badly hurt?"
"He is dead; he did not speak after we reached him. He was a brave fellow, but he has made his last scout."
Brinton sighed, for he respected and loved the man who had thus died for his country.
But another question was on his lips. He looked around the camp, and his heart sank at his failure to see any of the loved ones whom he was so hopeful of finding there. In a trembling voice he put the query66.
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1
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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bucks
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| n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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tingle
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| vi.感到刺痛，感到激动；n.刺痛，激动 | |
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veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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ponies
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| 矮种马，小型马( pony的名词复数 )； ￡25 25 英镑 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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26
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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spokes
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| n.（车轮的）辐条( spoke的名词复数 )；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 | |
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spoke
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| 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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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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40
tighten
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| v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧 | |
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41
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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42
twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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43
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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44
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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47
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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49
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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50
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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51
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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52
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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53
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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54
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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forestall
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| vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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hack
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| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
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taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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