“Well, this is a mighty1 serious state of affairs,” said the engineer as they returned to their horses and prepared to remount.
“Yes, indeed, and from all appearances we have a real enemy to contend with,” replied the lad.
“You are right, we have,” confirmed Mr. Ryder. “If our man with the scarred foot is a member of the rurales, we are going to have the devil’s own job locating him too. We cannot accuse at random2 and moreover we cannot take our troubles to the captain, for the reason that where there is one traitor3 there are likely to be many more. The captain may be a revolutionist himself, and if he is, heaven help us when he finds out that we have a way of identifying the trouble maker4. We would[120] be murdered in less than a week. I think we had better feel our way very slowly before we make an arrest.”
“But why should a rurale go traveling about in his bared feet at night?” queried5 Jack6, suddenly discovering a puzzling question.
“I thought of that myself,” confessed the engineer, “and the only reason I can give is that the culprit is always afraid that the jingle7 of his big spurs will attract attention and rather than remove them he removed his boots instead and goes about his work silently. That sounds perfectly8 plausible9, doesn’t it?”
“By George, that’s capital reasoning! I believe you’ve hit it exactly right,” exclaimed the lad enthusiastically.
“I see our three guards over on the river bank,” said Mr. Ryder, abruptly10 changing the subject; “we’ll drive over and join them there, for I’ve an idea that our horses could stand a drink before starting for the plant again.
“And by the way,” he warned as they urged their mounts forward, “I wouldn’t say much about our friend of the scarred foot in the[121] presence of the rurales either here or at the plant, for you never can tell just how much English some of these fellows understand. I’m a little worried over the impression that our search among the peons created, even though I did tell the captain the falsehood about the suspected leper. Who knows, perhaps the very man we are after was looking on all the time. In that case our lives are in danger every moment. He would kill us rather than run the chance of being identified.”
It was quite evident to Jack that the engineer regarded the business at hand as rather hazardous11 and the lad from Vermont could not help feeling slightly concerned about his own safety. He put on a bold front before Mr. Ryder, however, for he did not care to have the engineer think that he was the least bit worried.
The river’s course through the valley was broad and the stream ran sluggish12 and shallow where it passed the village. Indeed, just below the point where the women were washing on the rocks was a ford13, with a sloping sandy beach on either bank. Here it was that[122] the pack trains leaving the valley toward the north crossed the stream. On the bank opposite, Jack saw several large alligators15 sunning themselves, and here and there on the surface of the water he also saw the scaly16 backs and heads of others that had come up to rest awhile and get a fresh supply of air. Some of them were fully17 ten feet long.
But in spite of the presence of these reptiles18, the horses did not hesitate to wade20 belly21 deep into the stream and cool themselves while they slaked22 their thirst. Jack noticed this and remarked about it to Mr. Ryder.
“Alligators are not disposed to attack anything very large,” said the engineer, “although sometimes they do make away with sheep and small calves23 that come down for a drink. The ’gator is not as ferocious24 as his cousin the crocodile and I have never heard of any natives being devoured25 by one, in spite of the fact that the Indians wade the ford here daily.”
Mr. Ryder had hardly finished speaking when a young Indian appeared on the opposite bank followed by a full-grown hound dog.[123] The native was clad only in abbreviated26 canvas trousers and slung27 across his back was a tiny mail bag. Jack learned later that his first name was Miguel and that his last name was almost unpronounceable, also that he was the official runner, or messenger, of that section of the country, and that his forefathers28 had been runners as far back as the days of Montezuma.
The native stood knee deep in the river a moment and emitted several loud whoops29 at the same time churning the water furiously with his feet. At this the alligators on the bank slipped into the water with a splash and every scaly back and head disappeared. Then the Indian plunged30 into the stream and waded32 across, at the same time coaxing33 the dog to follow. The hound stood whining34 at the water’s edge, however, and the messenger reached the opposite shore before the animal found sufficient courage to follow. Finally, after much coaxing, he took the plunge31 and swam toward his master. But he had scarcely passed the middle of the stream when he began to whine35 again, half raising himself out[124] of the water with his frantic36 efforts to swim faster. The next instant there was a swirl37 just behind him and an ugly head appeared on the surface. The dog fairly leapt out of the water at this but he could not avoid the reptile19 whose dripping jaws39 closed upon one hind38 leg.
The native shouted wildly and plunged back into the river again to rescue his pet. But before he had gone two steps, Jack, with great presence of mind, whipped out his revolver. Twice he fired and each bullet found its way into the scaly body. Instantly the water was lashed40 into foam41 by the death struggle of the monster. The great jaws opened wide and the reptile awoke the echoes in the hills with a bellow42 like that of an angry bull. Then it sank out of sight.
Half drowned and with one leg dangling43 limp and useless the hound dragged itself from the river. The young Indian lifted it in his arms and caressed44 it gently, at the same time talking effusively45 to Jack. Of course the American could not understand the messenger, but it was quite evident from the expression[125] on the red man’s face that he was very grateful to Jack and that he admired his quick and accurate shooting.
“What is he saying?” asked the Vermonter, turning to Mr. Ryder.
“He says that you are a very good marksman and that you have a warm heart for a gringo. He promises never to forget your kindness.”
Jack smiled his acknowledgment and prepared to remount his horse, which with the others had withdrawn46 from the river when the struggling alligator14 began its frenzied47 lashing48 of the water.
It was past midday when the five riders started on their return journey toward the power plant, and the heat was intense. However, as soon as the horses had climbed out of the valley the trail led through a dense49 forest where huge trees and thickly matted vines shut out all sunlight and all heat as well. Travel, under such circumstances was thoroughly50 enjoyable, and the five riders swung along in single file until they reached the open country in the vicinity of the great hydro station again.
[126]
“Well,” said Jack as he reined51 in beside Mr. Ryder at the gate in the barbed-wire barricade52, “I thought you said the woods were full of rebels. We haven’t seen a sign of one all day long. What do you make of it?”
“It is more than likely that they are off in some other section of the hills, burning and pillaging53. But don’t think that they haven’t an eye on us, for they have and you’ll see signs of them again before long, I’ll warrant.”
The soldier on guard at the gate had unfastened the intricate lock by this time and the cavalcade54 entered. The rurales hurried off at top speed to their long low barracks hall where they hoped to find the remains55 of the noonday mess. And as for Jack and the engineer, they were not slow in reaching the cottage, for they knew that faithful old Tom Why had something tempting56 waiting for them.
A mozo met them as they reined in before the door and when they had dismounted he took charge of the horses. The few hours in the saddle had been rather tiresome57 to the lad, for he was not accustomed to that form of exercise. Indeed, the shaking up he had received[127] on horseback and the lack of sleep the night before had made him so thoroughly fatigued58 that even the cartridge59 belt and holster weighed heavily on his hips60 and as he walked toward the cottage he started to unbuckle the leather girdle. Just as he was mounting the steps the buckle61 opened suddenly and the belt swung free, upsetting the holster and toppling the revolver to the ground.
Hastily Jack stooped to pick it up. But as he reached down he caught sight of a naked footprint in the dust! He bent62 closer, hardly able to believe what he saw! The footprint bore the mark of a deep scar diagonally across the heel!
“Hi! Mr. Ryder! Look! Our man with the scar paid a visit here as well!” he shouted to the engineer, who had already entered the cottage.
Mr. Ryder hurried out and examined the footprint with Jack.
“By George, you’re right! What could he have wanted up here!” exclaimed the engineer.
Jack did not wait to answer the question. He bolted into the house and rushed to the[128] flat-topped desk, for he had suddenly thought of the precious blueprints63. Eagerly he drew open the top drawer into which he had seen Mr. Ryder drop the yellow envelope the evening before. But the compartment64 was empty! The drawings were gone!
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1
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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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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7
jingle
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| n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵 | |
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8
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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alligator
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| n.短吻鳄(一种鳄鱼) | |
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alligators
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| n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 ) | |
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scaly
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| adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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reptile
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| n.爬行动物；两栖动物 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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slaked
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| v.满足( slake的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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24
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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abbreviated
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| adj. 简短的，省略的 动词abbreviate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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whoops
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| int.呼喊声 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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34
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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whine
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| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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41
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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42
bellow
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| v.吼叫，怒吼；大声发出，大声喝道 | |
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43
dangling
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| 悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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44
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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effusively
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| adv.变溢地，热情洋溢地 | |
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46
withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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47
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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48
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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49
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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50
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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51
reined
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| 勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理 | |
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52
barricade
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| n.路障，栅栏，障碍；vt.设路障挡住 | |
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53
pillaging
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| v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的现在分词 ) | |
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54
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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55
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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56
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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tiresome
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| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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60
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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61
buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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62
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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blueprints
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| n.蓝图，设计图( blueprint的名词复数 ) | |
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64
compartment
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| n.卧车包房，隔间；分隔的空间 | |
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