He threw his weapon upon the ground, folded his arms, and said, in a tone devoid4 of fear: "Comrades, do with me what you will. I could not help doing what I did. It was either my brother's life or his. Sandy was innocent of the crime charged against him. He had no thought of treachery, though he did mean to leave your ranks. Is there anyone among you that would stand by and see his brother murdered before his eyes when he had the means of preventing it?"
The bushrangers looked at each other in doubt. They had at first accepted the captain's statement that Sandy Graham was a traitor5. His brother's explanation of his attempted desertion put a new face on the matter. Then, again, there was not one among them that had not tired of their despotic leader. Alive, he had impressed them with fear, and held them in strict subordination, but he was far from popular, and had no real friend among them. So, though they were startled and shocked, there was no one to shed a tear over the dead. It was a moment of doubt when a leader was wanted.
"Well," said Robert Graham, after a pause, "what are you going to do with me? I wait your pleasure."
"He ought to be served as he served the captain," said Fletcher, who disliked Graham, and had always been a toady6 to Captain Stockton.
"I say no," rejoined Rupert Ring, a man of medium height, but of great muscular development. "It was a terrible deed, but had my brother—I have a brother in England, whom I have not seen for fifteen years—been in Sandy Graham's shoes, I would have done the same."
"And after all," continued Ring, "though Sandy Graham was in fault, he is not the first man that has been beguiled8 by a fair face."
"No, no!" was heard from several of the bushrangers.
"I don't wish to speak ill of the dead, but he drew the reins9 too tight at times. He forgot that we have rights."
"I move, therefore, that we pass over Robert Graham's deed as one to which he was impelled11 by brotherly affection, and that we restore Sandy Graham to his place in our ranks, on condition that he does not repeat the offence. Those who agree with me, hold up their right hands."
All hands were raised except that of Fletcher.
"Release the prisoner," said Ring, turning to the two attendants.
Instantly the rope was cut, the dark cloth was removed, and Sandy Graham, a tall, athletic12, good-looking fellow, stepped forth13, his face pale from the terrible strain to which he had been subjected.
"Comrades, brothers," he said, in a voice indicating deep emotion, "I thank you for giving me back my life. It shall be devoted14 to your service."
The first to press forward, and grasp his hand convulsively was his brother, Robert Graham.
"Robert," said Sandy, "but for your brave act I should have been lying dead instead of him," and he pointed15, with a shudder16, to the dead captain.
"For your sake, Sandy," said Robert solemnly, "I have shed human blood. To save your life, I have become a murderer."
"No, Robert, you cannot be called that any more than if you had shed blood in self-defence."
Their conversation was interrupted by Rupert Ring.
"Comrades," he said, "the captain is dead. We can do nothing without a leader. We should appoint one at once."
Here Fletcher pushed forward.
"I am the oldest in service among you," he said. "I was the trusted friend of Captain Stockton. I submit that I have the best claim to be your leader."
But among bushrangers, as in other communities, the man who is the most anxious to secure office is very apt to be left in the lurch17. Now, it happened that Fletcher was by no means a favorite in the band. He was sly and sneaking18 in his methods, currying19 favor with the captain, even at the expense of manliness20 and self-respect, and there were serious doubts as to his courage. If he had been wiser, he would not have made a boast of his standing21 with the late leader, for the men were heartily22 tired of his tyranny, and resolved to elect someone in his place who bore no similarity to him.
Rupert Ring smiled slightly as he heard Fletcher's modest claim.
"Comrades," he said, "you have heard Fletcher's appeal. It is true that he is the oldest in service among you. It is for you to consider whether that entitles him to the post of leader. Those of you who are in favor of Dick Fletcher as your leader will signify it by raising your right hands."
Fletcher's eye wandered anxiously around the circle. To his chagrin23 not a single hand was raised save his own. There was a cheer of derision which brought an angry flush to his cheek.
Then a clear voice was heard. It was that of the young man, Wyman, whose conversation with the two boys has already been recorded.
"I nominate Rupert Ring for our leader," he said.
There was a chorus of approval, which emboldened24 Wyman to add: "As he can't very well put the question on his own nomination25, I will do so. Those of you who want Ring for your captain, please hold up your right hands." All hands were raised except that of Fletcher.
"That settles it," said Wyman, who was unversed in parliamentary language. "I call for three cheers for Captain Ring!"
The woods echoed to the lusty cheers of the bushrangers. It was evident, from the general expression of satisfaction, that the choice was a popular one.
"Comrades," said the new captain modestly, "I did not look for this promotion26, as you may have thought from my taking the lead just now, but I saw that it was necessary for somebody to act. I don't know whether you have made a wise choice or not, but I will do my best to make you think so. Since I am your captain, it is my duty first to see that proper honor is paid to the remains27 of your late captain, whom sudden death has overtaken. You two lift the body and carry it into yonder cabin."
The two attendants did so.
"Prepare a coffin28, and at daybreak we will commit him to the earth. Whatever else may be said of him, he was a brave man, and knew not fear."
"That is true," said Robert Graham in a low voice.
"As to his faults, those we have no further concern with. All of us have faults and no doubt grave ones."
Fletcher, till now, had sulked in silence. He was terribly disappointed that he had been passed over and Rupert Ring promoted to the place of chief, but since it was so he felt that it was politic29 to stand well with the new administration.
"Captain Ring," he said, extending his hand, "let me be the first to congratulate you on your election as our captain."
Ring smiled slightly. He had never liked Fletcher.
"I accept your congratulations, Fletcher," he said, "and condole30 with you on your own disappointment. We can't all be leaders."
"That will depend on yourself," said Ring shortly.
"I would like to suggest that the two boys"—here Fletcher turned in the direction where Harry32 and Jack33 had been standing, and ejaculated in dismay, "I don't see them. What has become of them?"
"They have taken advantage of the excitement and confusion to run away, I fancy," said the new captain quietly.
This was quite true. Just after the fatal shot had been fired, and the attention of all had been taken up by the tragedy, Harry had whispered to Jack, "Now's our time to escape, Jack. Follow me!"
"I'm with you," responded Jack promptly34, and no one noticed the two as they vanished among the trees.
"Shall I go after them, Captain Ring?" asked Fletcher in excitement. "I'll take another man, and scour35 the woods for them."
"It is not necessary," said Ring indifferently. "Let them go! They would only be in our way."
"But," protested Fletcher, "Captain Stockton meant to take them into the band. They are bright and smart boys, and would grow up into useful members."
"Heaven forbid!" said Ring earnestly. "Our lives are spoiled already, and we have no chance but to continue. Leave them to grow up innocent."
"This is strange talk for a captain of bushrangers," said Fletcher, disappointed.
"Remember that I am your captain," retorted Ring sharply, "and don't attempt to interfere36 with me! Go, I would be alone."
Fletcher slunk away, mortified37 and disappointed. It was well for the two boys that he had not been elected captain.
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1
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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toady
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| v.奉承；n.谄媚者，马屁精 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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8
beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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13
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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17
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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18
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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19
currying
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| 加脂操作 | |
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20
manliness
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| 刚毅 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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24
emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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nomination
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| n.提名，任命，提名权 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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30
condole
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| v.同情；慰问 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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33
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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34
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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35
scour
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| v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷 | |
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36
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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37
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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