One by one the passengers descended2 from the stage, and stood trembling and panic-stricken in the presence of the masked robbers. There seems to be something in a mask which inspires added terror, though it makes the wearers neither stronger nor more effective.
Luke certainly felt startled and uncomfortable, for he felt that he must surrender the money he had with him, and this would be inconvenient3, though the loss would not be his, but his employer's.
But, singularly enough, the passenger who seemed most nervous and terrified was the stalwart Colonel Braddon, who had boasted most noisily of what he would do in case the stage were attacked. He nervously4 felt in his pockets for his money, his face pale and ashen5, and said, imploringly6: "Spare my life, gentlemen; I will give you all I have."
"All right, old man," said one of the stage robbers, as he took the proffered7 pocketbook. "Haven't you any more money?"
"No; on my honor, gentlemen. It will leave me penniless."
"Hand over your watch."
"Couldn't you leave me the watch, gentlemen?" he said, imploringly. "It was a present to me last Christmas."
"Can't spare it. Make your friends give you another."
Next came the turn of Mortimer Sprague, the young dude.
"Hand over your spondulics, young feller," said the second gentleman of the road.
"Weally, I'm afraid I can't, without a good deal of twouble."
"Oh, curse the trouble; do as I bid, or I'll break your silly head."
"You see, gentlemen, I keep my money in my boots, don't you know."
"Take off your boots, then, and be quick about it."
"Which boot is your money in?" asked the road agent, impatiently.
"The right boot."
"Hold it up, then, and I'll help you."
The road agent stooped over, not suspecting any danger, and in doing so laid down his revolver.
In a flash Mortimer Sprague electrified10 not only his assailants, but all the stage passengers, by producing a couple of revolvers, which he pointed11 at the two road agents, and in a stern voice, wholly unlike the affected12 tones in which he had hitherto spoken, said: "Get out of here, you ruffians, or I'll fire!"
The startled road agent tried to pick up his revolver, but Sprague instantly put his foot on it, and repeated the command.
The other road agent, who was occupied with the minister, turned to assist his comrade, when he, too, received a check from an unexpected source.
The minister, who was an old man, had a stout14 staff, which he used to guide him in his steps. He raised it and brought it down with emphasis on the arm which held the revolver, exclaiming. "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon! I smite15 thee, thou bold, bad man, not in anger, but as an instrument of retribution."
"Well done, reverend doctor!" exclaimed Mortimer Sprague. "Between us we will lay the rascals16 out!"
Luke, who was close at hand, secured the fallen revolver be fore18 the road agent's arm had got over tingling19 with the paralyzing blow dealt by the minister, who, in spite of his advanced age, possessed20 a muscular arm.
"Now git, you two!" exclaimed Mortimer Sprague. "Git, if you want to escape with whole bones!"
Never, perhaps, did two road agents look more foolish than these who had suffered such a sudden and humiliating discomfiture21 from those among the passengers whom they had feared least.
The young dude and the old missionary22 had done battle for the entire stage-load of passengers, and vanquished23 the masked robbers, before whom the rest trembled.
"Stop!" said Colonel Braddon, with a sudden thought. "One of the rascals has got my pocketbook!"
"Which one?" asked Mortimer.
The colonel pointed him out.
Instantly the dude fired, and a bullet whistled within a few inches of the road agent's head.
"drop that pocketbook!" he exclaimed, "or I'll send another messenger for it; that was only a warning!"
With an execration24 the thoroughly25 terrified robber threw down the pocketbook, and the relieved owner hastened forward to pick it up.
"I thought I'd fetch him, don't you know," said the dude, relapsing into his soft drawl.
By this time both the road agents were at a safe distance, and the rescued passengers breathed more freely.
"Really, Mr. Sprague," said Colonel Braddon, pompously26, "you are entitled to a great deal of credit for your gallant27 behavior; you did what I proposed to do. Of course, I had to submit to losing my pocketbook, but I was just preparing to draw my revolver when you got the start of me."
"If I'd only known it, colonel," drawled Mr. Sprague, "I'd have left the job for you. Weally, it would have saved me a good deal of trouble. But I think the reverend doctor here is entitled to the thanks of the company. I never knew exactly what the sword of the Lord and of Gideon was before, but I see it means a good, stout stick."
"I was speaking figuratively, my young friend," said the missionary "I am not sure but I have acted unprofessionally, but when I saw those men of violence despoiling28 us, I felt the natural man rise within me, and I smote29 him hip30 and thigh31."
"I thought you hit him on the arm, doctor," said Mr. Sprague.
"Again I spoke13 figuratively, my young friend. I cannot say I regret yielding to the impulse that moved me. I feel that I have helped to foil the plans of the wicked."
"Doctor," said one of the miners, "you've true grit32. When you preach at the Black Hills, count me and my friends among the listeners. We're all willing to help along your new church, for you're one of the right sort."
"My friends, I will gladly accept your kind proposal, but I trust it will not be solely33 because I have used this arm of flesh in your defense34. Mr. Sprague and I have but acted as humble35 instruments in the hands of a Higher Power."
"Well, gentlemen," said Colonel Braddon, "I think we may as well get into the stage again and resume our journey."
"What shall I do with this revolver?" asked Luke, indicating the one he had picked up.
"I've got an extra one here," said Mortimer Sprague, raising the one on which he had put his foot. "I don't need it myself, so I will offer it to the reverend doctor."
The missionary shook his head.
"I should not know how to use it," he said, "nor indeed am I sure that I should feel justified36 in doing so."
"May I have it, sir?" asked one of the miners.
"Certainly, if you want it," said Mr. Sprague.
"I couldn't afford to buy one; but I see that I shall need one out here."
In five minutes the stage was again on its way, and no further adventures were met with. About the middle of the next day the party arrived at Deadwood.
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1
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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5
ashen
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| adj.灰的 | |
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imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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7
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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9
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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10
electrified
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| v.使电气化( electrify的过去式和过去分词 )；使兴奋 | |
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11
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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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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15
smite
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| v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿 | |
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16
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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17
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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18
fore
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| adv.在前面；adj.先前的；在前部的；n.前部 | |
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tingling
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的现在分词 ) | |
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20
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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21
discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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24
execration
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| n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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pompously
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| adv.傲慢地，盛大壮观地；大模大样 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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despoiling
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| v.掠夺，抢劫( despoil的现在分词 ) | |
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29
smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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30
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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32
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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33
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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34
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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35
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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36
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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