Fortunately for the fugitives1, the cavity into which they had crept was a shaft2 of but slight diameter, otherwise they could not have gone down without dropping far enough to cause death, for the echoes from the pebbles3 betokened4 a vast vertical5 depth.
As it was, the void turned out to be somewhat like that of a stone-built chimney with here and there a point left projecting. It was so narrow, moreover, that they were able to use both hands and knees in the descent, and by this means they accomplished6 it.
They went but slowly, and took care to proceed with caution. They knew that a false step, the slipping of a foot or finger, or the breaking of a fragment that gave hold to their hands, would precipitate7 them to an unknown depth.
They did not go farther than was necessary for quick concealment8. There was noise made in their descent, and they knew that the Indians would soon be above, and might hear them. Their only hope lay in their pursuers believing them to have gone by the left hand path to the plain above. In time the Indians would surely explore both branches of the ravine, and if the cunning savages9 should suspect their presence in the shaft there would be no hope for them. These thoughts decided11 them to come to a stop as soon as they could find foothold.
About thirty feet from the top they found this, on a point of rock or ledge12 that jutted13 horizontally. It was broad enough to give both standing14 room, and as they were now in the midst of amorphous15 darkness, they took stand upon it.
The Indians might at any moment arrive on the platform above. They felt confident they could not be seen, but they might be heard. The slightest sound borne upwards16 to the ears of the savages might betray them, and, knowing this, they stood still, scarce exchanging a whisper, and almost afraid to breathe.
It was not long before they saw that which justified17 their caution—the plumed18 head of a savage10, with his neck craned over the edge of the aperture19, outlined conspicuously20 against the blue sky above. And soon half a dozen similar silhouettes21 beside it, while they could hear distinctly the talk that was passing overhead.
Wilder had some knowledge of the Comanche tongue, and could make out most of what was being said. Amidst exclamations22 that spoke23 of vengeance24 there were words in a calmer tone—discussion, inquiry25, and conjecture26.
From these it could be understood that the pursuers had separated into two parties, one following on the false track, by the path which the guide had baited for them, the other coming direct up the right and true one.
There were bitter exclamations of disappointment and threats of an implacable vengeance; and the fugitives, as they listened, might have reflected how fortunate they had been in discovering that unfathomed hole. But for it they would have already been in the clutches of a cruel enemy.
However, they had little time for reflection. The talk overhead at first expressed doubts as to their having descended27 the shaft, but doubts readily to be set at rest.
The eyes of the Indians having failed to inform them, their heads were withdrawn28; and soon after a stone came tumbling down the cavity.
Something of this kind, Wilder had predicted; for he flattened29 himself against the wall behind, and stood as “small” as his colossal30 frame would permit, having cautioned his companion to do the same.
The stone passed without striking them, and went crashing on till it struck on the bottom below.
Another followed, and another; the third creasing31 Hamersley on the breast, and tearing a couple of buttons from his coat.
This was shaving close—too close to be comfortable. Perhaps the next boulder32 might rebound33 from the wall above and strike one or both of them dead.
In fear of this result, they commenced groping to ascertain34 if the ledge offered any better screen from the dangerous shower, which promised to fall for some time longer.
Good! Hamersley felt his hand entering a hole that opened horizontally. It proved big enough to admit his body, as also the larger frame of his companion. Both were soon inside it. It was a sort of grotto35 they had discovered; and, crouching36 within it, they could laugh to scorn the storm that still came pouring from above; the stones, as they passed close to their faces, hissing37 and hurtling like aerolites.
The rocky rain at length ended. The Indians had evidently come to the conclusion that it was either barren in result, or must have effectually performed the purpose intended by it, and for a short time there was silence above and below.
They who were hidden in the shaft might have supposed that their persecutors, satisfied at what they had accomplished, were returning to the plain, and had retired38 from the spot.
Hamersley did think so; but Walt, an old prairie man, more skilled in the Indian character, could not console himself with such a fancy.
“Ne’er a bit o’ it,” he whisperingly said to his companion. “They ain’t agoin’ to leave us that easy—not if Horned Lizard39 be amongst ’em. They’ll either stay thar till we climb out agin, or try to smoke us. Ye may take my word for it, Frank, thar’s some’ut to come yet. Look up! Didn’t I tell ye so?”
Wilder drew back out of the narrow aperture, through which he had been craning his neck and shoulders in order to get a view of what was passing above.
The hole leading into the grotto that held them was barely large enough to admit the body of a man. Hamersley took his place, and, turning his eyes upward, at once saw what his comrade referred to. It was the smoke of a fire, that appeared in the act of being kindled40 near the edge of the aperture above. The smoke was ascending41 towards the sky, diagonally drifting across the blue disc outlined by the rim42 of rock.
He had barely time to make the observation when a swishing sound admonished43 him to draw back his head; then there passed before his face a ruck of falling stalks and faggots. Some of them settled upon the ledge, the rest sweeping44 on to the bottom of the abyss.
In a moment after the shaft was filled with smoke, but not that of an ordinary wood fire. Even this would have been sufficient to stifle45 them where they were; but the fumes46 now entering their nostrils47 were of a kind to cause suffocation48 almost instantaneously.
The faggots set on fire were the stalks of the creosote plant—the ideodondo of the Mexican table lands, well known for its power to cause asphyxia. Walt Wilder recognised it at the first whiff.
“It’s the stink-weed!” he exclaimed. “That darned stink-weed o’ New Mexico! It’ll kill us if we can’t keep it out. Off wi’ your coat, Frank; it are bigger than my hunting skirt. Let’s spread it across the hole, an’ see if that’ll do.”
His companion obeyed with alacrity49, stripping off his coat as quickly as the circumscribed50 space would permit. Fortunately, it was a garment of the sack specialty51, without any split in the tail, and when extended offered a good breadth of surface.
It proved sufficient for the purpose, and, before the little grotto had become so filled with smoke as to be absolutely untenable, its entrance was closed by a curtain of broadcloth, held so hermetically over the aperture that even the fumes of Assafoetida could not possibly have found their way inside.
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1
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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3
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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4
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vertical
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| adj.垂直的，顶点的，纵向的；n.垂直物，垂直的位置 | |
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6
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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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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11
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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12
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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jutted
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| v.（使）突出( jut的过去式和过去分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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14
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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amorphous
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| adj.无定形的 | |
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upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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plumed
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| 饰有羽毛的 | |
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aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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silhouettes
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| 轮廓( silhouette的名词复数 )； （人的）体形； （事物的）形状； 剪影 | |
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22
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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23
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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24
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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withdrawn
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| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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31
creasing
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的现在分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 挑檐 | |
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32
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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33
rebound
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| v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回 | |
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34
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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36
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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hissing
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| n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式 | |
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38
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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40
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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41
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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42
rim
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| n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界 | |
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43
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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44
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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45
stifle
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| vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止 | |
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46
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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47
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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48
suffocation
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| n.窒息 | |
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49
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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50
circumscribed
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| adj.[医]局限的：受限制或限于有限空间的v.在…周围划线( circumscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；划定…范围；限制；限定 | |
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51
specialty
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| n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长 | |
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