Only for a short while had Wilder’s trick held the pursuers in check. Habituated to such wiles2, the Indians, at first suspecting it to be one, soon became certain. For, as they scattered3 to each side of the cleft4, the steel tube no longer kept turning towards them, while the coonskin cap remained equally without motion.
At length, becoming convinced, and urged on by the Red Cross chief and the bearded savage by his side, they dashed boldly up, and, dismounting, entered the chine over the body of the butchered horse.
Only staying to take possession of the relinquished5 rifle, they continued on up the ravine fast as their feet could carry them. A moment’s pause where the red kerchief lay on the rock, suspecting this also a ruse6 to mislead them as to the track taken by the fugitives7. To make certain, they separated into two parties—one going up the gulch8, that led left, the other proceeding9 by that which conducted to the place where the two men had concealed10 themselves.
Arriving upon the little platform, the pursuers at once discovered the cavity, at the same time conjecturing11 that the pursued had gone into it. Becoming sure of this, they who took the left-hand path rejoined them, these bringing the report that they had ascended12 to the summit of the cliff, and seen nothing of the two men who were chased.
Then the stones were cast in; after them the burning stalks of the ideodondo; when, finally, to make destruction sure, the rock was rolled over, closing up the shaft13 as securely as if the cliff itself had fallen face downward upon the spot.
The savages14 stayed no longer there. All were too eager to return to the waggons15 to make sure of their share in the captured spoils.
One alone remained—he with the bushed16 beard. After the others were gone he stepped up to the boulder17, and, stooping down, placed his ear close to it. He appeared as if trying to catch some sound that might come from the cavity underneath18.
None came—no noise, even the slightest. Within the shut shaft all was still as death. For death itself must be down there, if there ever was life.
For some time he crouched19 beside the rock, listening. Then rising to his feet, with a smile of satisfaction upon his grim, sinister20 features, he said, in soliloquy,—
“They’re down there, no doubt of it; and dead long before this. One of the two must have been he. Who the other matters not Carrai! I’d like to have had a look at him too, and let him see who has given him his quietus. Bah! what does it signify? It’s all over now, and I’ve had my revenge. Vamos! I must get back to the waggons, or my friend the Horned Lizard21 may be taking his pick of the plunder22. Luckily these redskins don’t know the different values of the goods; so I shall bestow23 the cotton prints with a liberal hand, keeping the better sorts to myself. And now to assist in the partition of spoils.”
So saying, he strode away from the rock, and, gliding24 back down the gulch, climbed over the carcass of the dead horse. Then, finding his own outside, he mounted and rode off to rejoin his red-skinned comrades engaged in sacking the caravan25.
On reaching it a spectacle was presented to his eyes—frightful, though not to him. For he was a man who had seen similar sights before—one with soul steeped in kindred crime.
The waggons had been drawn26 partially27 apart, disclosing the space between. The smoke had all ascended or drifted off, and clear sunlight once more shone upon the sand—over the ground lately barricaded28 by the bodies of those who had so bravely defended it. There were thirteen of them—the party of traders and hunters being in all but fifteen. Of those slain29 upon the spot there was not one now wearing his hair. Their heads were bare and bloody30, the crown of each showing a circular disc of dark crimson31 colour. The scalping-knife had already completed its work, and the ghastly trophies32 were seen impaled33 upon the points of spears—some of them stuck upright in the sand, others borne triumphantly34 about by the exulting35 victors. Their triumph had cost them dear. On the plain outside at least thirty of their own lay extended, stone dead; while here and there a group bending over some recumbent form told of a warrior36 wounded.
By the orders of their chief, some had set about collecting the corpses37 of their slain comrades, with the intent of interring38 them. Others, acting39 without orders, still continued to wreak40 their savage spite upon the bodies of their white victims, submitting them to further mutilation. They chopped off their heads; then, poising41 these on the points of spears, tossed them to and fro, all the while shouting in savage glee, laughing with a cacchination that resembled the mirth of a madhouse.
Withal, there was stern vengeance42 in its tones. A resistance, they little expected, causing them such serious loss, had roused their passions to a pitch of the utmost exasperation43; and they tried to allay44 their spiteful anger by expending45 it on the dead bodies of those who, while living, had so effectually chastised46 them. These were slashed47 and hacked48 with tomahawks, pierced with spears, and arrows, beaten with war clubs, then cut into pieces, to be tied to the tails of their horses, and dragged in gallop49 to and fro over the ground. For some time this tragical50 spectacle held play. Then ensued a scene savouring of the ludicrous and grotesque51.
The waggons were emptied of their contents, while the rich freight, transported to a distance, was spread out upon the plain, and its partition entered upon—all crowding around to receive their share.
The distribution was superintended by the Horned Lizard, though he with the beard appeared to act with equal, or even greater, authority. Backed by the second personage, who wore hair on his cheeks, he dictated52 the apportionment.
And as he had said in soliloquy, the cotton prints of gaudy53 patterns satisfied the cupidity54 of his red-skinned companions, leaving to himself and his confidential55 friend the costlier56 fabrics57 of silken sheen. Among the traders’ stock were knives of common sort—the cheapest cutlery of Sheffield; guns and pistols of the Brummagem brand, with beads58, looking glasses, and such-like notions from the New England Boston. All these, delectable59 in the eyes of the Horned Lizard and his Tenawas, were left to them; while the bearded man, himself selecting, appropriated the silks and satins, the laces and real jewellery that had been designed to deck the rich doncellas of Santa Fé, El Paso, Chihuahua, and Durango.
The distribution over, the scene assumed a new aspect. It was now that the ludicrous came prominently into play. Though not much water had been found in the waggons, there was enough fluid of stronger spirit. A barrel of Monongahela whisky was part of the caravan stores left undestroyed. Knowing the white man’s firewater but too well, the Indians tapped the cask, and quaffed60 of its contents.
In a short time two-thirds of the band became intoxicated61. Some rolled over dead drunk, and lay a-stretch along the sand. Others tottered62 about, uttering maudlin63 speeches. Still others of stronger stomach and steader brain kept their feet, as also their senses; only that these became excited, increasing their cupidity. They wanted more than they had got, and would gamble to get it. One had a piece of cotton print, and so had another. Each wished to have both or none. How was it to be decided64? By cards? By dice65? No. There was a way more congenial to their tastes—more à propos to their habits. It should be done by their horses. They knew the sort of game, for it is not the first time they have played it. The piece of print is unrolled, and at each end tied to a horse’s tail. The owners spring to the backs of the animals, then urge them in the opposite directions till the strain comes; at the pluck the web gives way, and he who holds the longer part becomes possessor of the whole.
Others, not gamblers, out of sheer devilry and diversion, similarly attach their stuffs, and gallop over the ground with the prints trailing fifty yards behind them. In the frenzied66 frolic that had seized hold of them they forgot their slain comrades, still unburied. They whoop67, shout, and laugh till the cliffs, in wild, unwonted echo, send back the sound of their demoniac mirth. A riot rare as original—a true saturnal of savages.
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1
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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2
wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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3
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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7
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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8
gulch
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| n.深谷，峡谷 | |
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9
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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10
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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conjecturing
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| v. & n. 推测，臆测 | |
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12
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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14
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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15
waggons
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| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
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16
bushed
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| adj.疲倦的 | |
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17
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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18
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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22
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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23
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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24
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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25
caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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26
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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27
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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28
barricaded
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| 设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守 | |
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29
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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30
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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31
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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32
trophies
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| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
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33
impaled
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| 钉在尖桩上( impale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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35
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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36
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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37
corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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38
interring
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| v.埋，葬( inter的现在分词 ) | |
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39
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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40
wreak
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| v.发泄；报复 | |
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41
poising
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| 使平衡( poise的现在分词 )； 保持（某种姿势）； 抓紧； 使稳定 | |
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42
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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43
exasperation
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| n.愤慨 | |
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44
allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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45
expending
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| v.花费( expend的现在分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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46
chastised
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| v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的过去式 ) | |
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47
slashed
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| v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减 | |
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48
hacked
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| 生气 | |
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49
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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50
tragical
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| adj. 悲剧的, 悲剧性的 | |
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51
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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52
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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53
gaudy
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| adj.华而不实的；俗丽的 | |
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54
cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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55
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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56
costlier
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| adj.昂贵的( costly的比较级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的 | |
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57
fabrics
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| 织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地 | |
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58
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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59
delectable
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| adj.使人愉快的；美味的 | |
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60
quaffed
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| v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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61
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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62
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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63
maudlin
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| adj.感情脆弱的，爱哭的 | |
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64
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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65
dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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66
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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67
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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