The cliff, up which the young prairie merchant and his guide, after their series of hairbreadth escapes, have succeeded in climbing, is the scarped edge of a spur of the famous Llano Estacado, or “Staked Plain,” and it is into this sterile1 tract2 they are now fleeing.
Neither have any definite knowledge of the country before them, or the direction they ought to take. Their only thought is to put space between themselves and the scene of their disaster—enough to secure them against being seen by the eye of any Indian coming after.
A glance is sufficient to satisfy them that only by distance can they obtain concealment3. Far as the eye can reach the surface appears a perfect level, without shrub4 or tree. There is not cover enough to give hiding-place to a hare. Although now in full run, and with no appearance of being pursued, they are far from being confident of escaping. They are under an apprehension5 that some of the savages7 have ascended8 to the upper plain, and are still on it, searching for them. If so, these may be encountered at any moment, returning disappointed from the pursuit.
The fugitives9 draw some consolation10 from the knowledge that the pursuers could not have got their horses up the cliff; and, if there is to be another chapter to the chase, it will be on foot—a contest of pedestrian speed. In a trial of this kind Walt Wilder, at least, has nothing to fear. The Colossus, with his long strides, would be almost a match for the giant with the seven-leagued boots.
Their only uneasiness is that the savages may have gone out upon the track they are themselves taking, and, appearing in their front, may head them off, and so intercept12 their retreat. As there is yet no savage6 in sight—no sign either of man or animal—their confidence increases; and, after making a mile or so across the plain, they no longer look ahead, but backward.
At short intervals13 the great brown beard of the guide sweeps his left shoulder, as he casts anxious glances behind him. They are all the more anxious on observing—which he now does—that his fellow-fugitive flags in his pace, and shows signs of giving out.
With a quick comprehension, and without any questions asked, Wilder understands the reason. In the smoke-cloud that covered their retreat from the corralled waggons—afterwards in the sombre shadow of the chine, and the obscurity of the cave, he had not observed what now, in the bright glare of the sunlight, is too plainly apparent—that the nether14 garments of his comrade are saturated15 with blood.
Hamersley has scarce noticed it himself, and his attention is now called to it, less from perceiving any acute pain than that he begins to feel faint and feeble. Blood is oozing16 through the breast of his shirt, running down the legs of his trousers, and on into his boots. And the fountain from which it proceeds is fast disclosing itself by an aching pain in his side, which increases as he strides on.
A moment’s pause to examine it. When the vest and shirt are opened it is seen that a bullet has passed through his left side, causing only a flesh wound, but cutting an artery17 in its course. Scratched and torn in several other places, for the time equally painful, he had not yet perceived this more serious injury.
It is not mortal, nor likely to prove so. The guide and hunter, like most of his calling, is a rough practical surgeon; and after giving the wound a hurried examination, pronounces it “only a scratch,” then urges his companion onward18.
Again starting, they proceed at the same quick pace; but before they have made another mile the wounded man feels his weakness sensibly overcoming him. Then the rapid run is succeeded by a slow dog-trot, soon decreasing to a walk, at length ending in a dead stop.
“I can go no farther, Walt; not if all the devils of hell were at my heels. I’ve done my best. If they come after you keep on, and leave me.”
“Niver, Frank Hamersley, niver! Walt Wilder ain’t the man to sep’rate from a kumrade, and leave him in a fix that way. If ye must pull up, so do this child. An’ I see ye must; thar’s no behelp for it.”
“I cannot go a step farther.”
“Enuf! But don’t let’s stan’ to be seen miles off. Squat19’s the word. Down on yer belly20, like a toad21 under a harrer. Thar’s jest a resemblance o’ kiver, hyar ’mong these tussocks o’ buffler-grass; an’ this child ain’t the most inconspicerousest objeck on the plain. Let’s squat on our breast-ribs, an’ lay close as pancakes.”
Whilst speaking he throws himself to the earth, flat on his face.
Hamersley, already tottering22, drops down by his side; as he does so, leaving the plain, as far as the eye can reach, without salient object to intercept the vision—any more than might be seen on the surface of a sleeping ocean.
It is in favour of the fugitives that the day has now well declined. But they do not remain long in their recumbent position before the sun, sinking behind the western horizon, gives them an opportunity of once more getting upon their feet.
They do so, glad to escape from a posture23 whose restraint is exceedingly irksome. They have suffered from the hot atmosphere rising like caloric from the parched24 plain. But now that the sun had gone down, a cool breeze begins to play over its surface, fanning them to fresh energy. Besides, the night closing over them—the moon not yet up—has removed the necessity for keeping any longer in concealment, and they proceed onward without fear. Hamersley feels as if fresh blood had been infused into his veins25; and he is ready to spring to his feet at the same time as his comrade.
“Frank! d’ye think ye kin11 go a little furrer now?” is the interrogatory put by the hunter.
“Yes, Walt; miles further,” is the response. “I feel as if I could walk across the grandest spread of prairie.”
“Good!” ejaculates the guide. “I’m glad to hear you talk that way. If we kin but git a wheen o’ miles atween us an’ them yelpin’ savages, we may hev a chance o’ salvation26 yit. The wust o’ the thing air, that we don’t know which way to go. It’s a toss up ’tween ’em. If we turn back torst the Canadyen, we may meet ’em agin, an’ right in the teeth. Westart lies the settlement o’ the Del Nort; but we mout come on the same Injuns by goin’ that direckshun. I’m not sartin they’re Tenawas. Southart this Staked Plain hain’t no endin’ till ye git down to the Grand River below its big bend, an’ that ain’t to be thort o’. By strikin’ east, a little southart, we mout reach the head sources o’ the Loozyany Red; an’ oncest on a stream o’ runnin’ water, this child kin generally navigate27 down it, provided he hev a rifle, powder, an’ a bullet or two in his pouch28. Thank the Almighty29 Lord, we’ve stuck to your gun through the thick an’ the thin o’t. Ef we hedn’t we mout jest as well lie down agin’ an’ make a die at oncest.”
“Go which way you please, Walt; you know best. I am ready to follow you; and I think I shall be able.”
“Wal, at anyhow, we’d best be movin’ off from hyar. If ye can’t go a great ways under kiver o’ the night, I reck’n we kin put enough o’ parairia atween us an’ these Injuns to make sure agin thar spyin’ us in the mornin’. So let’s start south-eastart, an’ try for the sources o’ the Red. Thur’s that ole beauty o’ the North Star that’s been my friend an’ guide many’s the good time. Thar it is, makin’ the handle o’ the Plough, or the Great Bar, as I’ve heern that colleckshin o’ stars freekwently called. We’ve only to keep it on our left, a leetle torst the back o’ the shoulder, an’ then we’re boun’ to bring out on some o’ the head-forks o’ the Red—if we kin only last long enough to reach ’em. Darn it! thar’s no danger; an’ anyhow, thar’s no help for’t but try. Come along!”
So speaking, the guide started forward—not in full stride, but timing30 his pace to suit the feeble steps of his disabled comrade.
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1
sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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2
tract
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| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
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3
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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4
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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5
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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6
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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7
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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8
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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10
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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11
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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12
intercept
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| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
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13
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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14
nether
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| adj.下部的，下面的；n.阴间；下层社会 | |
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15
saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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16
oozing
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| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
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17
artery
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| n.干线，要道；动脉 | |
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18
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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19
squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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20
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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21
toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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22
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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23
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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24
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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25
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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26
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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27
navigate
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| v.航行，飞行；导航，领航 | |
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28
pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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29
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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30
timing
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| n.时间安排，时间选择 | |
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