The party of Texans has made what prairie men call a “coup2.” On counting the corpses4 of their slain5 enemies they find that at least one-half of the Tenawa warriors6 have fallen, including their chief. They can make an approximate estimate of the number that was opposed to them by the signs visible around the camp, as also upon the trail they have been for several days following. Those who escaped have got off, some on their horses, hastily caught and mounted; others afoot, by taking to the timber. They were not pursued, as it was still dark night when the action ended, and by daylight these wild centaurs7, well acquainted with the country, will have scattered8 far and wide, beyond all likelihood of being again encountered.
The settlers are satisfied at having recovered their relatives, as also their stolen stock. As to the Rangers10, enough has been accomplished11 to slake12 their revengeful thirst—for the time. These last, however, have not come off unscathed; for the Comanches, well armed with guns, bows, and lances, did not die unresistingly. In Texas Indians rarely do, and never when they engage in a fight with Rangers. Between them and these border guerrilleros—in one sense almost as much savages14 as themselves—war is an understood game—to the bitter end, with no quarter either asked or given.
The Rangers count three of their number killed and about twice as many wounded—enough, considering the advantage they had in their unwarned attack upon enemies who for once proved unwatchful.
When the conflict has finally come to a close, and daylight makes manifest the result, the victors take possession of the spoil—most of it their own property. The horses that strayed or stampeded during the fight are again collected into a drove—those of the Indians being united to it. This done, only a short stay is intended—just long enough to bury the bodies of the three Rangers who have been killed, get stretchers prepared for such of the wounded as are unable to sit in the saddle, and make other preparations for return towards the settlements.
They do not hasten their departure through any apprehension15 of a counter-attack on the side of the Comanches. Fifty Texan Rangers—and there are this number of them—have no fear on any part of the plains, so long as they are mounted on good horses, carry rifles in their hands, bowie-knives and pistols in their belts, with a sufficient supply of powder in their flasks16, and bullets in their pouches17. With all these items they are amply provided; and were there now any necessity for continuing the pursuit, or the prospect18 of striking another coup, they would go on, even though the chase should conduct them into the defiles19 of the Rocky Mountains. To pursue and slay20 the savage13 is their vocation21, their duty, their pastime and pleasure.
But the settlers are desirous of a speedy return to their homes, that they may relieve the anxiety of other dear ones, who there await them. They long to impart the glad tidings they will take with them.
While the preparations for departure are going on, Cully—who, with several others, has been collecting the arms and accoutrements of their slain enemies—gives utterance22 to a cry that brings a crowd of his comrades around him.
“What is it, Nat?” inquires the Ranger9 captain.
“Look hyar, cap! D’ye see this gun?”
“Yes; a hunter’s rifle. Whose is it?”
“That’s jess the questyin; though thar ain’t no questyin about it. Boys, do any o’ ye recognise this hyar shootin’ iron?”
One after another the Rangers step up, and look at the rifle.
“I do,” says one.
“And I,” adds another.
And a third, and fourth, make the same affirmation, all speaking in tones of surprise.
“Walt Wilder’s gun,” continues Cully, “sure an’ sartin. I know it, an oughter know it. See them two letters in the stock thar—‘WW.’ Old Nat Cully hez good reezun to recconise them, since ’twas hisself that cut ’em. I did it for Walt two yeern ago, when we war scoutin’ on the Collyrado. It’s his weepun, an’ no mistake.”
“Where did you find it?” inquires the captain.
“I’ve jess tuk it out o’ the claws o’ the ugliest Injun as ever made trail on a puraira—that beauty thar, whose karkidge the buzzards won’t be likely to tech.”
While speaking Cully points to a corpse3. It is that of the Tenawa chief, already identified among the slain.
“He must a’ hed it in his clutch when suddenly shot down,” pursues the guide. “An’ whar did he git it? Boys, our ole kummerade’s wiped out for sartin. I know how Walt loved that thar piece. He w’udn’t a parted wi’ it unless along wi’ his life.”
This is the conviction of several others acquainted with Wilder. It is the company of Rangers to which he formerly23 belonged.
“Thar’s been foul24 play somewhar,” continues Cully. “Walt went back to the States—to Kaintuck, ef this chile ain’t mistook. But ’tain’t likely he stayed thar; he kedn’t keep long off o’ the purairas. I tell ye, boys, these hyar Injens hev been makin’ mischief25 somewhar’. Look thar, look at them leggin’s! Thar’s no eend o’ white sculps on’ ’em, an’ fresh tuk, too!”
The eyes of all turned towards these terrible trophies26 that in gory27 garniture fringe the buck-skin leg-wear of the savages. Cully, with several others who knew Wilder well, proceed to examine them, in full expectation of finding among them the skin of their old comrade’s head. There are twelve scalps, all of white men, with others that are Indian, and not a few that exhibit the equally black, but shorter crop of the Mexican. Those that are indubitably of white men show signs of having been recently taken, but none of them can be identified as the scalp of Walt Wilder.
There is some relief in this, for his old comrades love. Walt. Still, there is the damning evidence of the gun, which Cully declares could only have been taken from him along with his life. How has it got into the hands of the Horned Lizard28?
“I reckon we can settle that,” says the Captain of the Rangers. “The renegade ought to know something about it.”
This speech refers to Barbato, who has been taken prisoner, and about whose disposal they have already commenced to deliberate. His beard betrayed him as a renegade; and, the paint having been partially29 wiped from his skin, all perceive that he is a white man—a Mexican. Some are for shooting him on the spot, others propose hanging, while only a few of the more humane30 advocate taking him on to the settlements and there giving him a trial. He will have to die anyhow—that is pretty sure; for not only as a Mexican is he their enemy, but now doubly so from being found in league with their most detested31 foes32, the Tenawa Comanches.
The wretch33 is lying on the ground near by, shaking with fear, in spite of the fastenings in which he is tightly held. He knows he is in dire34 danger, and has only so far escaped through having surrendered to a settler instead of to one of the Rangers.
“Let’s gie him a chance o’ his life; ef he’ll tell all about it,” counsels Cully. “What d’ye say, cap?”
“I agree to that,” responds the Ranger captain. “He don’t appear to be worth shooting; though it may be as well to take him on to the settlements, and shut him up in prison. The promise of pardon may get out of him all he knows; if not, the other will. He’s not an Indian, and a bit of rope looped round his neck will, no doubt, loosen his tongue. Suppose we try boys?”
The “boys” are unanimous in their assent35, and the renegade is at once brought up for examination. The man in the green blanket coat, who, as a Santa Fé expeditioner, has spent over twelve months in Mexican prisons, is appointed examiner. He has been long enough among the “yellerbellies” to have learnt their language.
The renegade is for a time reticent36, and his statements are contradictory37. No wonder he declines to tell what has occurred, so compromising to himself! But when the lariat38 is at length noosed39 around his neck, the loose end of it thrown over the limb of a pecan tree—the other conditions being clearly expounded40 to him—he sees that things can be no worse; and, seeing this, makes confession—full, if not free. He discloses everything—the attack and capture of the caravan41, with the slaughter42 of the white men who accompanied it; he tells of the retreat of two of them to the cliff, one of whom, by the description, can be none other than Walt Wilder. When he at length comes to describe the horrible mode in which their old comrade has perished, the Rangers are almost frenzied43 with rage, and it is with difficulty some of them can be withheld44 from breaking their given word, and tearing him limb from limb.
He makes appeal to them for mercy, stating that he himself had no part in that transaction; that, although they have found him among the Indians, he was only as their prisoner; and forced to fight along with them.
This is evidently untrue; but, false or true, it has the effect of pacifying45 his judges, so far, that the lariat is left loose around his neck.
Further examination, and cross-examination, elicit46 other facts about the captured caravan—in short, everything, except the secret alliance between the Mexican officer and the Tenawa chief. Not thinking of this—in truth, having no suspicion of it—his examiners do not put any questions about it; and, for himself, the wretch sees no reason to declare it, but the contrary. He indulges in the hope of one day returning to the Del Norte, and renewing his relations with Colonel Gil Uraga.
“Comrades!” cries the Ranger captain, addressing himself to his men, as soon as the examination is concluded, “you all of you loved Walt Wilder—all who knew him?”
“We did! we did!” is the response feelingly spoken. “So did I. Well, he’s dead, beyond a doubt. It’s nearly a month ago, and he could not last so long, shut up in that cave. His bones will be there, with those of the other poor fellow, whoever he was, that went in with him. It’s dreadful to think of it! Now, from what this scoundrel says, it can’t be so very far from here. And, as we can make him guide us to the place, I propose we go there, get the remains47 of our old comrade, and give them Christian48 burial.”
With the Texan Rangers obedience49 to duty is less a thing of command than request; and this is a request of such nature as to receive instant and unanimous assent “Let us go!” is the universal response. “We needn’t all make this journey,” continues the captain. “There’s no need for any more than our own boys, the Rangers, and such of the settlers as may choose to go with us. The rest, who have to look after the women, and some for driving back the stock, can make their way home at once. I reckon we’ve left the track pretty clear of Indians, and they’ll be in no further danger from them.”
Without further discussion, this arrangement is decided50 upon; and the two parties commence making the preparations suitable to their respective plans.
In less than half an hour after they separate; the settlers, with the women, children, and cattle, wending their way eastward51; while the Rangers, guided by the renegade, ride off in the opposite direction—toward the Llano Estacado.
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1
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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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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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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centaurs
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| n.（希腊神话中）半人半马怪物( centaur的名词复数 ) | |
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8
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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ranger
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| n.国家公园管理员，护林员；骑兵巡逻队员 | |
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rangers
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| 护林者( ranger的名词复数 )； 突击队员 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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slake
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| v.解渴，使平息 | |
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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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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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flasks
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| n.瓶，长颈瓶， 烧瓶( flask的名词复数 ) | |
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17
pouches
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| n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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defiles
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| v.玷污( defile的第三人称单数 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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vocation
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| n.职业，行业 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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26
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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gory
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| adj.流血的；残酷的 | |
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lizard
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| n.蜥蜴，壁虎 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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36
reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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contradictory
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| adj.反驳的，反对的，抗辩的；n.正反对，矛盾对立 | |
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38
lariat
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| n.系绳，套索；v.用套索套捕 | |
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39
noosed
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| v.绞索，套索( noose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
expounded
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| 论述，详细讲解( expound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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42
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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43
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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44
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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45
pacifying
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的现在分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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46
elicit
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| v.引出,抽出,引起 | |
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47
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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48
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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49
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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50
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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51
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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