It is Wilder who so emphatically proclaims the character of the cavalcade4. He has no need, Hamersley having already made it out himself.
“Yes; they are soldiers,” he rejoins, mechanically, adding, “Mexican, as a matter of course. None of our troops ever stray this fair west. ’Tis out of United States territory. The Texans claim it. But those are not Texans: they are uniformed, and carry lances. Your old friends, the Rangers5, don’t affect that sort of thing.”
“No,” responds Wilder, with a contemptuous toss of the head, “I shedn’t think they did. We niver tuk to them long sticks; ’bout as much use as bean-poles. In coorse they’re Mexikins, lanzeeros.”
“What can they be doing out here? There are no Indians on the Staked Plain. If there were, such a small party as that, taking it to be Mexican, would not be likely to venture after them.”
“Maybe it’s only a advance guard, and thar’s a bigger body behint. We shell soon see, as they’re ridin’ deerect this way. By the ’Tarnal, ’twon’t do to let ’em sight us; leastwise, not till we’ve seen more o’ them, an’ know what sort they air. White men tho’ they call themselves, I’d a’most as soon meet Injuns. They’d be sure to take us for Texans; and ’bout me there’d be no mistake in that. But they’d treet you the same, an’ thar treetment ain’t like to be civil. Pull yur mule6 well back among the bushes. Let’s blind the brutes7, or they may take it into their heads to squeal8.”
The hybrids9 are led back into the grove10, tied, and zapadoed—the last operation performed by passing a blanket, mask fashion, over their eyes. This done, the two men return to the edge of the copse, keeping themselves screened behind the outstanding trees.
In their absence the moving cohort has drawn11 nearer, and still advances. But slowly, and, as when first sighted, enveloped12 in a cloud of dust. Only now and then, as the wind wafts13 this aside, can be distinguished14 the forms of the individuals composing it. Then but for an instant, the dust again drifting around them.
Still the nimbus draws nigher, and is gradually approaching the spot where the travellers had concealed15 themselves.
At first only surprised at seeing soldiers on the Staked Plain, they soon become seriously alarmed. The troop is advancing towards the black-jack grove, apparently16 intending it for a place of bivouac; if so, there will be no chance for them to escape observation. The soldiers will scatter17 about, and penetrate18 every part of the copse. Equally idle to attempt flight on their slow-footed animals, pursued by over two score of cavalry19 horses.
They can see no alternative but surrender, submit to be made prisoners, and receive such treatment as their captors may think fit to extend to them.
While thus despairingly reflecting, they take note of something that restores their disturbed equanimity20. It is the direction in which the Mexicans are marching. The cloud moving in slow, stately progress does not approach any nearer to the copse. Evidently the horsemen do not design halting there, but will ride past, leaving it on their left.
They are, in truth, passing along the same path from which the travellers have late deflected21; only in the counter direction.
Now, for the first time, a suspicion occurs to Hamersley, shared by the Texan, giving both far greater uneasiness than if the soldiers were heading direct towards them.
It is further intensified22 as a fresh spurt23 of the desert wind sweeps the dust away, displaying in clear light the line of marching horsemen. No question as to their character now. There they are, with their square-peaked corded caps, and plumes24 of horsehair; their pennoned spears sloped over their shoulders; their yellow cloaks folded and strapped25 over the cantles of their saddles; sabres lying along thighs26, clinking against spurs and stirrups—all the picturesque27 panoply28 of lancers.
It is not this that strikes dismay into the minds of those who are spectators, for it is now struck into their heart of hearts. On one figure of the cavalcade the eyes of both become fixed29; he who rides at its head.
Their attention had been first attracted to his horse, Wilder gasping30 out, soon as he set eyes on the animal, “Look yonner, Frank!”
“At what?”
“The fellur ridin’ foremost. D’ye see the anymal he’s on? It’s the same we war obleeged to abandon on takin’ to the rocks.”
“By heavens! my horse!”
“Yurs, to a sartinty.”
“And his rider! The man I fought with at Chihuahua, the ruffian Uraga!”
On recognising his antagonist31 in the duel32, the Kentuckian gives out a groan33. The Texan, too. For on both the truth flashes in all its fulness—all its terrible reality.
It is not the possession of Hamersley’s horse, identifying its rider with the destroyers of the caravan34. That is nothing new, and scarce surprises them. What pains—agonises them—is the direction in which the soldiers are proceeding35.
They can have no doubt as to the purpose of the military march, or the point to which it is tending.
“Yes,” says Walt, “they’re strikin’ straight fur the valley, goin’ ’ithout guess-work, too. Thar’s a guide along, an’ thar’s been a treetur.”
“Who do you think?”
“That Injun, Manoel. Ye remember he went on a errand ’bout a week ago, to fetch them some things that war needed. Instead, he’s made diskivery o’ the hidin’ place o’ his master, and sold that master’s head. That’s what he’s did, sure.”
“It is,” mutters Hamersley, in a tone that tells of affliction too deep for speech. Before his mind is a fearful forecast. Don Valerian a prisoner to Uraga and his ruffians—Don Prospero, too; both to be dragged back to Albuquerque and cast into a military prison. Perhaps worse still—tried by court-martial soon as captured, and shot as soon as tried. Nor is this the direst of his previsions. There is one darker—Adela in the company of a ribald crew, surrounded by the brutal36 soldiery, powerless, unprotected—she his own dear one, now his betrothed37! Overcome by his emotions he remains38 for some time silent, scarce heeding39 the remarks of his comrade. One, however, restores his attention.
“I tolt ye so,” says Walt. “See! yonner’s the skunk40 himself astride o’ a mule at the tail o’ the gang.”
Hamersley directs his eyes to the rear of the outstretched rank. There, sure enough, is a man on muleback, dressed differently from the troopers. The coarse woollen tilma, and straw hat, he remembers as having been worn by one of Mirander’s male domestics. He does not identify the man. But Walt’s recollection of his rival is clearer, and he has no doubt that he on the mule is Manuel. Nor, for that matter, has Hamersley. The peon’s presence is something to assist in the explanation. It clears up everything.
Hamersley breathes hard as the dark shadows sweep through his soul. For a long time absorbed in thought, he utters scarce an ejaculation. Only after the lancer troop has passed, its rearmost files just clearing the alignment41 of the copse, he gasps42 out, in a voice husky as that of one in the act of being strangled,—
“They’re going straight for the place. O God!”
“Yes,” rejoins the ex-Ranger, in a tone like despondent43, “Thar boun’ thar for sartint. The darned creetur’s been tempted44 by the blood-money set on Kumel Miranda’s head, an’ air too like to git it. They’ll grup him, sure; an’s like as not gie him the garota. Poor gentleman! He air the noblest Mexikin I iver sot eyes on, an’ desarves a better fate. As for the ole doc, he may get off arter sarvin’ a spell in prison, an’ the saynorita—”
A groan from Hamersley interrupts the remark. His comrade, perceiving how much he is pained, modifies what he meant to say.
“Thar’s no need to be so much afeard o’ what may happen to her. She ain’t goin’ to be rubbed out, anyhow; an’ if she hasn’t no brother to purtect her, I reckon she’s got a frien’ in you, Frank. An’ hyar’s another o’ the same, as they say in the Psalms45 o’ Davit.”
Walt’s words have a hopeful sound. Hamersley is cheered by them, but replies not. He only presses the hand of his comrade in silent and grateful grasp.
“Yis,” continues the ex-Ranger with increased emphasis, “I’d lay down my life to save that young lady from harum, as I know you’d lay down yourn. An’ thet air to say nothin’ o’ my own gurl. This chile ain’t niver been much guv to runnin’ arter white wheemen, an’ war gen’rally content to put up wi’ a squaw. But sech as them! As for yourn, I don’t wonder yur heart beats like a chased rabbit’s; myen air doin’ the same for Concheeter. Wal, niver fear! Ef thar’s a hair o’ eyther o’ thar heads teched, you’ll hear the crack o’ Walt Wilder’s rifle, and see its bullet go into the breast o’ him as harms ’em. I don’t care who or what he air, or whar he be. Nor I don’t care a durn—not the valley of a dried buffler-chip—what may come arter—hangin’, garrotin’, or shootin’. At all risks, them two sweet creeturs air bound to be protected from harum; an ef it comes, they shall be reevenged. I swar that, by the Eturnal!”
“I join you in the oath,” pronounces Hamersley, with emphatic3 fervour, once more exchanging a hand-squeeze with his companion. “Yes, Walt; the brave Miranda may be sacrificed—I fear it must be so. But for his sister, there is still a hope that we may save her; and surely heaven will help us. If not, I shall be ready to die. Ah! death would be easier to bear than the loss of Adela!”
“An’ for this chile the same, rayther than he shed lose Concheeter.”
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1
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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emphatic
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| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
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cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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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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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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8
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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9
hybrids
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| n.杂交生成的生物体( hybrid的名词复数 )；杂交植物（或动物）；杂种；（不同事物的）混合物 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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12
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
wafts
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| n.空中飘来的气味，一阵气味( waft的名词复数 )；摇转风扇v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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15
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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scatter
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| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
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18
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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19
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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21
deflected
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| 偏离的 | |
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intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spurt
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| v.喷出；突然进发；突然兴隆 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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25
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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26
thighs
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| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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panoply
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| n.全副甲胄，礼服 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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33
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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38
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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39
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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40
skunk
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| n.臭鼬，黄鼠狼；v.使惨败，使得零分；烂醉如泥 | |
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41
alignment
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| n.队列；结盟，联合 | |
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42
gasps
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| v.喘气( gasp的第三人称单数 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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43
despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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44
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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45
psalms
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| n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的) | |
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