A house from which agreeable guests have just taken departure is rarely cheerful. The reverse, if these have been very agreeable—especially on the first evening after.
The rude sheiling which gives shelter to the refugees is no exception. Everyone under its roof is afflicted1 with low spirits, some of them sad—two particularly so.
Thus has it been since the early hour of daybreak, when the guests regretted spoke2 the parting speech.
In the ears of Adela Miranda, all day long, has been ringing that painful word, “Adios!” while thoughts about him who uttered it have been agitating3 her bosom4.
Not that she has any fear of his fealty5, or that he will prove traitor6 to his troth now plighted7. On the contrary, she can confide8 in him for that, and does—fully, trustingly.
Her fears are from a far different cause; the danger he is about to dare.
Conchita, in like manner, though in less degree, has her apprehensions9. The great Colossus who has captured her heart, and been promised her hand, may never return to claim it. But, unacquainted with the risk he is going to run, the little mestiza has less to alarm her, and only contemplates10 her lover’s absence, with that sense of uncertainty11 common to all who live in a land where every day has its dangers.
Colonel Miranda is discomforted too. Never before since his arrival in the valley have his apprehensions been so keen. Hamersley’s words, directing suspicion to the peon, Manuel, have excited them. All the more from his having entertained something of this before. And now still more, that his messenger is three days overdue13 from the errand on which he has sent him.
At noon he and Don Prospero again ascend14 to the summit of the pass, and scan the table plain above—to observe nothing upon it, either westwardly15 or in any other direction. And all the afternoon has one or the other been standing16 near the door of the jacal, with a lorgnette levelled up the ravine through which the valley is entered from above.
Only as the shades of night close over them do they desist from this vigil, proving fruitless.
Added to the idea of danger, they have another reason for desiring the speedy return of the messenger. Certain little luxuries he is expected to bring—among the rest a skin or two of wine and a few boxes of cigars. For neither the colonel himself nor the ex-army surgeon are anchorites, however much they have of late been compelled to the habit. Above all, they need tobacco, their stock being out; the last ounce given to their late guests on leaving.
These are minor18 matters, but yet add to the cheerlessness of the time after the strangers have gone. Not less at night, when more than ever one feels a craving19 for the nicotian weed, to consume it in some way—pipe, cigar, or cigaritto.
As the circle of three assemble in their little sitting-room20, after a frugal21 supper, tobacco is the Colonel’s chief care, and becomes the first topic of conversation.
“Carramba!” he explains, as if some new idea had entered his head, “I couldn’t have believed in a man suffering so much from such a trifling22 cause.”
“What are you referring to?” interrogates23 the doctor.
“The thing you’re thinking of at this moment, amigo mio. I’ll make a wager25 it’s the same.”
“As you know, colonel, I never bet.”
“Nor I upon a certainty, as in this case it would be. I know what your mind’s bent26 upon—tobacco.”
“I confess it, colonel. I want a smoke, bad as ever I did in my life.”
“Sol.”
“But why don’t you both have it, then?”
It is Adela who thus innocently interrogates.
“For the best of all reasons,” rejoins her brother. “We haven’t the wherewith.”
“What! no cigarittos? I saw some yesterday on one of the shelves.”
“But not to day. At this moment there isn’t a pinch of tobacco within twenty miles of where we sit, unless our late guests have made a very short day’s march. I gave them the last I had to comfort them on the journey.”
“Yes, senorita,” adds the doctor, “and something quite as bad, if not worse. Our bottles are empty. The wine is out as well as the weed.”
“In that,” interrupts the Colonel, “I’m happy to say you’re mistaken. It’s not so bad as you think, doctor. True, the pigskin has collapsed27; for the throat of the huge Texan was as difficult to saturate28 as the most parched29 spot on the Staked Plain. Finding it so, I took occasion to abstract a good large gourd30, and set it surreptitiously aside. I did that to meet emergencies. As one seems to have arisen, I think the hidden treasure may now be produced.”
Saying this, the colonel steps out of the room, soon returning with a large calabash bottle.
Conchita is summoned, and directed to bring drinking cups, which she does.
Miranda, pouring out the wine says,—
“This will cheer us; and, in truth, we all need cheering. I fancy there’s enough to last us till Manuel makes his reappearance with a fresh supply. Strange his not having returned. He’s had time to do all his bargainings and been back three days ago. I hoped to see him home before our friends took departure, so that I could better have provided them for their journey. They’ll stand a fair chance of being famished31.”
“No fear of that,” puts in Don Prospero.
“Why do you say so, doctor?”
“Because of the rifle I gave to Señor Gualtero. With it he will be able to keep both provisioned. ’Tis marvellous how he can manage it. He has killed bits of birds without spoiling their skins or even ruffling32 a feather. I’m indebted to him for some of my best specimens33. So long as he carries a gun, with ammunition34 to load it, you need have no fear he or his companion will perish from hunger, even on the Llano Estacado.”
“About that,” rejoins Miranda, “I think we need have no uneasiness. Beyond lies the thing to be apprehended—not on the desert, but amid cultivated fields, in the streets of towns, in the midst of so-called civilisation35. There will be their real danger.”
For some time the three are silent, their reflections assuming a sombre hue36, called forth37 by the colonel’s words.
But the doctor, habitually38 light-hearted, soon recovers, and makes an effort to imbue39 the others with cheerfulness like his own.
“Senorita,” he says, addressing himself to Adela, “your guitar, hanging there against the wall, seems straining its strings40 as if they longed for the touch of your fair fingers. You’ve been singing every night for the last month, delighting us all I hope you won’t be silent now that your audience is reduced, but will think it all the more reason for bestowing41 your favours on the few that remain.”
To the gallant42 speech of pure Castilian idiom, the young lady answers with a smile expressing assent43, at the same time taking hold of her guitar. As she reseats herself, and commences tuning44 the instrument, a string snaps.
It seems an evil omen24; and so all three regard it, though without knowing why. It is because, like the strings of the instrument, their hearts are out of tune45, or rather attuned46 to a presentiment47 which oppresses them.
The broken string is soon remedied by a knot; this easily done. Not so easy to restore the tranquillity48 of thought disturbed by its breaking.
No more does the melancholy49 song which succeeds. Even to that far land has travelled the strain of the “Exile of Erin.” Its appropriateness to their own circumstances suggesting itself to the Mexican maiden50, she sings—
Sad is my fate, said the heart-broken stranger,
The wild deer and wolf to the covert51 can flee,
But I have no refuge from famine and danger,
A home and a country remain not to me.
“Dear Adela!” interrupts Miranda. “That song is too sad. We’re already afflicted with its spirit. Change it for one more cheerful. Give us a lay of the Alhambra—a battle-song of the Cid or the Campeador—something patriotic52 and stirring.”
Obedient to her brother’s request, the young girl changes tune and song, now pouring forth one of those inimitable lays for which the language of Cervantes is celebrated53.
Despite all, the heaviness of heart remains54, pressing upon those who listen as on her who sings. Adela’s voice appears to have lost its accustomed sweetness, while the strings of her guitar seem equally out of tune.
All at once, while in the middle of her song, the two bloodhounds, that have been lying on the floor at her feet, start from their recumbent position, simultaneously55 giving utterance56 to a growl57, and together rush out through the open door.
The singing is instantly brought to an end; while Don Valerian and the doctor rise hastily from their chairs.
The bark of watch-dog outside some quiet farmhouse58, amidst the homes of civilisation, can give no idea of the startling effect which the same sound calls forth on the far Indian frontier—nothing like the alarm felt by the dwellers59 in that lone12 ranche. To add to it, they hear a hoof60 striking on the stones outside—that of either horse or mule61. It cannot be Lolita’s; the mustang mare62 is securely stalled, and the hoof-stroke comes not from the stable. There are no other animals. Their late guests have taken away the two saddle mules63, while the mulas de carga are with the messenger, Manuel.
“It’s he come back!” exclaims the doctor. “We ought to be rejoiced instead of scared. Come, Don Valerian! we shall have our smoke yet before going to bed.”
“It’s not Manuel,” answers Miranda. “The dogs would have known him before this. Hear how they keep on baying! Ha! what’s that? Chico’s voice! Somebody has caught hold of him!”
A cry from the peon outside, succeeded by expostulations, as if he was struggling to escape—his voice commingled64 with shrill65 screams from Conchita—are sounds almost simultaneous.
Don Valerian strides back into the room and lays hold of his sword, the doctor clutching at the first weapon that presents itself.
But weapons are of no avail where there are not enough hands to wield66 them.
Into the cabin lead two entrance doors—one front, the other back—and into both is seen pouring a stream of armed men, soldiers in uniform.
Before Miranda can disengage his sword from its scabbard, a perfect chevaux-de-frise of lance-points are within six inches of his breast, while the doctor is similarly menaced.
Both perceive that resistance will be idle. It can only end in their instant impalement67.
“Surrender, rebels!” cries a voice rising above the din17.
“drop your weapons, and at once, if you wish your lives spared! Soldiers, disarm68 them!”
Miranda recognises the voice. Perhaps, had he done so sooner, he would have held on to his sword, and taken the chances of a more protracted69 and desperate resistance.
It is too late. As the weapon is wrested70 from his grasp, he sees standing before him the man of all others he has most reason to fear—Gil Uraga!
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1
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
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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3
agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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fealty
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| n.忠贞，忠节 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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plighted
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| vt.保证，约定（plight的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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contemplates
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的第三人称单数 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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11
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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13
overdue
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| adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的 | |
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14
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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15
westwardly
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| 向西，自西 | |
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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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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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18
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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19
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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20
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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21
frugal
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| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
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22
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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23
interrogates
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| n.询问( interrogate的名词复数 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询v.询问( interrogate的第三人称单数 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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24
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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25
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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26
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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27
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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28
saturate
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| vt.使湿透，浸透；使充满，使饱和 | |
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29
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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30
gourd
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| n.葫芦 | |
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31
famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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32
ruffling
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| 弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱 | |
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33
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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34
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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35
civilisation
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| n.文明，文化，开化，教化 | |
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36
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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37
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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38
habitually
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| ad.习惯地，通常地 | |
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39
imbue
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| v.灌输(某种强烈的情感或意见)，感染 | |
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40
strings
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| n.弦 | |
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41
bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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42
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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43
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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44
tuning
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| n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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45
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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46
attuned
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| v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 )；调音 | |
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47
presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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48
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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49
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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50
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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51
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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52
patriotic
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| adj.爱国的，有爱国心的 | |
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53
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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54
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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55
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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56
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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57
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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58
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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59
dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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60
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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61
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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62
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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63
mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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64
commingled
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| v.混合，掺和，合并( commingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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66
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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67
impalement
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| 刺穿，刺刑，围住 | |
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68
disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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69
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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70
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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