Carefully as ever, Hamersley and the Texan keep to their place of concealment2. They dare not do otherwise. The slope by which they ascended3 is treeless, the cedars4 only growing upon the summit. The gorge5, too, by which they went up, and at the bottom of which their mules6 were left, debouches westwardly7 on the plain—the direction in which the lancers have ridden off. Any of these chancing to look back would be sure to catch sight of them if they show themselves outside the sheltering scrub. They have their apprehensions8 about their animals. It is a wonder these have not been seen by the soldiers. Although standing9 amid large boulders10, a portion of the bodies of both are visible from the place mentioned. Fortunately for their owners, their colour closely resembled the rocks, and for which the troopers may have mistaken them. More probably, in their impatience11 to proceed upon the return route, none of them turn their eyes in that direction.
An equally fortunate circumstance is the fact of the mules being muffled12. Otherwise they might make themselves heard. Not a sound, either snort or hinney, escape them; not so much as the stamping of a hoof13. They stand patient and silent, as if they themselves had fear of the men who are foes14 to their masters.
For a full hour after the lancers have left these stay crouching15 behind the cedars. Even an hour does not take the troop out of sight. Cumbered with their captives, they march at slow, measured pace—a walk. Moreover, the pellucid16 atmosphere of the Staked Plain makes objects visible at double the ordinary distance. They are yet but five miles from the buttes, and, looking back, could see a man at their base, more surely one mounted.
The two who are on the summit allow quite twenty minutes more to elapse before they think of leaving it. Then, deeming it safe, they prepare to descend18.
Still they are in no haste. Their intention is to follow the cavalcade19, but by no means to overtake it. Nor do they care to keep it in sight, but the contrary, since that might beget20 danger to themselves. They anticipate no difficulty in taking up the trail of a troop like that Walt confidently declares he could do so were he blindfolded21 as their mules, adding, in characteristic phraseology, “I ked track the skunks22 by thar smell.”
Saying this he proposes a “bit o’ brakwist,” a proposition his comrade assents23 to with eagerness. They have not eaten since dinner of the day before, their provisions having been left below, and the sharp morning air has given additional edge to their appetites. This at length draws them down to their mules.
Taking off the tapados to relieve the poor animals, who have somewhat suffered from being so scurvily24 treated, they snatch a hasty repast from their haversacks, then light their pipes for a smoke preparatory to setting forth25. It is not yet time, for the soldiers are still in sight. They will wait till the last lance pennon sinks below the horizon.
Whilst smoking, with eyes bent26 upon the receding27 troop, a sound salutes28 their ears, causing both to start. Fortunately they draw back behind one of the boulders, and there remain listening. What they heard was certainly a hoofstroke, whether of horse or mule—not of either of their own; these are by their sides, while the sound that has startled them appears to proceed from the other side of the mound30, as if from the summit of the pass leading up out of the valley.
They hear it again. Surely it is in the gorge that goes down, or at the head of it.
Their conjecture31 is that one of the lancers has lagged behind, and is now en route to overtake the troop.
If it be thus what course are they to pursue? He may look back and see themselves or their animals, then gallop32 on and report to his comrades.
’Twould be a sinister33 episode, and they must take steps to prevent it.
They do so by hastily restoring the tapados and leading the mules into a cul-de-sac, where they will be safe from observation.
Again they hear the sound, still resembling a hoofstroke, but not of an animal making way over the ground in walk, trot34, or gallop, but as one that refused to advance, and was jibbing.
Between them and it there seems great space, a projecting spur of the butte from which they have just descended35. By climbing the ridge36 for a score of yards or so they can see into the gorge that goes down to the valley.
As the trampling37 still appears steadfast38 to the same point, their alarm gives place to curiosity, then impatience. Yielding to this, they scramble39 up the ridge that screens the kicking animal from their view.
Craning their heads over its crest40, they see that which, instead of causing further fear, rather gives them joy.
Just under their eyes, in the gap of the gorge, a man is struggling with a mule. It is a contest of very common occurrence. The animal is saddled, and the man is making attempts to get his leg over the saddle. The hybrid41 is restive42, and will not permit him to put foot in the stirrup. Ever as he approaches it shies back, rearing and pitching to the full length and stretch of the bridle-rein.
Soon as seeing him, they upon the ridge recognise the man thus vexatiously engaged. He is the peon Manuel.
“The durned scoundrel,” hissed43 Walt, through clenched44 teeth. “What’s kep him ahint, I wonder?”
Hamersley responds not—he, too, conjecturing45.
“By Jehorum!” continues the hunter, “it looks like he’d stayed back apurpose. Thar ked been nothin’ to hinder him to go on ’long wi’ the rest. The questyun air what he’s stayed for. Some trick o’ trezun, same as he’s did afore.”
“Something of the kind, I think,” rejoins Hamersley, still considering.
“Wal, he’s wantin’ to get on bad enuf now, if the mule ’ud only let him. Say, Frank, shell I put a payriud to their conflict by sendin’ a bit o’ lead that way, I kin17 rub the varmint out by jest pressin’ my finger on this trigger.”
“Do you mean the man or the mule?”
“The man, in coorse. For what shed I shoot the harmless critter that’s been carryin’ him? Say the word, an’ I’ll send him to kingdom come in the twinklin’ o’ a goat’s tail. I’ve got sight on him. Shall I draw the trigger?”
“For your life, don’t look yonder! They’re not yet out of sight. They might see the smoke, perhaps hear the crack. Comrade, you’re taking leave of your senses!”
“Contemplatin’ that ugly anymal below air enough to make me. It a’most druv me out o’ my mind to think o’ his black ungratefulness. Now, seein’ hisself through the sight of a rifle ’ithin good shootin’ distance, shurely ye don’t intend we shud let him go!”
“Certainly not. That would be ruin to ourselves. We must either kill or capture him. But it must be done without noise, or at least without firing a shot. They’re not far enough off yet.”
“How d’ye devise, then?”
“Let’s back to our mules, mount, and get round the ledge46. We must head him before he gets out of the gap. Come on!”
Both scramble back down the slope quicker than they ascended it, knowing there is good reason for haste—the best for their lives—every thing may depend on capturing the peon. Should he see them, and get away, it will be worse both for them and their dear ones.
In two minutes the mules are again unmuffled and mounted. In two more they are entering the gap from outside, their masters on their backs.
These, spurring the animals to speed, enter the gorge, their eyes everywhere. They reach the spot where the peon was so late seen, striving to get into his saddle. They see the turf torn up by the hybrid’s hoofs29, but no man, no mule.
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1
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cedars
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| 雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 ) | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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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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westwardly
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| 向西，自西 | |
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apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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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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boulders
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| n.卵石( boulder的名词复数 )；巨砾；（受水或天气侵蚀而成的）巨石；漂砾 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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pellucid
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| adj.透明的，简单的 | |
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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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descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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beget
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| v.引起；产生 | |
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blindfolded
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| v.（尤指用布）挡住（某人）的视线( blindfold的过去式 )；蒙住（某人）的眼睛；使不理解；蒙骗 | |
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skunks
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| n.臭鼬( skunk的名词复数 )；臭鼬毛皮；卑鄙的人；可恶的人 | |
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assents
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| 同意，赞同( assent的名词复数 ) | |
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scurvily
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| 下流地，粗鄙地，无礼地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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salutes
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| n.致敬，欢迎，敬礼( salute的名词复数 )v.欢迎，致敬( salute的第三人称单数 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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trampling
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| 踩( trample的现在分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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39
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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40
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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41
hybrid
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| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
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42
restive
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| adj.不安宁的，不安静的 | |
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43
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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conjecturing
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| v. & n. 推测，臆测 | |
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46
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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