The surprise of the two men is but momentary1; for there can be no mystery about the peon’s disappearance2. He has simply gone down the ravine, and back into the valley. Is he on return to the house, which they know is now untenanted, and, if so, with what intent? Has he become so attached to the place as to intend prolonging his sojourn3 there? or has something arisen to make him discontented with the company he has been keeping, and so determined4 to get quit of it by hanging behind?
Something of this sort was on their minds as they last saw him over the crest5 of the ridge6. While in conflict with his mule7, he was ever and anon turning his eyes towards the point where the soldiers must have been last seen by him; for from the gap in which he was these were no longer visible. Both Hamersley and Wilder had noticed an uneasy air about him at the time, attributing it to his vexation at being delayed by the obstinacy8 of the animal and the fear of being left behind. Now that he had mounted and taken the back-track, the cause must be different.
“Thar’s somethin’ queery in what the coyoats doin’,” is Walt’s half-soliloquised observation; adding, “Though what he’s arter tain’t so eezy to tell. He must be tired o’ their kumpany, and want to get shet o’ it. He’ll be supposin’ they ain’t likely to kum back arter him; an’ I reck’n they won’t, seein’ they’ve got all out o’ him they need care for. Still, what ked he do stayin’ hyar by himself?”
Walt is still ignorant of the peon’s partiality for his own sweetheart. He has had a suspicion of something, but not the deep, dire10 passion that burns in the Indian’s heart. Aware of this, he would not dwell on the probability of the man having any intention, any more than himself, remain behind now that Conchita is gone.
“Arter all,” he continues, still speaking in half soliloquy, “I don’t think stayin’s his game. There’s somethin’ else at the bottom on’t.”
“Can Uraga have sent him back on any errand?”
“No, that ain’t it eyther. More like he’s good on a errand o’ his own. I reckon I ken9 guess it now. The traitur intends turnin’ thief as well—doin’ a leetle bit o’ stealin’ along wi’ his treason. Ye remember, Frank, thar war a goodish grit12 o’ valleyables in the shanty13—the saynorita’s jeweltry an’ the like. Jest possyble, in the skrimmage, whiles they war making capter o’ thar prisoners, this ugly varmint tuk devantage o’ the confusion to secret a whun o’ thar gimcracks, an’s now goed back arter ’em.”
“It seems probable enough. Still, he might have some other errand, and may not go on as far as the house. In which case, we may look for his return this way at any moment. It will never do for us to start upon their trail, leaving him coming in our rear. He would see us, and in the night might slip past and give them warning they were followed.”
“All that air true. We must grup him now.”
“Should we go down after him, or stay here till he comes up?”
“Neythur o’ the two ways’ll do. He moutn’t kum along no time. If he’s got plunder14 he won’t try to overtake the sogers, but wait till they’re well out o’ his way. He knows the road to the Del Norte, and kin11 travel it by hisself.”
“Then we should go down after him.”
“Only one o’ us. If we both purceed to the shanty there’s be a chance o’ passin’ him on the way. He mout be in the timmer, an’, seein’ us, put back out hyar, an’ so head us. There’d no need o’ both for the capterin’ sech a critter as that. I’ll fetch him on his marrowbones by jest raisin’ this rifle. Tharfor, s’pose you stay hyar an’ guard this gap, while I go arter an’ grup him. I’m a’most sartin he’ll be at the shanty. Anyhow, he’s in the trap, and can’t get out till he’s hed my claws roun’ the scruff o’ his neck an’ my thumb on his thropple.”
“Don’t kill him if you can help it. True he deserves to die; but we may want a word with him first. He may give information that will afterwards prove useful to us.”
“Don’t be afeared, Frank. I shan’t hurt a har o’ his head, unless he reesists, then I must kripple him a bit. But he ain’t like to show fight, such a coyoat as he!”
“All right, Walt. I’ll wait for you.”
“You won’t hev long. Ye’d better take kiver back o’ them big stones to make sure o’ not bein’ seen by him, shed he by any chance slip past me. An’ keep yur ears open. Soon as I’ve treed him I’ll gie a whistle or two. When ye hear that ye can kim down.”
After delivering this chapter of suggestions and injunctions, the ex-Ranger heads his mule down the pass, and is soon lost to his comrade’s sight as he turns off along the ledge15 of the cliff.
Hamersley, himself inclined to caution, follows the direction last given, and rides back behind one of the boulders16. Keeping in the saddle, he sits in silent meditation17. Sad thoughts alone occupy his mind. His prospects18 are gloomy indeed; his forecast of the future dark and doubtful. He has but little hope of being able to benefit Don Valerian Miranda, and cannot be sure of rescueing his sister—his own betrothed—in time to avert19 that terrible catastrophe20 which he knows to be impending21 over her. He does not give it a name—he scarce dares let it take shape in his thoughts.
Nearly half-an-hour is spent in this painful reverie. He is aroused from it by a sound which ascends22 out of the valley. With a start of joy he recognises the signal his comrade promised to send him. The whistle is heard in three distinct “wheeps,” rising clear above the hoarser23 sibillations of the cascades24. From the direction he can tell it comes from the neighbourhood of the house; but, without waiting to reflect whither, he spurs his mule out, and rides down the pass as rapidly as possible.
On reaching the level below he urges the animal to a gallop25, and soon arrives at the ranche.
There, as expected, he finds his companion, with the peon a captive.
The two, with their mules26, form a tableau27 in front of the untenanted dwelling28.
The ex-Ranger is standing29 in harangue30 attitude, slightly bent31 forward, his body propped32 by his rifle, the butt33 of which rests upon the ground. At his feet is the Indian, lying prostrate34, his ankles lashed35 together with a piece of cowhide rope, his wrists similarly secured.
“I ked catched him a leetle sooner,” says Walt to his comrade, coming up, “but I war kewrious to find out what he war arter, an’ waited to watch him. That’s the explication o’ it.”
He points to a large bag lying near, with its contents half poured out—a varied36 collection of articles of bijouterie and virtu, resembling a cornucopia37; spilling its fruits. Hamersley recognises them as part of the penates of his late host.
“Stolen goods,” continues Walt, “that’s what they air. An’ stole from a master he’s basely betrayed, may be to death. A mistress, besides, that’s been too kind to him. Darnation! that’s a tortiss-shell comb as belonged to my Concheeter, an’ a pair o’ slippers38 I ken swar wur here. What shed we do to him?”
“What I intended,” responds Hamersley, assuming a curious air; “first make him confess—tell all he knows. When we’ve got his story out of him we can settle that next.”
The confession39 is not very difficult to extract. With Wilder’s bowie-knife gleaming before his eyes, its blade within six inches of his breast, the wretch40 reveals all that has passed since the moment of his first meditating41 treason. He even makes declaration of the motive42, knowing the nobility of the men who threatened him, and thinking by this means to obtain pardon.
To strengthen his chances he goes still farther, turning traitor43 against him to whom he had sold himself—Uraga. He has overheard a conversation between the Mexican colonel and his adjutant, Lieutenant44 Roblez. It was to the effect that they do not intend taking their prisoners all the way back to Albuquerque. How they mean to dispose of them the peon does not know.
He had but half heard the dialogue relating to Don Valerian and the doctor.
The female prisoners! Can he tell anything of what is intended with them? Though not in these terms, the question is asked with this earnestness.
The peon is unable to answer it. He does not think they are prisoners—certainly not Conchita. She is only being taken back along with her mistress. About the senorita, his mistress, he heard some words pass between Uraga and Roblez, but without comprehending their signification.
In his own heart Hamersley can supply it—does so with dark, dire misgivings45.
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1
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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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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ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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8
obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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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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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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grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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14
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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15
ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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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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17
meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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ascends
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的第三人称单数 ) | |
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hoarser
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| （指声音）粗哑的，嘶哑的( hoarse的比较级 ) | |
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24
cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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25
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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26
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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tableau
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| n.画面，活人画（舞台上活人扮的静态画面） | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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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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harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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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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propped
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| 支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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35
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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cornucopia
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| n.象征丰收的羊角 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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40
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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41
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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44
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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45
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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