“Are they alone? Are they prisoners in the hands of these half-robbers? May not their hospitality to us have brought them under proscription1? And are they not being carried—father, mother, and all—before some tribunal? Or are they travelling for protection with this band—protection against the less scrupulous2 robbers that infest3 the country?”
It was not uncommon4 upon the Rio Grande, when rich families journeyed from point to point, to pay for an escort of this sort. This may elucidate—.
“But I tell yez I did hear a crack; and, be my sowl! it was the sargint’s rifle, or I’ve lost me sinses intirely.”
“What is it?” I asked, attracted to the conversation of my comrades.
“Chane says he heard a shot, and thinks it was Lincoln’s,” answered Clayley.
“His gun has a quare sound, Captain,” said the Irishman, appealing to me. “It’s diffirint intirely from a Mexican piece, and not like our own nayther. It’s a way he has in loadin’ it.”
“Well—what of that?”
“Why, Raowl says one of them axed him who fired. Now, I heerd a shot, for my ear was close till the door here. It was beyant like; but I cud swear upon the blissed crass5 it was ayther the sargint’s rifle or another as like it as two pays.”
“It is very strange!” I muttered, half in soliloquy, for the same thought had occurred to myself.
“I saw the boy, Captain,” said Raoul; “I saw him crossing when they opened the door.”
“The boy!—what boy?” I asked.
“The same we brought out of the town.”
“Ha! Narcisso!—you saw him?”
“Yes; and, if I’m not mistaken, the white mule6 that the old gentleman rode to camp. I think that the family is with the guerilla, and that accounts for our being still alive.”
A new light flashed upon me. In the incidents of the last twenty hours I had never once thought of Narcisso. Now all was clear—clear as daylight. The zambo whom Lincoln had killed—poor victim!—was our friend, sent to warn us of danger; the dagger7, Narcisso’s—a token for us to trust him. The soft voice—the small hand thrust under the tapojo—yes, all were Narcisso’s!
A web of mystery was torn to shreds8 in a single moment. The truth did not yield gratification. No—but the contrary. I was chagrined9 at the indifference10 exhibited in another quarter.
“She must know that I am here, since her brother is master of the fact—here, bleeding and bound. Yet where is her sympathy? She sleeps! She journeys within a few paces of me, where I am tied painfully; yet not a word of consolation11. No! She is riding upon her soft cushion, or carried upon a litera, escorted, perhaps, by this accomplished12 villain13, who plays the gallant14 cavalier upon my own barb15! They converse16 together, perhaps of the poor captives in their train, and with jest and ridicule—he at least; and she can hear it, and then fling herself into her soft hammock and sleep—sleep sweetly—calmly?”
These bitter reflections were interrupted. The door creaked once more upon its hinges. Half a dozen of our captors entered. Our blinds were put on, and we were carried out and mounted as before.
In a few minutes a bugle17 rang out, and the route was resumed.
We were carried up the stream bottom—a kind of glen, or Cañada. We could feel by the cool shade and the echoes that we were travelling under heavy timber. The torrent18 roared in our ears, and the sound was not unpleasant. Twice or thrice we forded the stream, and sometimes left it, returning after having travelled a mile or so. This was to avoid the cañons, where there is no path by the water. We then ascended19 a long hill, and after reaching its summit commenced going downwards20.
“I know this road well,” said Raoul. “We are going down to the hacienda of Cenobio.”
“Pardieu!” he continued. “I ought to know this hill!”
“For what reason?”
“First, Captain, because I have carried many a bulto of cochineal and many a bale of smuggled21 tobacco over it; ay, and upon nights when my eyes were of as little service to me as they are at present.”
“I thought that you contrabandistas hardly needed the precaution of dark nights?”
“True, at times; but there were other times when the Government became lynx-eyed, and then smuggling22 was no joke. We had some sharp skirmishing. Sacre! I have good cause to remember this very hill. I came near making a jump into purgatory23 from the other side of it.”
“Ha! how was that?”
“Cenobio had got a large lot of cochineal from a crafty24 trader at Oaxaca. It was cachéd about two leagues from the hacienda in the hills, and a vessel25 was to drop into the mouth of the Medellin to take it on board.
“A party of us were engaged to carry it across to the coast; and, as the cargo26 was very valuable, we were all of us armed to the teeth, with orders from the patrone to defend it at all hazards. His men were just the fellows who would obey that order, coming, as it did, from Cenobio.
“The Government somehow or other got wind of the affair, and slipped a strong detachment out of Vera Cruz in time to intercept27 us. We met them on the other side of this very hill, where a road strikes off towards Medellin.”
“Well! and what followed?”
“Why, the battle lasted nearly an hour; and, after having lost half a score of their best men, the valiant28 lancers rode back to Vera Cruz quicker than they came out of it.”
“And the smugglers?”
“Carried the goods safe on board. Three of them—poor fellows!—are lying not far off, and I came near sharing their luck. I have a lance-hole through my thigh29, here, that pains me at this very moment.”
My ear at this moment caught the sound of dogs barking hoarsely30 below. Horses of the cavalcade31 commenced neighing, answered by others from the adjacent fields, who recognised their old companions.
“It must be near night,” I remarked to Raoul.
“I think, about sunset, Captain,” rejoined he. “It feels about that time.”
I could not help smiling. There was something ludicrous in my comrade’s remark about “feeling” the sunset.
The barking of the dogs now ceased, and we could hear voices ahead welcoming the guerilleros.
The hoofs32 of our mules33 struck upon a hard pavement, and the sounds echoed as if under an arched way.
Our animals were presently halted, and we were unpacked34 and flung rudely down upon rough stones, like so many bundles of merchandise.
We lay for some minutes listening to the strange voices around. The neighing of horses, the barking and growling35 of dogs, the lowing of cattle, the shouts of the arrieros unpacking36 their mules, the clanking of sabres along the stone pavement, the tinkling37 of spurs, the laughter of men, and the voices of women—all were in our ears at once.
Two men approached us, conversing38.
“They are of the party that escaped us at La Virgen. Two of them are officers.”
“Chingaro! I got this at La Virgen, and a full half-mile off. ’Twas some black jugglery39 in their bullets. I hope the patrone will hang the Yankee savages40.”
“Quien sabe?” (Who knows?) replied the first speaker. “Pinzon has been taken this morning at Puenta Moreno, with several others. They had a fandango with the Yankee dragoons. You know what the old man thinks of Pinzon. He’d sooner part with his wife.”
“You think he will exchange them, then?”
“It is not unlikely.”
“And yet he wouldn’t trouble much if you or I had been taken. No—no; he’d let us be hanged like dogs!”
“Well; that’s always the way, you know.”
“I begin to get tired of him. By the Virgin41! José, I’ve half a mind to slip off and join the Padré.”
“Jarauta?”
“Yes; he’s by the Bridge, with a brave set of Jarochos—some of our old comrades upon the Rio Grande among them. They are living at free quarters along the road, and having gay times of it, I hear. If Jarauta had taken these Yankees yesterday, the zopiloté would have made his dinner upon them to-day.”
“That’s true,” rejoined the other; “but come—let us un-blind the devils and give them their beans. It may be the last they’ll ever eat.”
With this consoling remark, José commenced unbuckling our tapojos, and we once more looked upon the light. The brilliance42 at first dazzled us painfully, and it was some minutes before we could look steadily43 at the objects around us.
We had been thrown upon the pavement in the corner of the patio44—a large court, surrounded by massive walls and flat-roofed houses.
These buildings were low, single-storied, except the range in front, which contained the principal dwellings45. The remaining three sides were occupied by stables, granaries, and quarters for the guerilleros and servants. A portale extended along the front range, and large vases, with shrubs46 and flowers, ornamented47 the balustrade. The portale was screened from the sun by curtains of bright-coloured cloth. These were partially48 drawn49, and objects of elegant furniture appeared within.
Near the centre of the patio was a large fountain, boiling up into a reservoir of hewn mason-work; and around this fountain were clumps50 of orange-trees, their leaves in some places dropping down into the water. Various arms hung or leaned against the walls—guns, pistols, and sabres—and two small pieces of cannon51, with their caissons and carriages, stood in a prominent position. In these we recognised our old acquaintances of La Virgen.
A long trough stretched across the patio, and out of this a double row of mules and mustangs were greedily eating maize52. The saddle-tracks upon their steaming sides showed them to be the companions of our late wearisome journey.
Huge dogs lay basking53 upon the hot stones, growling at intervals54 as someone galloped55 in through the great doorway56. Their broad jaws57 and tawny58 hides bespoke59 the Spanish bloodhound—the descendants of that race with which Cortez had harried60 the conquered Aztecs.
The guerilleros were seated or standing61 in groups around the fires, broiling62 jerked beef upon the points of their sabres. Some mended their saddles, or were wiping out an old carbine or a clumsy escopette. Some strutted63 around the yard, swinging their bright mangas, or trailing after them the picturesque64 serape. Women in rebozos and coloured skirts walked to and fro among the men.
The women carried jars filled with water. They knelt before smooth stones, and kneaded tortillas. They stirred chilé and chocolate in earthen ollas. They cooked frijoles in flat pans; and amidst all these occupations they joked and laughed and chatted with the men.
Several men—officers, from their style of dress—came out of the portale, and, after delivering orders to the guerilleros on guard, returned to the house.
Packages of what appeared to be merchandise lay in one corner of the court. Around this were groups of arrieros, in their red leathern garments, securing their charge for the night, and laying out their alparejas in long rows by the wall.
Over the opposite roofs—for our position was elevated—we could see the bright fields and forest, and far beyond, the Cofre de Perote and the undulating outlines of the Andes. Above all, the white-robed peak of Orizava rose up against the heavens like a pyramid of spotless snow.
The sun had gone down behind the mountains, but his rays still rested upon Orizava, bathing its cone65 with a yellow light, like a mantle66 of burnished67 gold. Clouds of red and white and purple hung like a glory upon his track, and, descending68, rested upon the lower summits of the Cordillera. The peak of the “Burning Star” alone appeared above the clouds, towering in sublime69 and solitary70 grandeur71.
There was a picturesque loveliness about the scene—an idea of sublimity—that caused me for the moment to forget where I was or that I was a captive. My dream was dispelled72 by the harsh voice of José, who at that moment came up with a couple of peons, carrying a large earthen dish that contained our supper.
This consisted of black beans, with half a dozen tortillas; but as we were all half-famished we did not offer any criticism on the quality of the viands73. The dish was placed in our midst, and our arms were untied74 for the first time since our capture. There were neither knives, forks, nor spoons; but Raoul showed us the Mexican fashion of “eating our spoons”, and, twisting up the tortillas, we scooped75 and swallowed “right ahead.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
proscription
|
|
| n.禁止，剥夺权利 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
scrupulous
|
|
| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
infest
|
|
| v.大批出没于；侵扰；寄生于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
uncommon
|
|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
crass
|
|
| adj.愚钝的，粗糙的；彻底的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
mule
|
|
| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
shreds
|
|
| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
chagrined
|
|
| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
consolation
|
|
| n.安慰，慰问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
villain
|
|
| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
barb
|
|
| n.（鱼钩等的）倒钩，倒刺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
converse
|
|
| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
bugle
|
|
| n.军号，号角，喇叭；v.吹号，吹号召集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
downwards
|
|
| adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
smuggled
|
|
| 水货 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
smuggling
|
|
| n.走私 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
purgatory
|
|
| n.炼狱；苦难；adj.净化的，清洗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
crafty
|
|
| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
vessel
|
|
| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
cargo
|
|
| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
intercept
|
|
| vt.拦截，截住，截击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
valiant
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
thigh
|
|
| n.大腿；股骨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
hoarsely
|
|
| adv.嘶哑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
cavalcade
|
|
| n.车队等的行列 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
hoofs
|
|
| 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 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
mules
|
|
| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
unpacked
|
|
| v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的过去式和过去分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
growling
|
|
| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
unpacking
|
|
| n.取出货物，拆包[箱]v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的现在分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
tinkling
|
|
| n.丁当作响声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
conversing
|
|
| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
jugglery
|
|
| n.杂耍，把戏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
virgin
|
|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
brilliance
|
|
| n.光辉，辉煌，壮丽，（卓越的）才华，才智 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
patio
|
|
| n.庭院，平台 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
dwellings
|
|
| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
shrubs
|
|
| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
ornamented
|
|
| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
clumps
|
|
| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
maize
|
|
| n.玉米 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
basking
|
|
| v.晒太阳，取暖( bask的现在分词 )；对…感到乐趣；因他人的功绩而出名；仰仗…的余泽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
tawny
|
|
| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
bespoke
|
|
| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
harried
|
|
| v.使苦恼( harry的过去式和过去分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
broiling
|
|
| adj.酷热的，炽热的，似烧的v.（用火）烤（焙、炙等）( broil的现在分词 )；使卷入争吵；使混乱；被烤（或炙） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
strutted
|
|
| 趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
cone
|
|
| n.圆锥体，圆锥形东西，球果 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
burnished
|
|
| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
grandeur
|
|
| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
dispelled
|
|
| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
viands
|
|
| n.食品，食物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
untied
|
|
| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
scooped
|
|
| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |