“We’re in for it now,” said Raoul, deeply mortified2 at the part he had taken in the affair with the curé. “It’s a wonder they have kept us so long. Perhaps he’s not here himself, and they’re waiting for him.”
As Raoul said this the clatter3 of hoofs4 sounded along the narrow road; and a horseman came galloping5 up to the rancho, riding over everything and everybody with a perfect recklessness.
“That’s Jarauta,” whispered Raoul. “If he sees me—but it don’t matter much,” he added, in a lower tone: “we’ll have a quick shrift all the same: he can’t more than hang—and that he’ll be sure to do.”
“Where are these Yankees?” cried Jarauta, leaping out of his saddle.
“Here, Captain,” answered one of the Jarochos, a hideous-looking griffe (Note 1) dressed in a scarlet6 uniform, and apparently7 the lieutenant8 of the band.
“How many?”
“Four, Captain.”
“Very well—what are you waiting for?”
“To know whether I shall hang or shoot them.”
“Shoot them, by all means! Carambo! we have no time for neck-stretching!”
“There are some nice trees here, Captain,” suggested another of the band, with as much coolness as if he had been conversing9 about the hanging of so many dogs. He wished—a curiosity not uncommon—to witness the spectacle of hanging.
“Madre de Dios! stupid! I tell you we haven’t time for such silly sport. Out with you there! Sanchez! Gabriel! Carlos! send your bullets through their Saxon skulls10! Quick!”
Several of the Jarochos commenced unslinging their carbines, while those who guarded us fell back, to be out of range of the lead.
“Come,” exclaimed Raoul, “it can’t be worse than this—we can only die; and I’ll let the padre know whom he has got before I take leave of him. I’ll give him a souvenir that won’t make him sleep any sounder to-night. Oyez, Padré Jarauta!” continued he, calling out in a tone of irony11; “have you found Marguerita yet?”
We could see between us and the dim rushlight that the Jarocho started, as if a shot had passed through his heart.
“Hold!” he shouted to the men, who were about taking aim; “drag those scoundrels hither! A light there!—fire the thatch12! Vaya!”
In a moment the hut of the contrabandista was in flames, the dry palm-leaves blazing up like flax.
“Merciful Heaven! they are going to roast us!”
With this horrible apprehension13, we were dragged up towards the burning pile, close to which stood our fierce judge and executioner.
The bamboos blazed and crackled, and under their red glare we could now see our captors with a terrible distinctness. A more demon-like set, I think, could not have been found anywhere out of the infernal regions.
Most of them were zamboes and mestizoes, and not a few pure Africans of the blackest hue14, maroons15 from Cuba and the Antilles, many of them with their fronts and cheeks tattooed16, adding to the natural ferocity of their features. Their coarse woolly hair sticking out in matted tufts, their white teeth set in savage17 grins, their strange armour18 and grotesque19 attitudes, their wild and picturesque20 attire21, formed a coup22 d’oeil that might have pleased a painter in his studio, but which at the time had no charm for us.
There were Pintoes among them, too—spotted men from the tangled23 forests of Acapulco—pied and speckled with blotches24 of red, and black, and white, like hounds and horses. They were the first of this race I had ever seen, and their unnatural25 complexions26, even at that fearful moment, impressed me with feelings of disgust and loathing27.
A single glance at this motley crew would have convinced us, had we not been quite sure of it already, that we had no favour to expect. There was not a countenance28 among them that exhibited the slightest trait of grace or mercy. No such expression could be seen around us, and we felt satisfied that our time had come.
The appearance of their leader did not shake this conviction. Revenge and hatred29 were playing upon his sharp sallow features, and his thin lips quivered with an expression of malice30, plainly habitual31. His nose, like a parrot’s beak32, had been broken by a blow, which added to its sinister33 shape; and his small black eyes twinkled with metallic34 brightness.
He wore a purplish-coloured manga, that covered his whole body, and his feet were cased in the red leather boots of the country, with heavy silver spurs strapped35 over them. A black sombrero, with its band of gold bullion36 and tags of the same material, completed the tout37 ensemble38 of his costume. He wore neither beard nor moustache; but his hair, black and snaky, hung down trailing over the velvet39 embroidery40 of his manga. (See Note 2).
Such was the Padré Jarauta.
Raoul’s face was before him, upon which he looked for some moments without speaking. His features twitched41 as if under galvanic action, and we could see that his fingers jerked in a similar manner.
They were painful memories that could produce this effect upon a heart of such iron devilry, and Raoul alone knew them. The latter seemed to enjoy the interlude; for he lay upon the ground, looking up at the Jarocho with a smile of triumph upon his reckless features.
We were expecting the next speech of the padre to be an order for flinging us into the fire, which now burned fiercely. Fortunately, this fancy did not seem to strike him just then.
“Ha, monsieur!” exclaimed he at length, approaching Raoul. “I dreamt that you and I would meet again; I dreamt it—ha! ha! ha!—it was a pleasant dream, but not half so pleasant as the reality—ha! ha! ha! Don’t you think so?” he added, striking our comrade over the face with a mule42 quirt. “Don’t you think so?” he repeated, lashing43 him as before, while his eyes sparkled with a fiendish malignity44.
“Did you dream of meeting Marguerita again?” inquired Raoul, with a satirical laugh, that sounded strange, even fearful, under the circumstances.
I shall never forget the expression of the Jarocho at that moment. His sallow face turned black, his lips white, his eyes burned like a demon’s, and, springing forward with a fierce oath, he planted his iron-shod heel upon the face of our comrade. The skin peeled off, and the blood followed.
There was something so cowardly—so redolent of a brutal45 ferocity—in the act, that I could not remain quiet. With a desperate wrench46 I freed my hands, skinning my wrists in the effort, and, flinging myself upon him, I clutched at the monster’s throat.
He stepped back; my ankles were tied, and I fell upon my face at his feet.
“Ho! ho!” cried he, “what have we here? An officer, eh? Come!” he continued, “rise up from your prayers and let me look at you. Ha! a captain? And this?—a lieutenant! Gentlemen, you’re too dainty to be shot like common dogs; we’ll not let the wolves have you; we’ll put you out of their reach; ha! ha! ha! Out of reach of wolves, do you hear! And what’s this?” continued he, turning to Chane and examining his shoulders.
“Bah! soldado raso—Irlandes, carajo!” (A common soldier—an Irishman, too!) “What do you do fighting among these heretics against your own religion? There, renegade!” and he kicked the Irishman in the ribs47.
“Thank yer honner!” said Chane, with a grunt48, “small fayvours thankfully received; much good may it do yer honner!”
“Here, Lopez!” shouted the brigand49.
“Now for the fire!” thought we.
“Lopez, I say!” continued he, calling louder.
“Aca, aca!” (here!) answered a voice, and the griffe who had guarded us came up, swinging his scarlet manga.
“Lopez, these I perceive are gentlemen of rank, and we must send them out of the world a little more gracefully50, do you hear?”
“Yes, Captain,” answered the other, with stoical composure.
“Over the cliffs, Lopez. Facilis descensus Averni—but you don’t understand Latin, Lopez. Over the cliffs, do you hear? You understand that?”
“Yes, Captain,” repeated the Jarocho, moving only his lips.
“You will have them at the Eagle’s Cave by six in the morning; by six, do you hear?”
“Yes, Captain,” again replied the subordinate.
“And if any of them is missing—is missing, do you hear?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“You will take his place in the dance—the dance—ha! ha! ha! You understand that, Lopez?”
“Yes, Captain.”
“Enough then, good Lopez—handsome Lopez! beautiful Lopez!—enough, and good-night to you!”
So saying, the Jarocho drew his quirt several times across the red cheek of Raoul, and with a curse upon his lips he leaped upon his mustang and galloped51 off.
Whatever might be the nature of the punishment that awaited us at the Eagle’s Cave, it was evident that Lopez had no intention of becoming proxy52 in it for any of us. This was plain from the manner in which he set about securing us. We were first gagged with bayonet-shanks, and then dragged out into the bushes.
Here we were thrown upon our backs, each of us in the centre of four trees that formed a parallelogram. Our arms and legs were stretched to their full extent, and tied severally to the trees; and thus we lay, spread out like raw hides to dry. Our savage captors drew the cords so taut53 that our joints54 cracked under the cruel tension. In this painful position, with a Jarocho standing55 over each of us, we passed the remainder of the night.
Note 1. Griffe, a cross-breed between a negro and a Carib.
Note 2. Manga, a jacket with loose sleeves.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
mortified
|
|
| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
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： |
|
|
|
|
5
galloping
|
|
| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
scarlet
|
|
| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
conversing
|
|
| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
skulls
|
|
| 颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
irony
|
|
| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
thatch
|
|
| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
maroons
|
|
| n.逃亡黑奴（maroon的复数形式）vt.把…放逐到孤岛（maroon的第三人称单数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
tattooed
|
|
| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
armour
|
|
| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
grotesque
|
|
| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
attire
|
|
| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
coup
|
|
| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
tangled
|
|
| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
blotches
|
|
| n.（皮肤上的）红斑，疹块( blotch的名词复数 )；大滴 [大片]（墨水或颜色的）污渍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
complexions
|
|
| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
loathing
|
|
| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
malice
|
|
| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
habitual
|
|
| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
beak
|
|
| n.鸟嘴，茶壶嘴，钩形鼻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
metallic
|
|
| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
strapped
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
bullion
|
|
| n.金条，银条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
tout
|
|
| v.推销，招徕；兜售；吹捧，劝诱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
ensemble
|
|
| n.合奏(唱)组；全套服装；整体，总效果 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
embroidery
|
|
| n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
mule
|
|
| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
lashing
|
|
| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
malignity
|
|
| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
brutal
|
|
| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
wrench
|
|
| v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
ribs
|
|
| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
grunt
|
|
| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
brigand
|
|
| n.土匪，强盗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
gracefully
|
|
| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
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： |
|
|
|
|
52
proxy
|
|
| n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
taut
|
|
| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
joints
|
|
| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |