Next morning they were astir at an early hour; and, after giving the remains1 of the gobbler a hurried “devilling,” they ate them, and rode off on the back trail. They did not put the dog upon it to guide them—as the scent2 was now cold, and they feared that Marengo, keen as he was, might get astray upon it. They trusted to find it from their own tracks, and the “blazes” they had made. It was a slow process, and they were obliged to make frequent halts; but it was a sure one, and they preferred it on that account, as they knew the importance of getting back to Jeanette. The tent, with all their provisions and implements3, was in her keeping.
They were in high spirits—as most people are who have just escaped from a perilous4 adventure—and joked each other as they rode along. Lucien was without a shirt—for Marengo had torn it, and it was now draggled, wet, and worthless. This was a staple5 joke for François. Jeanette came in for a share of their badinage6, as Lucien now remembered that he had tied her head within a foot of the tree, and of course she would be all this time without eating a morsel7. Moreover, in their hurry, the pack had been left upon her back; and that was not likely to improve her temper.
It was near mid-day when they came within sight of her.
“Hilloa!” exclaimed François, who first caught a glimpse of her round a point of timber. “What’s going on yonder?”
All three halted, and looked across the plain with astonishment8 depicted9 in their faces; and no wonder, for a sight it was to astonish anybody. It was Jeanette, to be sure; but Jeanette in most singular attitudes. Her heels were flying in the air—now her fore-feet, now her hind10 ones—not in single flings, but in constant and rapid kicking. Sometimes the whole set appeared to bounce up at once; and the white canvas of the tent, which had got loosened, was flapping up and down, as her body rose and fell.
The boys looked on for a moment, with feelings of curiosity, not unmingled with fear. “It might be Indians,” thought they.
“No,” said Basil. “It is wolves—she is attacked by wolves! Let us hasten to her rescue!”
All three spurred their horses into a gallop11, and soon got within a few hundred yards. They could now see the ground by the mule12’s feet, which was covered, not with wolves, but with animals of a far different species. They were hog13-shaped, with small, dark bodies, and long pointed14 snouts. They had no tails—only knobs in their place; and their tapering15 snouts opened into a pair of long jaws16, with white tusks17, that could be seen even in the distance.
“Javalies!” cried Lucien, who, although he had never seen the animal, knew them from description. Javalies they were in fact—the wild-hogs of Mexico.
All three had pulled up, as soon as they saw the animals were not wolves. They did not halt long, for Jeanette was in danger. She was still kicking and squealing18 like a cat; while the javalies, although several of them lay stretched behind her heels, were uttering their shrill19 grunts20, and rushing at her shanks whenever these rested for a moment upon the earth. There were more than a hundred of them around her feet. The ground was literally21 covered with their dark forms, crowding each other, and springing nimbly about.
Without waiting to consider the danger, Basil dashed into their midst, followed by François and Lucien. It was well they were mounted, else they never would have come out of that crowd again. All three had fired as they rode up. They believed that this would have scattered22 the drove; but they found their mistake, for although each of them shot down a victim, it had no effect; and the next moment, their three horses were hopping23 about, plunging24 and pitching as badly as Jeanette. The javalies surrounded them with shrill gruntings, driving their tusks into the horses’ shanks, and leaping up almost high enough to reach the riders themselves. It was well for them they were good riders. Had any of them been unhorsed at that moment, his fate would have been sealed. They kept their saddles, however, but without being able to reload their pieces. Marengo, who was an old Texas hound, had seen javalies before; and having wisely shied off upon the prairie, stood looking on.
The young hunters soon saw that it was no use keeping their ground, and prepared to retreat. Basil urged his horse forward to the tree, and with his hunting-knife cut the lasso that fastened Jeanette; then, shouting to his brothers to follow, started in a gallop across the prairie.
Perhaps never was a mule more pleased at getting loose from a fastening than was that she-mule Jeanette; and never did a mule make better use of the heels that had been left her. She galloped26 over the prairie, as if the very deuce had been after her. But if he was not, the javalies were; for on came the whole drove, scores of them, grunting25 and screaming as they ran.
The horses easily distanced them. So, too, did Marengo—but there was still danger for Jeanette. She had been now nearly two days without either food or water, and was weak in consequence. Her legs, too, were much torn by the tusks of the wild-hogs. Moreover, the tent that had got loose, trailing on one side to the ground, considerably27 impeded28 her flight. This last circumstance in the end proved her salvation29; for the javalies, overtaking her, seized the hanging canvas in their jaws, and pulled it from the pack. It fell spreading over the grass like a blanket; and the herd30, now coming up and mistaking it for their real enemy, commenced stamping upon it with their hoofs31, and tearing it with their teeth. This gave Jeanette time; and she was just the mule at that moment to profit by it. Lightened of her load, she struck out into a fleet gallop, and soon overtook the horses; and the whole cavalcade32 now kept on, until they had placed several miles between themselves and the javalies. Here they halted with the intention of pitching their camps, as their animals were not only wearied, but Jeanette was hardly able to travel at all. The process of “pitching camp” was now considerably simplified, as they had lost not only their tent, but several of their camp utensils33.
What had induced the javalies to attack the mule? This was the subject of conversation with our adventurers, as soon as they had fairly cooled from their race. They knew that these creatures rarely make an assault in such a manner without provocation34. But it was likely Jeanette had given them this. No doubt they had been wandering about in search of food, and lighted upon the turkeys, that Lucien and Basil in their haste had left lying upon the ground. The wild-hogs are not particular as to their food. They will eat fish, flesh, or fowl35, snakes, or vegetables; and, finding the brace36 of birds, had commenced devouring37 them. In doing so they had come within reach of Jeanette’s heels; who, at that moment not being in the best temper had no doubt let fly, and kicked one of them over, and this of course had led to a general onslaught from the whole herd.
It was well for Jeanette that her masters arrived when they did, else her old ribs38 would soon have cracked under the sharp tusks of the enraged39 animals.
The javalies, or peccaries—as they are more often termed by naturalists—are in general of a harmless disposition40; and, if not interfered41 with, will rarely make an attack upon man. When provoked, however—by one of their number being wounded, or even when their haunt is invaded—they become both fierce and dangerous. Though small creatures, they possess extreme courage; and their powerful jaws and large tusks render them formidable assailants. Like all animals of the hog species when enraged, they seem to be unconscious of danger; and a herd of them will battle with an enemy until every one has fallen. Not unfrequently the Mexican hunter is “treed” by javalies, and compelled to remain on his perch42 for hours, and sometimes for days, before his besiegers retire, and leave him to descend43 with safety.
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1
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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3
implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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staple
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| n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类 | |
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badinage
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| n.开玩笑，打趣 | |
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7
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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8
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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9
depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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10
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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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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12
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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13
hog
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| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
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14
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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15
tapering
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| adj.尖端细的 | |
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16
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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17
tusks
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| n.（象等动物的）长牙( tusk的名词复数 )；獠牙；尖形物；尖头 | |
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18
squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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19
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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20
grunts
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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grunting
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| 咕哝的，呼噜的 | |
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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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27
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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30
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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31
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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32
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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33
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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34
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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35
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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36
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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37
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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38
ribs
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| 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 | |
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39
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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40
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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41
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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42
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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43
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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