That expectation, however, was a vain one. Poor lads! they little thought what was before them. Their nerves were to be tried still farther, and by as severe a test as they had yet endured. The wolves howled fearfully around the camp, and their eyes still shone through the gloom. But this would not have kept the boys from sleeping, had their attention not been called to another sound—the voice of a far different creature. They heard it amidst the howlings of the wolves, and knew it at once, for it resembled not these. It was more like the squalling of an angry cat, but far louder, fiercer, and more terrible. It was the scream of the cougar1!
I say that the young hunters recognised the voice of this animal at once—for they had heard it while hunting in the forests of Louisiana, although they had never been exposed to its attack. From ample testimony2, however, they knew its power and fierce nature; and were, therefore, terrified by its scream—as men of strongest nerves had often been before them.
When its cry first reached their ears, it appeared feeble and distant—not louder than the mewing of a kitten. The animal was evidently far off in the forest. They knew, however, that it could soon traverse the ground that lay between it and their camp. They listened. A second scream sounded nearer. They sprang to their feet, and listened again. A third call appeared more distant. This, however, arose from a misconception on their part. They forgot that their ears were now farther from the ground.
They stood a moment gazing on each other with looks of terror and apprehension3. What was to be done?
“Shall we mount our horses and fly?” asked Basil.
“We know not what way to go,” suggested Lucien. “We may ride right into its teeth!”
This was likely enough; for it is a singular fact that the scream of the cougar, like the roar of the lion, seems to come from any or every side. It is difficult to tell in what direction the animal is who utters it. Whether this illusion be produced by the terror of the listener is a question yet unsolved.
“What can we do?” said Basil. “Taking to a tree is of no use. These animals can climb like squirrels. What can we do?”
Lucien stood silent, as if considering.
“I have read,” said he, at length, “that the cougar will not cross fire. It is the case with most animals, although there are exceptions. Let us try that. Hush4! Listen!”
All three remained silent. Again the cougar uttered his wild note, still far off.
“You hear,” continued Lucien; “he is distant yet. Perhaps he is not coming this way. It is best, however, to be prepared while we have time. Let us try the circle of fire!”
Both Basil and François understood what their brother meant. All three flung down their rifles and, rushing among the trees, collected dry wood in armfuls. Fortunately, this was in abundance near the spot. Some dead trees had fallen long ago; and their branches, breaking into pieces as they fell, covered the ground with numerous fragments just fit for firewood. In the large pile already blazing, there was no lack of kindling5 stuff; and in a few minutes a complete circle of fires, almost touching6 one another, burnt upon the ground.
The boys had lost no time, working as if for their lives. It was well they did so; for the voice of the cougar, that they had heard at intervals7, each time growing louder, now echoed through the aisles8 of the forest, drowning all other sounds. Strange to say, the howling of the wolves suddenly ceased, and these creatures were no longer to be heard. But there were other sounds audible—the stamping and snorting of the terrified horses. The young hunters, up to this time, had not thought of the safety of these poor animals. It was now too late to relieve them—the cougar was within a hundred yards of the camp!
All three, along with Marengo, placed themselves within the circle of fire. Fortunately, there was no wind—not a breath—and the smoke rose vertically9 upward, leaving them a breathing space within. There they stood, guns in hand. Around them the fires blazed and crackled; but above the snapping of the knots, and the hiss10 of the spurting11 piping tree gas, could be heard the wild cry of the cougar! It now became evident on what side the animal was; for, as the young hunters peered through the smoke and blaze, they could distinguish the yellow cat-like body, moving to and fro under the hanging meat. The rounded head, the long hollow back, the smooth tawny12 skin, were not to be mistaken. As if to add to their terrible situation, the boys now saw that not one, but a pair, of these fearful creatures were upon the ground, moving backward and forward, passing each other, and looking eagerly up at the meat where it hung.
It now occurred to the hunters what an oversight13 they had made, in not cutting down the meat. Had they done so, the cougars14 would no doubt have devoured15 it, and moved off after satisfying their hunger. Alas16! it was too late for such a thought.
For several minutes the animals continued to walk backward and forward, eagerly eyeing the tempting17 object above them. Several times they sprang up, as if to seize it; but their efforts fell far short, and they desisted. One of them now ran up the tree, to which the lasso was fastened. His claws could be heard rattling18 upon the bark as he sprang upward. He first climbed to the branch over which the bear-meat hung. This he shook with violence, looking downward, to see if the suspended object would fall. Disappointed, he left this after a time, and came down to the other branch, where the lasso was tied in a knot. Here he again seized the rope in his claws, and shook it with violence, but with a like result. Although he had the advantage of the wolves in being able to climb the tree, he had not their cunning, else he would soon have let the meat down, by cutting the rope with his teeth. This idea, however, belonged to a higher development of brain than his; and, after seizing the lasso several times, and shaking it as before, he returned to the ground to his mate, who had sat all the while watching his manoeuvres.
These efforts to reach the meat occupied nearly an hour. During all that time the boys stood within the circle of fire, in the most distressing19 situation. They were half-roasted by the heat, that had been all along increasing, as the black logs burned into red embers. They had made their circle too small; and they stood as in the midst of a fiery20 furnace!
The smoke had partially21 cleared away, and they could witness every movement of the cougars; but the terrible heat that oppressed them had almost conquered their fear of these animals; and little would now have tempted22 them to rush forth23 and battle with them. The perspiration24 ran from every pore, and their guns felt like bars of hot iron!
“I can stand it no longer,” cried Basil; “let us fire at them, rush out, and take our chance.”
“Patience, brother,” replied Lucien. “One moment longer. Perhaps they may go away.”
As Lucien spoke25, the cougars, who had now given up the bear’s meat, stealthily approached the fire. They crept forward like cats, when stealing upon their prey26. At intervals they uttered a strange sound, like the low cough of a person in consumption. They gave forth another sound, which fell equally strange upon the ears of the hunters. It resembled the purring of a cat when caressed27; but was much louder, and, in the forest, now silent, could be heard at a considerable distance. It was too plainly heard by those who were near. Both uttered it, as if to encourage one another in their approach; and they kept crawling on, waving their tails as they advanced. When within a few feet of the fire, they stopped, and laid themselves almost flat along the ground—yet evidently prepared to spring forward at any moment. It was a terrible sight to look upon these fierce creatures as they lay. The light of the great fire made every part of them fearfully apparent. Their claws, their teeth, half uncovered, and even the bright irides of their shining eyes were seen distinctly. But they looked not half so fearful as at first. The young hunters now contemplated28 them from a different point of view. They were suffering where they stood, so fearfully, that there seemed no danger beyond that hot circle of fire—not even from the claws of a cougar!
“I shall stand it no longer,” cried Basil. “We’ll be roasted outright29. You, brothers, take that one, I’ll aim at this—so—now—fear not—fire!”
As Basil ceased speaking, the three cracks sounded almost together; and, as soon as they had fired, all three leaped out of the blazing cordon30. Whether Lucien and François had missed their aim was not known until afterwards; but Basil had not missed his. He had wounded the cougar; and scarcely had the young hunters got clear of the fiery circle, when the infuriated animal sprang into it, and was seen, now upon its feet, and now rolling over the ground in the throes of death. Marengo attacked it; but both got among the red cinders31, and the dog was fain to make his escape out again. The cougar, left to itself, soon ceased its struggles, and lay upon the ground, to all appearance, dead.
But what of the other?
As all three stood listening, the snorting and stamping of horses fell upon their ears, and above all was heard the squealing32 of the mule33 Jeanette! This lasted for a few minutes, and at length all was silent as before.
“Poor Jeanette!” thought they. “The other has made a meal of her. Well—we must do without her, that’s all.”
They kept watch until daybreak, still fearful that the cougar might come back for its mate. The rain had now begun to fall, and poured down in torrents34, drowning out their fires. They did not attempt to rekindle35 them; but stood, with their blankets around their shoulders, sheltering themselves as they best could under the trees.
When the daylight came, what was their surprise as well as joy to see Jeanette quietly browsing36 at the end of her trail-rope, and close by her the body of the cougar lying dead upon the ground! It had been wounded by the shots; but that, as they soon ascertained37, was not the cause of its death, for its body was crushed and its ribs38 broken! For some time they could not understand this. At length, however, it was explained to them. The situation in which the animal was found enabled them to clear up the mystery. It was lying by the foot of a large tree, against which, no doubt, it had got the squeeze that had killed it. While retreating it had sprung upon Jeanette; and the latter, in her endeavours to escape, had in the darkness rushed violently against the tree, crushing the cougar, and killing39 it instantly!
The fierce brute40 had left the trace of its claws upon Jeanette’s back and withers41; and a deep gash42 under her throat showed where its teeth had been buried. It was fortunate for the mule she had rushed against the tree, else the cougar would have held on until he had drunk the life-blood from her veins—as this is the mode by which these animals put their prey to death.
It was now morning, but the young hunters having been awake nearly all the night, were weary and could have gone to rest. This, however, they did not think prudent43. They believed they had got themselves into a part of the forest where there were many dangerous creatures, and they came to the determination to shift their camp, and travel as far from the spot as possible before night. The truth is, they were upon a timbered stream—an affluent44 of the Trinity river; and as the latter was at this season overflowed45, all the wild animals—bears, cougars, wolves, lynxes, and javalies—had been driven out of the low bottoms, and were roaming through the adjacent woods, more hungry and fierce than they commonly are.
Having saddled their horses, and packed Jeanette with their robes, blankets, and meat, our adventurers again took the route westward46. After proceeding47 a few miles they issued from the woods, and struck out into the open prairie.
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收听单词发音
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1
cougar
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| n.美洲狮；美洲豹 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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intervals
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| 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 | |
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aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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vertically
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| adv.垂直地 | |
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hiss
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| v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满 | |
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spurting
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的现在分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺； 溅射 | |
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tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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oversight
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| n.勘漏，失察，疏忽 | |
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cougars
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| n.美洲狮( cougar的名词复数 ) | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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rattling
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| adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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cordon
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| n.警戒线，哨兵线 | |
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cinders
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| n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道 | |
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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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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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rekindle
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| v.使再振作；再点火 | |
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36
browsing
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| v.吃草( browse的现在分词 )；随意翻阅；（在商店里）随便看看；（在计算机上）浏览信息 | |
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37
ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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41
withers
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| 马肩隆 | |
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42
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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43
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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affluent
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| adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的 | |
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45
overflowed
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| 溢出的 | |
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westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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