All this while, the dull roar of the rapids was in the explorer's ears, and he was eager to withdraw his attention from the beast and direct it upon the opposite shore, where he was convinced something unusual was going on.
The minute the beast disappeared, he looked across at the point that had so interested him.
The question which he had asked himself some time before, was answered by the sight of a small canoe that was stealing down the river, instead of heading directly across to where he was standing. In this boat was a single individual, using a paddle with the deftness4 of an American Indian.
Here was something that needed attention, and, with the aid of the brilliant moonlight. Ashman watched the craft and its occupant as closely as if his own fate were wrapped up in its movements—a supposition which it was not improbable was fact itself.
The savage5 moved slowly, as if sensible of the call for the utmost care, went only a few rods down stream, when he turned out in the water and aimed for the shore where the watcher was standing. He had gone some distance below, and it was to be supposed that the force of the current would carry him still farther, so that if he made a landing it was likely to be far below.
But he who held the paddle was a master of that species of navigation, and Ashman was surprised to observe that he was aiming at the very spot where he was standing carefully concealed6 in the shadow. If nothing interfered7, they were sure of making a closer acquaintance.
The boat was about the middle of the river, when the white man was struck by the immense size of the occupant. He was one of the largest men he had ever seen, his weight sinking the canoe almost to its gunwales.
"He must be the savage who hurled8 his javelin9 through our boat," was the conclusion of the astonished Fred. "What a magnificent fellow he is!"
The native sat so that his face was turned toward the young man, who studied his countenance10 with the deepest interest.
He had the busy head, the large protruding11 eyes, and the dark, naked skin of all his people. His enormous arms swung the paddle first on one side of the boat and then on the other. As he did so, Fred saw the play of the splendid muscle, which was like that of Hercules himself. Rash would be that antagonist12 who engaged him in a hand-to-hand struggle.
Nothing in the world was easier than for the explorer to extinguish the life in that impressive specimen13 of physical manhood, without the least risk to himself, and yet, although he knew him to be the most formidable enemy of his people, he held no thought of doing him harm—at least not at the present stage of his extraordinary business.
It was at this decidedly interesting juncture14 that a new element obtruded15 itself. The sounds of guns, shouts and yells, in the direction of the rapids left no doubt that his friends there were having a lively time with the natives.
Ashman would have turned and made all haste thither16, but for the presence of this burly giant in front. Whatever was going on down stream was with the full knowledge of him, and he was the one for the white man to look after.
Had the latter been surprised by the sounds of conflict, he would have ceased paddling or headed his boat up stream, but he merely glanced toward the rapids, and continued dipping his paddle and propelling his craft, as if it was his intention to step ashore17 and grasp the hand of the astonished youth awaiting his arrival.
The passage occupied but a very few minutes. Just before the bank was reached, he made one powerful sweep of the oar3, which sent the prow18 far up the shingle19, and then leaped as lightly as a cat from the structure, which bounded up as if relieved of several hundred pounds' weight.
Turning about, the giant stooped down and took a spear as long and heavy as the one he had hurled nearly across the Xingu, through the boat of the explorers.
It seemed that there was to be no end to the obtrusion20 of "side issues" upon the little drama going on under Fred Ashman's eyes. It must have been that the puma which had slaked21 its thirst at the Xingu's margin22 a short time before, had become convinced that parties were near, entitled to his attention.
While endeavoring to locate him, he probably caught sight of the approaching native and concluded that he was the individual to whom he should turn.
Be that as it may, the native had only time to pick up his ponderous23 spear and face toward the wood, when the lion emerged from the broadening band of shadow, and, with a low, threatening growl24, advanced upon him.
Like the cat species to which he belonged, he crouched25 so low while walking, that his shoulders protruded26 above his back in large humps, and his belly27 almost touched the ground. His long tail flirted28 angrily from side to side, his jaws29 were parted, disclosing his sharp, carnivorous teeth and blood-red tongue, while his eyes emitted a phosphorescent glow that was like fire itself.
He was a formidable antagonist, and as Ashman observed his movements and ugly appearance, he felt like pumping a half dozen bullets into his lank30, muscular body.
But he experienced the natural interest of a sportsman in an impending31 fight, and was curious to see how the huge native would acquit32 himself in the struggle at hand.
He was not kept long in doubt. The savage observed the puma the moment his head emerged from the shadow into the moonlight, and he instantly prepared himself to meet him.
Little preparation, however, was necessary, for he carried but the single weapon and that had only to be grasped in his right hand.
The warrior33 might have leaped into his craft and escaped by paddling out in the river, where he could drive the boat at a faster pace than the beast could swim, but he did nothing of the kind.
He neither advanced nor retreated, but, standing just in front of the prow, he rested on his right leg; with the left foot thrown forward, and the tremendous javelin balanced over his right shoulder.
His pose was admirable, and even in that thrilling moment compelled the admiration34 of the single spectator, who was strongly of the opinion that the puma, to put it mildly, was committing an error of judgment35.
There may have been some strange, instinctive36 knowledge which penetrated37 the brain of the beast before he reached the assailing38 point, and which compelled him to stop. The individual whom he had selected as his victim was not to be crushed at a single effort, as he was accustomed to bring down the llamas, antelope39, and other animals of the wilderness40. No; there was something in that pose, the demeanor41 and the flash of the midnight eyes which forced the fierce creature to pause, when on the very death line, as it may be termed.
But if the native was defiant42, the puma had no purpose of retreating from before such a powerful enemy. In his blind ferocity, he would have assailed43 him, could it have been impressed upon him that his own destruction would be the inevitable44 result.
The lank jaws were still parted and dripped foam45, as the lion continued his cavernous growls46, while his ears lying flat on his head in the manner peculiar47 to the feline48 species, the bristling49 spine50 and the lashing51 of the tail gave the beast the appearance of a bundle of concentrated fury, as indeed he was.
Fred Ashman was struck almost breathless by what followed.
He observed the curious, twitching52 movement of the puma's legs as they were gathered closer under his body, and which is always a sure evidence that the animal is about to make his decisive leap upon his victim. The native must have read the movement aright, for the hand over his shoulder was suddenly thrown back and instantly forward again, as his javelin left his grasp with terrific force and the suddenness of lightning.
But inconceivably quick as was the action, the puma dodged53 the missile, which entered the earth just behind him, and driven with such tremendous force was buried half its length in the ground.
Almost at the same instant the body of the lion rose in air and shot forward as if driven from the throat of a Parrott gun.
But if the brute54 was quick, so was the man, who dropped downward without moving his feet, and allowed his assailant to pass over his head and land directly in the canoe, where for a single second only he was partly hidden from sight.
Hardly had he landed, when the warrior darted55 forward several paces to where his javelin projected from the ground, seized it with both hands and wrenched56 it free. Whirling about, he confronted the beast once more, as he was gathering57 himself for a second leap.
The savage learned wisdom from what had just occurred, and instead of allowing the weapon to leave his hand, held it with an immovable grip and awaited the renewal58 of the attack.
The puma seemed also to have absorbed some instruction from his failure, and instead of leaping at once, began a stealthy advance, coming over the side of the canoe with the gliding59 motion of a serpent, and evidently wishing to get so near that his victim could not escape again by the means he used before.
Suddenly the native, still holding the javelin with both hands, stepped forward a single pace. This placed him in the strongest possible position, and, with one appalling60 thrust, he drove the spear for a distance of two feet into the chest of the puma, instantly snatching it forth61 again, moving back a couple of feet, and holding himself ready for any assault from the brute.
No need of any virus on the point of that weapon, for it had cloven the heart of the lion in twain, and he went down without a single groan62, as dead as dead could be.
The native stepped to the river, washed the blood from the weapon and then turned about to resume his advance toward the wood.
As he did so, he found himself face to face with a white man, who, stepping from the shadow, held his Winchester leveled at him in an exceedingly suggestive fashion.
If Fred Ashman had been astonished before, what words shall describe his amazement63 when the dusky Hercules, calmly staring at him for a moment, said in unmistakable English, "I surrender."
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1
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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puma
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| 美洲豹 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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deftness
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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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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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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10
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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obtruded
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| v.强行向前，强行，强迫( obtrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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18
prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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19
shingle
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| n.木瓦板；小招牌(尤指医生或律师挂的营业招牌)；v.用木瓦板盖（屋顶）；把（女子头发）剪短 | |
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obtrusion
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| n.强制，莽撞 | |
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slaked
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| v.满足( slake的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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flirted
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| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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lank
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| adj.瘦削的；稀疏的 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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acquit
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| vt.宣判无罪；(oneself)使(自己)表现出 | |
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33
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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38
assailing
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| v.攻击( assail的现在分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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antelope
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| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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41
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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42
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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43
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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44
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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45
foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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46
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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47
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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48
feline
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| adj.猫科的 | |
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49
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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50
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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51
lashing
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| n.鞭打；痛斥；大量；许多v.鞭打( lash的现在分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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52
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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53
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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54
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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55
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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56
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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57
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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58
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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59
gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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60
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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61
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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62
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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63
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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