In fact, Jared Long came within a hair of shooting the Hercules, before the situation could be explained to him. Even then he refused for awhile to believe the astonishing story, but declared that some infernal trickery was afoot. Finally, however, he and the Professor and Bippo and Pedros realized that the most powerful enemy had become their ally.
Ziffak showed a strange talkativeness after joining the company. Seating himself on the ground where all were now veiled in shadow, he answered the questions that were rained upon him, until most of the information given in the preceding chapter was told to the wondering listeners.
The account of the dreadful reception that awaited their predecessors4 three years before, would have deterred5 such brave men as the explorers from pushing further, but for the fact that they had secured an all-powerful friend at court. Believing that he could pave the way for a friendly reception, they were eager to visit what seemed to them an enchanted6 land.
There was some uneasiness over Waggaman and Burkhardt, who, it could be easily seen, would at the most do nothing more than disguise their enmity under the guise7 of friendship, holding themselves ready for some treachery that would bring about the death of the visitors.
The conversation lasted a long time, and was ended by the natural question put to Ziffak as to what should be the next step.
From what he had already stated, it was evident they were not yet through with the Aryks. Despite their frightful8 repulse9, they would hold the Murhapas in greater dread3 than the whites; and, well aware of the penalty of allowing them to pass above the rapids, would never cease their efforts to prevent such a disaster. It followed, therefore, that something must be done to spike10 their guns, and Ziffak was the only one who could do it.
The whites were not surprised, when he offered to return to the point down the river, where he had left his canoe, recross to the other side, and make known to the Aryks that it was his wish that the explorers should be molested11 no further.
The announcement would be a surprise indeed to them, but there was none who would dare question the authority of such a source.
During the absorbingly interesting conversation, Ziffak stated that his object in coming from the other side was to reach the camp of the whites at the same time that an attack was made by the Aryks who so cunningly used the floating logs and trees as a screen to hide their approach. He preferred his course to that of accompanying them.
It will thus be seen, that, although the act of Fred Ashman in passing down the Xingu seemed like a mistake, yet it was the most providential thing that could have occurred.
Having made known his plan, the burly chieftain set about carrying it out with characteristic promptness. Without saying good-bye, he rose to his feet, and walking rapidly off, soon disappeared in the direction of the spot where took place his encounter with the puma12 and his meeting with Fred Ashman.
He had not been gone long, when those left in camp caught sight of the little boat skimming swiftly across the Xingu below them. The preliminaries of the singular movement in their favor was going on according to programme.
But, with the departure of Ziffak, something like a distrust of his friendship entered the minds of the three whites. Bippo and Pedros were so overcome by what they had seen that they were unable to comprehend what it all meant. They kept their places in the boat and listened and wondered in silence.
The Professor hoped for the best, though he admitted that there was something inexplainable in the business. He had spent hours in examining the strange fish of the Upper Xingu, in inspecting the remarkable13 plants, which he saw for the first time, and in studying the zoology14 and mineralogy of the region. He had been delighted and puzzled, over and over again, but all of these problems combined failed to astonish him as did the action of Ziffak and the story he told.
Ashman was the most hopeful of all. He had been with the native more than the rest, and was given the opportunity to study him closely. He was confident that he read the workings of his mind aright, and that the fellow would be their friend to the end.
Jared Long, the New Englander, was equally positive in the other direction. He maintained that since the leopard15 cannot change his spots, no savage16 showing such relentless17 hatred18 of the white race as did Ziffak, could be transformed into a friend for no other reason than that he had been made a prisoner.
He insisted further that, if he succeeded in helping19 them through to the Murhapa village, it would be only with the purpose of securing a more complete revenge. Such a powerful tribe as his need feel no misgiving20 in allowing a small party to enter their town; for, after that was done, they would be so completely at their mercy that there was no possibility of any explorer ever living to tell the tale.
He especially dwelt upon the undoubted influence possessed21 by Waggaman and Burkhardt. They would never consent to yield the influence they had held so long, nor could they be induced to share it with any of their own countrymen.
Grimcke and Ashman laughed at his fears, but strive as much as they chose, they could not help being affected22 more or less by his pessimistic views.
However, the brave fellow declared that he would accompany them on the hazardous23 journey, and stick by them to the end. If they could not survive, they would fall together.
By this time the night was far along. A careful scrutiny24 of the other bank failed to reveal anything of their enemies, though all believed there were plenty of them along the shore.
Ashman proposed, that now, since they were entirely25 screened by the projecting shadow of the wood, they should cautiously push their way up the bank, as near as possible to the rapids, so as to lessen26 the distance that was to be passed on the morrow. There could be no objection to this, and adjusting themselves in the usual manner in the large canoe, they began the ascent27 of the river.
Naturally they would have kept close to the shore to escape, so far as they could, the force of the current, and the main object now was to prevent their movements being seen by the vigilant28 Aryks across the stream, who might resume hostilities29 before Ziffak could make his wishes known to them.
Our friends did not forget that a large body of these warriors30 had passed the Xingu above the rapids to reach the bank along which the craft was now stealing its way; but they had received such treatment that the survivors31 hurried from the vicinity.
Still there was a probability that after rallying from their repulse, more of them had swam across and were at that moment on the western shore, on the watch for just such a movement as was under way.
If this should prove the case, it could not be expected that Ziffak could interfere32 in time to prevent another sanguinary conflict; but that might come about, even if the explorers remained where they had stopped until daylight. If the Aryks were prepared to attack them while on the move, they could do so with equal effect while they were not in motion.
The increasing roar of the rapids was a great disadvantage, for it drowned all inferior noises and compelled our friends to depend on their eyesight alone to discover the approach of danger.
There was an involuntary shudder33 on the part of all, when they came opposite the scene of the desperate fight, and they hastened past without exchanging a word.
They had not much further to go when they found themselves, for the time, at the end of their voyage. It was impossible to ascend34 further, because of the rapids, which tossed the canoe about as though it were an eggshell.
A halt was therefore made, and, at the moment this took place, all observed that day was breaking, the light rapidly increasing in the direction of the Aryk village.
"Just what I told you!" exclaimed Jared Long, as the simultaneous discovery was made by all, that the forest around them was swarming35 with the vengeful savages36, eager for another and bloodier37 joust38 at arms.
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1
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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7
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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repulse
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| n.击退，拒绝；vt.逐退，击退，拒绝 | |
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spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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12
puma
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| 美洲豹 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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zoology
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| n.动物学，生态 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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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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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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30
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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31
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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32
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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33
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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34
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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35
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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36
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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37
bloodier
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| adj.血污的( bloody的比较级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的 | |
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38
joust
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| v.马上长枪比武，竞争 | |
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