After the departure of Fred Ashman, Ziffak talked more plainly with the Professor and New Englander. The head chieftain told his white friends what they had suspected; Haffgo was enraged2 at Ashman's presumption3 with his daughter. He was in that mood indeed, in which, but for his promise, he would have hurled4 his javelin5 at the youth before he left the audience chamber6.
Ziffak, however, was hopeful that the anger of his royal brother would cool sufficiently7 to allow the visitors to remain there two days; but he doubted whether, after all, they would want to stay that long under the strained condition of things.
When the chieftain took his departure, it was without any hint that he wished to have an eye to the young gentleman, but Grimcke and Long suspected it, and their conversation became of the gravest character, for they fully8 realized their peril9.
They regretted the mad infatuation of their young friend with Ariel the princess, and yet they did not blame him, for, as the New Englander remarked, could they have believed there was any hope for them, they would have fallen as irrestrainably in love as he.
But they did not, and, therefore, were in a frame of mind to consider the situation more coolly than the hot-headed lover.
Both agreed that the stroll taken by Ashman was likely to bring about trouble, but they were powerless to do anything. Ziffak was the only individual who could manage matters in such an emergency.
It will be remembered that night had fully come at the time of the chieftain's departure. The interior of the room would have been wrapped in gloom, had not the mother of Ziffak made her appearance and started a fire on the hearth10 at the further end of the apartment.
The white men watched her closely to see how the Murhapas were accustomed to secure ignition. But they were disappointed. She raked aside the ashes until some embers were disclosed beneath, which were readily fanned into a flame. This caused the apartment to shine with a light like that at mid-day.
She had brought in an earthen vessel11 of water and began broiling12 several thin slices of meat on the coals. They were quickly finished, and she then handed to each of her guests the prepared meat on an earthen plate. All ate heartily13, using their fingers for knives and forks, while the cool water could not have been more refreshing14.
Bippo and Pedros had been sleeping and resting so long that they desired to get out doors. Since they were not likely to be recognized in the night, if they used caution, Grimcke and Long told them to go, but to take care they did not lose themselves.
They had hardly departed when their hostess also left, passing out by the rear way. She did not speak, but as she was disappearing, gave the two men such a strange look that their suspicions were awakened15. Both at that moment were reflecting upon the ominous16 news brought them by Ziffak.
By a common impulse, both hastened to the rear to learn all they could about the building in which they might be compelled to fight for their lives.
The result was rather pleasing. The structure was heavier and more compact than the ordinary buildings, and, in addition to the usual opening in front, had one at the rear, through which the woman undoubtedly17 passed on her way to her royal son.
Neither of these openings were provided with anything in the nature of a door that could be closed. Whenever the rare occasions arose for such a sealing of the inhabitants of a house, it was done by means of furs suspended in front of the entrance.
The white men noted18 this with quick eyes, and then went back to the front apartment.
"In the event of attack," said the Professor with the utmost coolness, "you can take the rear door and I the front."
Long nodded his head; he understood and was ready.
They had hardly entered the front apartment, when both were struck by the unusual chatter19 of voices on the outside. There must have been a large gathering20 of people who were growing excited about something.
The Professor was about to step into the opening to learn what it meant, when Bippo burst into the apartment, the picture of fright and terror.
"Going to kill us!" was his alarming exclamation21; "make me run—almost kill me!"
"Where's Pedros?" asked Long.
"He scared—run into woods—won't come back—run all way to Am'zon!"
"I think he'll have to stop once or twice to get breath before he reaches there," was the characteristic comment of the Professor, who standing22 near the door, listened more closely to the threatening words and exclamations23 on the outside.
It sounded singular to recognize more than one expression uttered in English by these people, who, until a few years before were unaware24 that such people were living.
But for the proof Ziffak had given of his loyalty25 the whites might have connected his absence with the ugly signs outside; but the confidence even of Jared Long in his friendship was unshaken.
"Bippo," said the Professor, speaking with the same quiet self-possession he had shown in the first place, "they are going to attack us; more than likely we shall be killed, but there is a chance for you, because you are dressed like these people, and, so long as you can keep in the shadow, you can pass for one of them; you can slip out by the opening at the rear without being noticed; steal away, find Pedros if you can, and leave."
The eyes of the servant seemed to protrude26 from his head, as he grasped the fearful meaning of these words. Then, clutching his spear in his hand, he whisked like a shadow into the rear apartment beyond sight.
Grimcke and Long smiled in each other's face; they could not blame the fellow for thinking of his own safety.
"The music will begin in a few minutes," added the Professor. "I think you had better guard the rear; you understand, Jared, that it's no time to throw away any powder."
"I don't propose to waste my ammunition27," muttered the New Englander, as he stepped softly into the rear apartment.
Only a slight reflection from the fire on the hearth found its way into that part of the house, which had no window; but by the dim light Jared Long saw a dusky figure come rapidly from the door toward him. He was on the point of raising his gun, when it spoke28:
"It's me—Bippo."
"I thought you had left. Why didn't you go?"
"Love my white folks—can't leave 'em, stay die wid 'em."
This sounded very fine, but the New Englander was incredulous. He believed that their servant was more afraid to leave than to stay. He had probably taken a look outside and decided29 that he was safer under the shelter of those three Winchesters (for the weapon of poor Aaron Johnston was still in the possession of his friends).
Long was inclined to ask him to take charge of the extra rifle, and use it in helping30 to defend themselves; but, recalling the antipathy31 of the fellow against handling firearms, he decided that he would only throw away his cartridges32.
He, therefore, cautioned him to keep out of the reach of any of the missiles that were likely to come flying into the apartment, and urged him, in case he saw any opening, to dart33 out among the people and do his best to escape.
Professor Grimcke firmly believed that the impending34 fight would be to the death, and that the only issue would be the slaying35 of himself and companion. It was the same danger they had faced many times, with the difference that this was to be the last.
He surveyed his surroundings, like a general making ready to receive the assault of a foe36, and die fighting in the last ditch.
There was the door in front and the two windows, through which the attack could be made. He could cover all three with his repeating rifle, and, when the last struggle came, appeal to his revolver and knife. He smiled, grimly at the reflection, that he had every ground for believing, that the victory of the Murhapas would prove the most costly37 they had ever won. Jared Long was his equal in markmanship and coolness, and, as he coolly remarked, there would be no ammunition wasted, by either.
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1
dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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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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3
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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4
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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5
javelin
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| n.标枪，投枪 | |
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6
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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7
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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10
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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11
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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12
broiling
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| adj.酷热的，炽热的，似烧的v.（用火）烤（焙、炙等）( broil的现在分词 )；使卷入争吵；使混乱；被烤（或炙） | |
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13
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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14
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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15
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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16
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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17
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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18
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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19
chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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20
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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21
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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22
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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23
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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24
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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25
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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26
protrude
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| v.使突出，伸出，突出 | |
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27
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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28
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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29
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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30
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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31
antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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32
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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33
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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34
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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35
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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36
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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37
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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