Them—Nothing Accomplished—Colonel Beale Leads an Expedition with
Carson as Guide—Capture and Release of Two Chiefs—March to the
Arkansas—Another Failure—Carson and Maxwell Build a Ranche—Fremont's
Fourth Expedition—The Murderous Apaches—A Fruitless Pursuit.
Kit2 Carson was one of those whose destiny seems to be that of stirring incident and adventure. No man possessed3 such an intimate knowledge of the manners, customs and peculiarities4 of the tribes in the southwest, and with his exceptional woodcraft, skill and high courage his services were always indispensable.
While he was at Taos, the Indians around him were restless until the whole country was seething5 and on the verge6 of a general revolt. Colonel Beale, commanding officer of the district, had established his headquarters at Taos. The Apaches committed so many outrages8 that he believed the only course open was to administer a thorough chastisement9; but it was tenfold easier to reach such a conclusion than it was to carry it out. A strong force having been despatched to bring them to account, pursued them to the mountains from which they were compelled to return without accomplishing anything at all. The subsequent history of these Apaches and of General Crook's campaign against them are familiar enough to all to justify10 the declaration that they have proven themselves the bravest and most formidable tribe that has defied the United States government during the past half century.
Disappointed that the officer whom he sent failed to do anything, Colonel Beale took command himself and employed Kit Carson as guide. Instead of stopping in the mountains because they were blocked with snow, as the former expedition had done, Colonel Beale forced his way with great difficulty through them. The search for the Indians was long but fruitless. The cunning red skins were at home in their fastnesses and not a solitary11 warrior12 was bagged.
As the supply of provisions was running low, Colonel Beale was forced to return and retrace13 his steps. On their return, they came upon a village of Apaches into which the soldiers charged; but the nimble warriors14 easily got away, with the exception of a couple of chiefs who fell into the hands of the Americans. Hoping to rouse the chivalry15 and gratitude16 of their nature, Colonel Beale lectured them kindly17 and after their promise to behave themselves, allowed them to depart. As soon as they were beyond rifle shot, they must have grinned with exultation18, for it was not their nature to repay kindness with anything but cruelty.
As Colonel Beale could not accomplish anything during the winter months, he returned to Taos, where he remained until February, when, learning that a large force of Indians were congregated19 on the Arkansas, with a number of Mexican captives, he went thither20 intending to retake them by force, if they could not be secured by peaceable means. He had two companies of dragoons, and as before, engaged Carson as guide.
When he reached the Arkansas, he found himself confronted by two thousand Indians who had gathered to meet their agent and probably to consult as to their future movements. The agent was present and was a man of practical sense and experience. He told Colonel Beale that it would never do to demand the prisoners, for the Indians were in ugly temper and if aroused, would massacre21 the whole command. Colonel Beale himself was resentful, and very much disposed to give the red men battle, but he suffered himself to be dissuaded22 from carrying out his original purpose.
When Carson returned once more to Taos, he reflected that he was approaching middle life, and as he now had quite a family, he was anxious to provide something for them. Though he had rendered services beyond value to the United States government, and to different individuals, he had not received enough compensation to place them above want should he become disabled. About this time, his old friend, Maxwell, proposed that they should build a ranch1 in a beautiful valley some distance north of Taos. The site was a most charming one, though it was so much exposed to the attack of Indians that until then no one had dared to settle there.
Handsome, roomy and substantial structures were erected23, and many of the most enjoyable days of their lives were spent on this famous ranche. It would be a pleasant farewell to leave them there to end their days in comfort and peace, but it was to be far otherwise with both and especially with Carson.
In 1848-49, Colonel Fremont made a fourth exploring expedition across the continent, he bearing all the expense, as he did in the case of his fifth expedition made in 1853. The fourth was an appalling24 failure, marked by an extremity25 of suffering that is incredible. The guide employed was wholly ignorant and the command became entangled26 among the snows of the mountains, where some of them lived not only on mules27 but on each other. The strongest lay down and died, and the horrible features of Fremont's fourth expedition were only approached by that of Lieutenant28 Strain on the Isthmus29 of Darien. When the few ghastly survivors30 staggered out of the mountains they tottered31 to Carson's ranche, where they received the kindest treatment from him who had served Fremont so faithfully on his former expeditions.
Carson had been on his ranche but a short time, when news reached him of a most atrocious murder by the Apaches. A wealthy merchant was returning in his private carriage with his wife and child from the United States to Santa Fe. He was accompanied by a small escort and the wagon32 train carrying his goods. When he believed all danger past, he hurried forward with his family, who were becoming tired of the journey.
At a point where there was no suspicion of danger, the Apaches fired upon the carriage, killing33 every one who accompanied it, including the merchant himself. The wife and child were made prisoners and carried away. Shortly after the little one was tomahawked and thrown into the river.
When news of the outrage7 reached New Mexico, a party was hastily organized and started out in the hope of saving the woman and punishing the wretches34 who had committed the murders. When Carson learned of what was contemplated35, he offered his services. They were accepted, but much to the surprise of his friends, he was given an inferior position. It was characteristic of the splendid scout36 that he did not show by word or look that he felt the slightest resentment37 on account of the slight.
With a less skilful38 leader than himself, Carson galloped39 with the company to the scene of the murder. The sight was frightfully suggestive: pieces of harness, band boxes, trunks, strips of blood stained clothing, and fragments of the carriage attested40 the untamable ferocity of the Apaches who had swooped41 down on the doomed42 party like a cyclone43.
From that point the trail was taken and the infuriated mountaineers urged their steeds to the utmost, knowing the value of every hour and that in the case of a fight with the Indians a surprise is half the battle.
Day after day the pursuit was maintained until nearly two weeks had gone by, before the first glimpse of a warrior was obtained. The trail was one of the worst imaginable, and, had the pursuers been less skilful, they would have been baffled almost from the first. At certain points, the Apaches would break up into parties of two or three that would take different routes, reuniting at some place many miles beyond where water was known to be. This was done repeatedly, with a view of disconcerting any avengers who might take their trail, and it is a tribute to the ability of the mountaineers that the cunning artifice44 failed, so far as they were concerned, of its purpose.
At last the Apaches were descried45 in the distance. Carson was the first to discover them, he being some distance in advance. Knowing how necessary it was to surprise them he shouted to his companions to charge at once. Not doubting he would be followed, he dashed ahead with his horse on a dead run, but looking over his shoulder when he had gone part way, he saw to his consternation46 he was alone.
Angered and impatient, he rode back to learn what it meant. The chief guide had directed the men to wait as there was no doubt the Apaches desired to hold a parley47. It meant the next moment in the shape of a bullet from the Indians which struck the leader in the breast and rendered him senseless. As soon as he recovered, he ordered his men to make the attack and leave him to himself.
He was obeyed, but the delay was fatal. On charging into the camp they were able to kill only one warrior. The body of the woman was found still warm, showing that she had been slain48 only a brief while before.
All those acquainted with the particulars of this sad affair agreed that had the advice of Carson been followed the poor lady might have been saved.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
ranch
|
|
| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
kit
|
|
| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
peculiarities
|
|
| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
seething
|
|
| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
verge
|
|
| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
outrage
|
|
| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
outrages
|
|
| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
chastisement
|
|
| n.惩罚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
justify
|
|
| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
warrior
|
|
| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
retrace
|
|
| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
chivalry
|
|
| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
exultation
|
|
| n.狂喜，得意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
congregated
|
|
| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
massacre
|
|
| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
dissuaded
|
|
| 劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
ERECTED
|
|
| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
appalling
|
|
| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
extremity
|
|
| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
entangled
|
|
| adj.卷入的；陷入的；被缠住的；缠在一起的v.使某人（某物/自己）缠绕，纠缠于（某物中），使某人（自己）陷入（困难或复杂的环境中）( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
mules
|
|
| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
lieutenant
|
|
| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
isthmus
|
|
| n.地峡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
survivors
|
|
| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
tottered
|
|
| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
wagon
|
|
| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
killing
|
|
| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
wretches
|
|
| n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
contemplated
|
|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
scout
|
|
| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
skilful
|
|
| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
attested
|
|
| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
swooped
|
|
| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
cyclone
|
|
| n.旋风，龙卷风 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
artifice
|
|
| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
descried
|
|
| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
consternation
|
|
| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
parley
|
|
| n.谈判 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |