A veteran Comanche, himself, could not have picked his way through the undergrowth any better than did he; and, when at last he stood upon the edge of the open space and looked around, he was morally certain that no other creature was aware of his movement. Nor was he aware of the action of the other party, if there was really such a one, which had been the means of bringing him thither3. If some wild animal or wild Indian were lurking4 in the vicinity, he knew how to remain invisible.
“I'll stay here a little while—”
Fred at that moment was looking at the cottonwood tree, which, it will be remembered, had been felled directly across the opening, when, to his speechless terror, the figure of an Indian warrior5 suddenly rose upright from behind it, and stood as motionless as a statue. His action indicated that he was not aware that any one was standing6 so near him. He had probably crept up to the log behind which he crouched7, until, believing he was not in danger of being seen, he arose to his feet and assumed the attitude of one who was using his eyes and ears to their utmost extent.
He was of ordinary stature8, without any blanket, his long, black hair hanging loosely down upon his shoulders, his scarred and ugly countenance9 daubed and smeared10 with different colored paint, his chest bare, and ornamented11 in the same fashion, a knife at his girdle, and a long, formidable rifle in his hand—such were the noticeable characteristics, to a superficial observer, of Lone12 Wolf, the Apache chief—for the Indian confronting Fred Munson was really he, and no one else.
The lad suspected the identity of the red-skin, although, having never seen him, it amounted only to a suspicion. No matter who he was, however, he was prepared for him.
The Apache showed his usual cunning. He was evidently attempting to steal upon the sentinels, and, having risen to his feet, he remained motionless and upright, listening for any sign that might betray any motion of the individuals whom he was seeking to slay13, as does the assassin at night.
“He must have been after me, for he is right behind where I stood,” thought the boy, as he grasped his rifle more firmly than ever, resolved to fire upon the wretch14 the moment he attempted to advance.
Lone Wolf stood but a minute in the position described, when, seemingly, he was satisfied that the way was clear, and, throwing one moccasin on the trunk, he climbed over as silently as a shadow, and stood again holt upright upon the other side. This brought the Indian and boy within ten feet of each other, and still the advantage was all upon the side of the latter, who stood in such deep shadow that he was not only invisible, but his presence was unsuspected.
The Indian was not gazing in the direction of the lad, but seemed to turn his attention more to the left, toward the spot where Mickey O'Rooney, the Irishman, was stationed. In ignoring the proximity15 of a boy, it cannot be said that he acted unreasonably16.
Lone Wolf remained like a carven statue for a few seconds longer, and then began a cautious movement forward. In the moonlight, Fred could observe the motion of the foot, and the gradual advance of the body. He felt that it would not do to defer17 any longer his intention of obstructing18 him. If permitted to go on in this manner, he might kill Mickey O'Rooney, and bring down a whole host of red-skins upon the sleeping settlers, cutting them off to a man.
Fred had his rifle to his shoulder, and pointed19 toward the Indian. Suddenly stepping forward, he placed himself in the moonlight, and, with the muzzle20 of his piece almost at the breast of the chief, he said:
“Another step forward, and I'll bore you through!”
The lad did not stop to consider whether it was likely that the Indian understood the English tongue; but, as it happened, Lone Wolf could use it almost as if to the manner born; and it would have required no profound linguistic21 knowledge upon the part of anyone to have comprehended the meaning of the young hero. It was one of those situations in which gesture told the meaning more plainly than mere22 words could have done. But if ever there was an astonished aborigine, Lone Wolf was the same.
It was not often that such a wily warrior as he was caught napping, but he was completely outwitted on the present occasion. When he saw the muzzle of the rifle pointed straight at his breast, he knew what it meant, even though the weapon was in the hands of a boy. It meant that any attempt on his part to raise his gun or draw his tomahawk or knife, would be met by the discharge of the threatening weapon, and his own passage from time into eternity23. So he stared at the lad a moment, and then demanded in good English:
“What does my brother want?”
“I want you to leave, just as quickly as you know how, and never show yourself here again.”
“Lone Wolf's wigwam is many miles away,” supplied the Indian, pointing northward24, “and he is on his way there now.”
Fred started a little at this terrible chieftain's name; but he held his gun pointed steadily25 towards him, determined to fire the instant he attempted the least hostile movement, for his own salvation26 depended upon such a prompt check-mating of his enemy.
An Indian is always ready to make the best of his situation, and Lone Wolf saw that he was fairly caught. Still, he acted cautiously, in the hope of throwing the young hero off his guard, so as to permit him to crush him as suddenly as if by a panther's spring.
“If your wigwam is there, it is time you were home,” said Fred. “We are on the lookout27 for such customers as you, and if any of the others see you they won't let you off so easy as I do. So the best thing is for you to leave.”
Lone Wolf made no direct reply to this, except to take a step toward the side of the lad, as if it were involuntary, and intended to further the convenience of conversation; but Fred suspected his purpose, and warned him back.
“Lone Wolf, if you want to carry your life away with you, you will go at once. I do n't want to shoot you, but if you come any nearer or wait any longer, I'll fire. I'm tired of holding this gun, and it may go off itself.”
The Apache chief made no answer, but, with his eyes fixed28 upon the lad, took a step backward, as an earnest of his intention of obeying. Reaching the log, he hastily clambered over it and speedily vanished like a phantom29 in the gloom of the wood beyond, leaving the boy master of the field.
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1
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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6
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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7
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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9
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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smeared
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| 弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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13
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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15
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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unreasonably
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| adv. 不合理地 | |
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17
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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18
obstructing
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| 阻塞( obstruct的现在分词 )； 堵塞； 阻碍； 阻止 | |
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19
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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linguistic
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| adj.语言的，语言学的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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26
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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28
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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