Finally, the sun disappeared, and darkness slowly settled over wood, forest, and prairie. There was the moon, shining as bright and unclouded as on the night before; but the shadow was so dense8 among the trees that this was of no particular importance, and so soon as night was fairly come the impatient lad was resolved upon making the attempt to reach his friends.
No Apaches had been seen beneath the tree since the departure of the first stealthy visitor, and the hope was quite strong within the lad that in the hurry and swirl9 of the fight the red-skins had failed to note him in his hiding-place. If such were really the case, it would seem that there was a chance of his passing through the lines without detection.
“Anyhow, I am going to try it,” he muttered, with set teeth, as he resumed his cautious descent of the tree.
A moment later he found himself upon the nethermost10 limb, where he hesitated a few seconds, peering around in the breathless darkness and listening for anything that might betray the location of his enemies. The silence of the tomb seemed to have settled upon the earth, and, hanging by his hands a moment, he let go and dropped lightly to the ground. As he did so, he purposely sank upon his hands and knees, in the belief that he was less liable to be seen in that position than in any other.
The signs continued favorable, and, without any useless waiting, he turned his face in the direction of New Boston and began stealing forward, with the care and caution of a veteran courser of the plains. There was a fluttering hope that, with the coming of night, the red-skins had departed, but he knew better than to rely upon any such chance to reach his friends. If they had really gone, he would have heard something from Sut Simpson.
No more trying ordeal11 can be imagined than that which Fred endured when he attempted thus to steal his way through the Apache lines to his friends. He crept along upon his hands and knees, for he dared not trust himself in an upright posture12, and he studiously avoided all those places through which the rays of the moonlight made their way. There was scarcely a minute in which he did not fancy that he heard the stealthy movement of some one near him, and stopped and lay flat upon his face, remaining thus until hopeful that it was safe to move forward again. And this apprehension13 was not always imaginary. Two separate times the sound of footsteps were too distinct to be mistaken, and the glimpse obtained of a shadowy figure, as it flitted across a partially14 moonlit space, was equally conclusive15.
Almost an hour had passed, when Fred finally found himself on the edge of the open area which separated the wood from the settlement. Thus far he had evaded16 all danger and only a comparatively small space remained to be passed over in order to reach the haven17 of safety.
The boy assumed an upright position, and, standing18 in the shadow of the wood, debated with himself as to the best means of getting over that narrow but dangerous neck of territory which still interposed. It would be useless to attempt to creep over it, for the moon would be sure to reveal him to the Indians that were lurking19 near, and it was not likely that he could advance a dozen yards without detection. If it were possible, by drawing himself along on his face, to elude20 the vigilance of the Apaches, it would be clearly impossible to escape being discerned by his own friends. At such a time, the entire company would be on the look-out for just such insidious21 advances, and the chances were that he would be taken for a savage22 and shot by his own friends.
Fred was compelled to do a good deal of thinking, and the conclusion he came to was the next best possible to reach. Clearly, the wiser course was for him to remain where he was for the time being. So long as darkness remained, it was comparatively easy for him to keep concealed23, and, while the situation could not have grown any worse, with the passage of the night, the chances were that it would improve, as the way for a safe run across the exposed area would have shown itself in due time. But it was natural that the boy should become impatient, and he easily persuaded himself that his position became more critical each moment.
He decided24 to make a run straight for the larger building, depending not upon concealment25 but upon speed. He expected to be fired at, and probably chased by some of the Apaches, but there was a reasonable chance of his escaping both. The distance was short, and he was sure to gain a good start at the beginning; but his main reliance was upon his being recognized by his friends, who would cover his flight. Having decided upon this course, he did not delay its execution a moment, since delay foreboded so much.
Breathing a prayer to heaven to guide him safely, he drew in a deep breath, and, leaping full into the moonlit space, started through his fiery26 gauntlet.
For a second or two the tomb-like silence continued, and then he heard several hoarse27, crow-like calls, which he knew were made by the Apaches. Then came several rifle reports, but he was not injured. It showed, however, that his flight had been discovered. Fred had nothing to do, however, but to run, and he put on the utmost speed to which he could force himself, straining every nerve in the hope of making the log-house, which seemed to recede28 as he advanced.
Silence succeeded the shots and shouts, and the heart of the young fugitive29 was throbbing30 with a wild hope, when a noise caused him to look over his shoulder. To his horror, he perceived an Indian runner on foot, and within a dozen feet, bearing down upon him with the speed of the wind. The poor lad felt as if weighed down by a horrible nightmare, but he bent31 to his work with the desperation of despair.
It was useless.
His speed was not one half as great as that of the trained Apache, who bounded forward like a panther, and the next instant griped his horny fingers in the arm of Fred, who uttered a wail32, and sank like one dying.
At that moment, the sharp, penetrating33 crack of a rifle came from the direction of the large building, and the warrior34, with an ear-splitting screech35, threw up his hands, and fell backward.
“Run, you young beaver36! Thar's a chance for you yet!”
The ringing voice of Sut Simpson, aroused the boy, who, finding himself loose from the grasp of the Indian, bounded forward again. But he had scarcely done so, when the tramp of horses' hoofs were heard, and a warrior, more daring than the others, sent his mustang forward with arrowy swiftness, not behind the lad, but directly in front of him, so that he was compelled to turn to one side, in the attempt to dodge37 him.
Detecting his purpose, a fusilade of rifles was kept up from the houses, but the Apache seemed to escape them all; and, throwing himself on the opposite side of the horse, so as to interpose the body of the latter between himself and his enemies, and, without checking his speed, he reached down, and catching38 the bewildered lad, dashed up the slope, bearing him away in triumph.
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1
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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2
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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3
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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4
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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5
galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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6
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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7
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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8
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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9
swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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10
nethermost
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| adj.最下面的 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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12
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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13
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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14
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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17
haven
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| n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所 | |
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18
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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19
lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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21
insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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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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23
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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28
recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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29
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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30
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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31
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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32
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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33
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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34
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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35
screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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36
beaver
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| n.海狸，河狸 | |
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37
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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38
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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