He handed the boy to one of the warriors7 sitting near him, as, of course, he could do nothing when impeded8 by his presence, although he had proved very convenient some time before, in the way of a shield. Then he said something to a dozen or so of the warriors immediately around him. The main body remained comparatively motionless, while the chief rode out in advance and headed toward his antagonist9, his horse upon a slow walk, and moving with great caution.
Sut Simpson was not to be caught napping. No one understood the sneaking10 character of Lone Wolf better than did he. He had had it back and forth11 with him too many times not to be able to read the fellow through and through.
While the leader was coming forward in this cautious manner, he saw several other horsemen in motion. Their direction was not the same as their leader. They appeared to be riding further back upon the prairie, as though they had been sent upon some errand to a distant point. But Sut knew what it meant. They meant to steal away until they were out of sight, when they would come around behind him. There were enough to surround him completely and to cut off his escape in any direction.
Sut saw all this and was not surprised thereat. He believed that he was too old a bird to be caught with such chaff12. The manner in which he could defeat the purpose of Lone Wolf was by direct fight, or by forcing him into a combat which would anticipate the intention of the Apache. He preferred the latter course, and he made the effort in the common Indian way, by uttering a taunt, still using the Apache tongue.
“Lone Wolf is a coward and a dog! He is afraid of the white hunter! He stays by his warriors, that they may hold his head when his heart grows faint at sight of his pale-face foe.”
Anyone who understands the temper of an Indian will see that such a taunt as this was of the most exasperating13 nature. It rankled14 deeply in the heart of Lone Wolf, who would have given a dozen of his best warriors for the chance of burying his tomahawk in the skull15 of his foe; but he was too cunning to be misled by his desire for revenge. He, too, indulged in a little of the taunting16 business himself; and, as the hunter had honored him by speaking in the Apache language, he “threw himself,” so to speak, in English.
“The white hunter is afraid of Lone Wolf. He dreads17 his scalping-knife. His heart trembles, and he knows not where to hide himself.”
“He does not hide from Lone Wolf, for he has hunted days and nights to find him, and when Lone Wolf saw him coming, he ran among his warriors and hid.”
“He is not among them now,” retorted Lone Wolf; “while he seeks Sut Simpson, the brave hunter moves away.”
Such was really the case. Judged from a superficial standpoint, the greatest show of courage was made by the Apache, whose horse was moving forward at a slow, cautious pace, while the mustang of Sut Simpson kept up a continued and equally guarded retreat, so that the distance between the two taunting enemies remained about the same. The hunter had a manifest purpose in this, which was simply to draw his foe far enough away from his support to gain a chance for a sudden dash at him before he could elude18 him. At the same time he did not forget the dozen horsemen that had stolen out so cautiously from the rear, and he knew that “if it were done, then 'twere well it were done quickly,” as Macbeth so aptly puts it.
Sut carefully measured the intervening space with his eye, but Lone Wolf was still too near his reserve. The two men were eying each other like cats, and, although he taunted19 so loudly, yet no one would have been readier than the Apache to flee if he believed that he was in greater peril20 than his antagonist.
“Why does not Lone Wolf move faster?” asked Sut, hoping to spur him into doing so.
“Why does not the hunter wait for him?” asked the chief, very appropriately, in return.
The scout21 thought that if he could draw the savage22 a few yards further he would have him just where he wanted him. Feeling how precious the passing time was, he galloped23 his mustang a rod or so and then came to a sudden abrupt24 halt.
“Here I'll await you, you old copper-skinned hoodlum!” he called out, in unmistakable English.
Lone Wolf did not check his speed; nor, on the other hand, did he hasten it. Let alone, he was sure to reach the proper point in due time; but the trouble was that Sut had no time to spare. The dozen horsemen who were making their circuit must have accomplished25 considerable of it already, and would soon be closing in around him.
The hunter had been caught in just such predicaments many a time before, and had managed to pull through without material injury; but no brave man who was possessed26 of ordinary sense would willingly allow himself to be drawn27 into such a trap. The Apaches were as good riders as he, and a shot that would disable his horse would play mischief28 with the rider. He wished to avoid any such snarl29, and so he dallied30 and trifled with his adversary31 in the hope of trolling him along to a point where he could hold him, while the Indian continued his advance like one whose only purpose was to hold his man until the other warriors could close in behind him. The moment speedily came when it would not have been best to wait a second longer.
Wheeling his horse with the suddenness of lightning, Simpson charged at full speed straight at Lone Wolf. The latter was surprised by the movement, but he was not thrown off his guard, nor did he seek to fall back on his reserves. It would be time enough to do that when he should become convinced of its necessity; besides which, he had only to keep the hunter engaged for a brief time in order to give his horsemen the chance to entrap32 him.
Bearing in mind the deceitful character of the chief, Sut waited until he was within a short distance, when he wheeled and let drive with a couple chambers33 of his revolver. Lone Wolf went over the side of his mustang so suddenly that the hunter believed he had been killed; but, as he checked himself before reaching the ground, he saw his mistake, and knew that the savage's “reply” would be forthcoming on the instant. Accordingly, Sut followed suit and interposed the body of his mustang like a flash between himself and the red-skin.
He was not a wink34 too soon. Just as he went over he caught the flash, and heard the report of a pistol. The chief had fired from beneath the neck of his steed, with his revolver—for Lone Wolf carried his revolver, like any other gentleman of the plains.
This was complicating35 matters so much that the hunter determined36 to force conclusions without a moment's delay.
There was no use of firing at the Indian as long as he was protected by his horse. He was to cunning to be caught napping. So, without a particle of hesitation37, Sut threw the muzzle38 of his rifle beneath the neck of his steed, and fired straight at the one which was sheltering his adversary.
The shot was fatal, and, with a frenzied39 leap, the animal stumbled forward upon his neck, and fell dead in his tracks. Nimble Lone Wolf threw himself as quick as a flash from beneath the falling body, and, conscious of his disadvantage, started on a run for the main body of warriors; but Sut, with extraordinary shrewdness, had anticipated this very thing, and, assisted by the intelligence of his animal, he threw himself ahead of him, so as to shut off the flight in that direction.
Everything now went with bewildering swiftness. The Apaches, seeing their chief environed, rode forward to his assistance, while the hunter, revolver in hand, blazed away at him, determined to bring him to earth, now that he had the chance. The activity of Lone Wolf was simply marvelous.
He darted40 here and there, dodged41 back and forth, and once or twice actually shot beneath the belly42 of his adversary's mustang. His antics were confusing, and, although Sut succeeded in wounding him, it seemed utterly43 impossible to disable him.
The hunter had already discharged his rifle when he slew44 the horse, and when he emptied his revolver, he was chagrined45, furious, and baffled.
“I believe you're the devil himself!” he exclaimed, ceasing his efforts to bring him down, “and I'll let you go this time!”
He turned to flee when he saw that the Apaches were all about him.
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1
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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gage
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| n.标准尺寸，规格；量规，量表 [=gauge] | |
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warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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exasperating
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| adj. 激怒的 动词exasperate的现在分词形式 | |
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rankled
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| v.（使）痛苦不已，（使）怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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17
dreads
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| n.恐惧，畏惧( dread的名词复数 )；令人恐惧的事物v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的第三人称单数 ) | |
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elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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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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galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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29
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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30
dallied
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| v.随随便便地对待( dally的过去式和过去分词 )；不很认真地考虑；浪费时间；调情 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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entrap
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| v.以网或陷阱捕捉，使陷入圈套 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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34
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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complicating
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| 使复杂化( complicate的现在分词 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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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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39
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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40
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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41
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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42
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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43
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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44
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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45
chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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