The main war-party seeing the desperate straits of their leader, who was liable to be shot down by a ball from the revolver, galloped5 forward to his assistance, and, almost at the same moment the dozen horsemen that had set out to head him off put in appearance, all coming from different directions, and converging6 toward the one point, where the veteran borderer was suddenly transformed from an aggressor into a deeply imperiled fugitive7.
It was a time for “business” of the sternest kind, and the grizzled hunter went at it like one who understood what it meant. Rifle and pistol were discharged, and, therefore, useless. The former was slung9 over his back, and the latter was quickly jammed into his girdle. In a twinkling he had his huge bowie in his right hand, and, shouting to his mustang, he headed out on the prairie, and made a dash for life and freedom.
At such a crisis, everything depends upon the sagacity and intelligence of the horse. It requires something more than speed—it needs a grasp of the “situation,” upon the part of the brute11, and the guidance of his action which should result therefrom. It was in this respect that Sut Simpson possessed12 an advantage which can scarcely be appreciated. He made no attempt to guide or control the creature he bestrode; but, bending forward upon his back and clutching his terrible weapon in his hand, he uttered a shout, which the mustang interpreted as an appeal to do his best, and he proceeded to do so without an instant's hesitation13.
Still, it was vain to try to dodge14 through the converging warriors16 without coming in contact with them. There were too many to permit any such performance, but the wall was not impenetrable. Like an arrow from the bow sped the animal, and, seeing the point toward which he was aiming, the Apaches endeavored to close the gap. The equine fugitive did not swerve17 in the least, and it looked as if he was plunging18 to his own destruction.
The scout19 saw it all, and made no effort to change the direction he was pursuing. He only grasped his bowie the more tightly and compressed his lips. There was an ugly gleam in his sharp gray eye as he braced20 himself for the conflict.
The nose of the mustang was almost touching21 the head of the other horses, when he swerved22 almost at right angles, and, with a tremendous burst of speed, shot through the nearest “opening.” This threw all his enemies, by the brilliant maneuver23, in his rear, and left the clear prairie before him as a path in which to complete his flight.
The space separating Sut from his enemies was too slight for him to reach safety by one plunge24. The mustang was scarcely under way, when he was compelled to dodge as abruptly25 as before, and in a trice he made a third, which was done with consummate26 skill, and yet with the unavoidable result of bringing the scout in collision with a swarthy warrior15. Sut was expecting it, and, bursting like a thunderbolt upon the howling red-skin, he drove the flashing bowie with such prodigious27 force that, to repeat an old expression, the first thing the Apache knew, he knew nothing.
At the moment of making the thrust, a painted warrior riding on the opposite side struck a terrific blow with his tomahawk, but the dextrous flirt28 of the hunter's head permitted the weapon to whizz by and graze his cheek. The time was to short for him to do any work with the knife in the other hand, quick as was Simpson in his movements; so the tomahawk had scarcely descended29 upon its harmless mission when he sent out his left hand straight from his shoulder, like the plunge of a piston30 rod.
It struck the astonished warrior straight in his face with irresistible31 force and his head went down and his heels up so suddenly that he was knocked completely off his horse—a thing which, it may be safely said, does not occur with an Apache or Comanche once in a thousand times, unless it be a bullet that tumbles him to the ground. This opened the way again and the magnificent mustang settled down to the work of life and death.
Sut saw that it was impossible for any of the horsemen to throw themselves across his track, and so he flung himself forward upon his matchless steed and said a few words encouragingly in the hope that it might add a particle to his speed; but that was impossible, as the noble creature was doing his very utmost.
The pursuing Apaches seemed to cling to the hope of capturing the daring scout, for they thundered away in pursuit, while he as steadily32 drew away from them. Suddenly came the crack of rifles, but Sut noticed that most of them came from a point in advance, and he raised his head enough to learn what it meant.
The mustang (whether by design or accident cannot be stated) had sped continually in the direction of New Boston, and was dashing down toward that point. The pioneers were on the alert, and the instant they could distinguish pursuers from pursued, they opened on the former, with the result of tumbling several from the backs of their steeds. This so disorganized the hot pursuit that in the flurry of the moment the scout shot in among the group of alarmed horses, sprang from his back, and was soon among his friends, from whom he had been separated less than half an hour.
Lone33 Wolf seemed meditating34 a charge down the valley, and once or twice a formidable number of his warriors were observed gathering35 upon the slope; but the moment they were discovered such a galling36 fire was poured in among them that they quickly scampered37 out of range. The chief, beyond question, was infuriated by the manner in which he had been baffled, and this fury tempted38 him, perhaps, to a rash deed or two; but he speedily regained39 his shrewdness and drew his warriors off.
A careful reconnaisance, made an hour later, failed to show a single Apache. The entire body had departed.
The special errand of Sut in venturing out was to effect the recapture of the lad. The chance of success was very desperate, but upon that alone the scout had based his hopes. Had the opportunity been tempting40, the Apaches would have done all they could to head off any effort in that direction, but it is often by a sudden dash, when apparently41 there is no hope, that the most brilliant successes are made. But the issue in the present case had been a complete failure, and Sut chafed42 greatly under the reflection, for everything connected with it was mortifying43 to him.
In the first place, he had been completely outwitted from beginning to end by his old enemy, Lone Wolf. That chieftain, whom he detested44 with the very intensity45 of hatred46, had snatched up the boy under his very nose, and made off with him. The shot that had been fired to bring the war-chief to earth failed in its purpose, and while the hunter was forcing him into a corner he awoke to the fact that he was there himself, and it was only by a hair's breadth that he succeeded in saving his bacon.
“But Sut Simpson don't give up the job just yet,” said he, the next morning, in discussing the situation with Barnwell and the leading pioneers. “That younker has got himself in a scrape, through no fault of his own, and onless he gets a lift there's no show for his pullin' out of it.”
“Mickey O'Rooney is still absent, and he may be able to help you.”
But Sut shook his head. He saw no prospect47 of any appreciable48 assistance from that quarter.
“He's a good fellow, and I like him; but he'll have all he can do to take care of himself. When a chap undertakes to go it alone in these parts, he must never wink10 both eyes at the same time.”
“Suppose the Irishman has been killed?” ventured one of the men, who was somewhat shaken up by the events of the night before. “It seems to me that it is very probable.”
“You're right,” replied Sut, as if he were discussing the question of stock. “Very likely he's gone under. We've all got to come to it sooner or later, and what's the odds49 if one's a little ahead of the other?”
By this time the speaker was astride his mustang, which was as fresh and eager as though he had not been subjected to the tremendous strain of the night before. The little party of pioneers had come to look upon the scout as indispensable to their safety. His timely warning of the coming of the Apaches had saved them from a frightful50 massacre51, and he now gave them some parting advice, which could not be disregarded.
“You cleaned 'em out this time,” said he, as he sat on his mustang, hesitating a few minutes, until several of the sentinels that had been sent out could come in with their reports; “you cleaned them out this time,” he repeated, “but don't you think on that account they'll stay away. As I observed to you some time ago, I know something 'bout52 that varmint, and he'll be back agin, and you kin8 bet your bottom dollar on it. He'll fetch a pile of the dogs at his back, and he'll clean out this place so complete that a fortnight from now a microscope won't be able to tell where the town of New Boston stood.”
“And you urge us to give over the attempt to make a settlement here?” remarked Barnwell, with his old cynical53 smile.
“For the present I do; I don't ax you to give it up forever, mind, but only to wait some fifty or seventy-five years, till I get a chance to wipe out Lone Wolf, and things become sorter quieted down like. It's better to get out of bed than it is to be kicked out, and you must take your choice.”
“But we are here, and why should we not stay?”
“The best reason is 'cause you can't. I don't know as there's any better. It's only fifty miles to Fort Severn, and you can make it easy in two or three days with your teams and baggage. You've traveled the plains long 'nough to understand how the thing is done.”
At this juncture54 the three men who had been sent out in different directions on a reconnoissance came in with their report. One of them had climbed the very tree in which Fred Munson had taken refuge. This gave him an extended view of the surrounding country. One of the others had devoted55 himself to a careful examination of the river, while the third scanned the prairie in another direction. The result in every case was the failure to detect any signs of the Apaches.
Sut Simpson waved his friends a good-by and galloped up the slope, where he took the trail of the Indians and at once set off in quest of his young friend, who was a captive in their hands.
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1
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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2
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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4
barbarians
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| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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5
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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6
converging
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| adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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7
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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8
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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9
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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10
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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11
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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12
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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13
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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14
dodge
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| v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计 | |
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15
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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16
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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17
swerve
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| v.突然转向，背离；n．转向，弯曲，背离 | |
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18
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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19
scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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20
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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21
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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22
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
maneuver
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| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
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24
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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25
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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26
consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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27
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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28
flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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29
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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30
piston
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| n.活塞 | |
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31
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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32
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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33
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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34
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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35
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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36
galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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37
scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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38
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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39
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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40
tempting
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| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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41
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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42
chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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43
mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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44
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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46
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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47
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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48
appreciable
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| adj.明显的，可见的，可估量的，可觉察的 | |
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49
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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50
frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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51
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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52
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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53
cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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54
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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55
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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