The direct result of this exchange of shots was to make the two parties more cautious. Mickey and Fred kept further away from the camp-fire, which they suffered to die out gradually. There was really no need fot it, and, since its presence meant danger, it was only prudent1 to dispense2 with it altogether.
For fully3 a half hour not the slightest movement or disturbance4 at the opening betrayed the presence of any one there, although there could be no doubt that their enemies were within call.
“I can't see what they can gain by loafing around them parts, as the lassies used to obsarve in the ould country when any of the laddies tried to cut me out wid 'em. They need n't watch for us to come out that way, for there ain't much danger of our trying to steal out of that hole—-”
“Holloa! Look there!” exclaimed Fred, in considerable excitement; “some of them are coming down to catch us.”
Mickey had already noticed that something unusual was up, and, just as the lad spoke5, the figure of what seemed to be a man blocked up the opening, and then began slowly descending7, as if supported by a rope, with which his friends were lowering him into the lower room. His form was swathed with a blanket, and there was a certain majesty8 in the slowly sinking figure, which would have been very impressive but for the fact that it was hardly started when the thin cord by which it was suspended began to twist and untwist, causing the form to revolve10 forward and backward in a way that was fatal to dignity.
On the impulse of the moment, the Irishman had raised his gun to fire the moment his eyes rested upon the figure. But he restrained himself, not a little puzzled to guess the meaning of such a proceeding12. The man, as they believed him to be, was slowly lowered, until something like a dozen feet below the opening, where those who had him in charge seemed to think was the proper place to hold him on exhibition for a time.
“Are you going to shoot?” asked the boy, who did not understand the delay.
“What's the use?” he asked, with an expression of disgust.
“Why, it will stop the man coming down on us.”
“Man, do ye say? He ain't any more a man than me gun is.”
“What, then, can he be?”
“He's a blanket that they've twisted up so as to look as though it is gathered about the shoulders of an Apache. It's easy to see that there's nothing in it from the way it swings around, as though it was a little toy; and, be the same token, that little cord which holds him aloft is no thicker than a darning-needle. Why they are thrying such a simple thrick is more than I can tell.”
“I think I know,” said Fred. “They've dropped him down to find out whether we're on the watch or not. If we didn't pay any attention to it, they would think that neither of us was on the look-out, and they would send some others down to scalp us.”
“Be the powers, me laddy, I b'lave ye are right!” exclaimed Mickey, admiringly. “That's just the plan of the spalpeens, by which towken, I'll tip him a shot.”
With this he raised his rifle, and, sighting rather carelessly, fired. The shot, which was aimed at the roll of blanket, missed it altogether and cut the string which held it suspended in mid-air.
The next moment there was a dull thump13 upon the sand, and the package lay at the feet of the Irishman, who gave it a kick to make sure of its nature. It rebounded14 several feet, the resistance to the blow showing that there was nothing more than the simple blanket, and then he stooped over and examined it more closely by the sense of touch.
“'Twas very kind of the spalpeens to furnish us with a blanket that saams as good as this, though the weather ain't so cold that we naad it just now; but sometimes the rain comes and the northers blow, and then a chap is mighty15 glad to have seech a convanient article about. 'Twas very kind I say.”
The result of the little experiment upon the part of the Apaches, it was apparent, was not satisfactory to them. The boy was right in his surmise16 of its purpose; but it cannot be supposed that they counted upon losing the blanket under any circumstances. It was a costly17 and beautiful one, such as are made by the Indians of the southwest, and it was new enough to be clean, so that the two fugitives18 had secured a prize. At all events, the Apaches must have concluded that the people below were keeping watch and ward11 so well that no one could descend6 into the cave without danger of being perforated by a rifle ball.
Shortly after this occurrence it began to grow dark above, but the cause was obvious. The day was drawing to a close. Darkness, only less profound than that within the cave below, was enwrapping the surface above.
As soon as the night had fairly descended19, Mickey O'Rooney, handling a small torch with great care, made his way once more to the puzzling outlet20 of the underground stream. The inspection21 satisfied him of the accuracy of his theory. Not the slightest tinge22 of light relieved the impenetrable gloom. Mickey considered this strong proof that it was but a short distance to the free air outside, and his courage rose very nearly to the sticking point of making the experiment then and there.
“But we both naad sleep,” he mused23, as he threw down his torch, and made his way back by the dull glare of the expiring camp-fire. “We both lost considerable last night, and a chap can't kaap reg'lar hours any more than he can when he's coorting three lassies at the same time, and thrying to kaap aich from suspecting it. I faal as though we shall have something lively to do to-morrow, and so we'd better gain all the slumber24 we kin9.”
When he reached the camp, he found the lad anxiously awaiting his return. They had signaled to each other several times, but the presence of the danger overhead rendered the boy more uneasy than usual when they were apart.
“Have ye observed nothing?” asked Mickey, in an undertone.
“Nothing at all.”
“It's too dark I know, to see, but mebbe yees have heerd something to tell ye that the spalpeens are up there still.”
“You may be sure I listened all I know how, but everything has kept as still as the grave. I haven't heard the fall of a pebble25 even. What do you think the Indians mean to do?”
“Well it's hard to tell. It fooks as though they didn't think we fell in, but had come down on purpose, and had some way of getting out as easy, and they're on the look out for us.”
“Maybe, Mickey, there's some other way of coming in, that we haven't been able to find.”
“I hoped so a while ago, but I've guv it up. If them spalpeens knowed of any other way, what do they mean by fooling around that place up there, where they're likely to get shot if they show themselves, and they're likely to lose the best blankets they've got?”
Fred did not feel competent to answer this question, and so he was forced to believe that Mickey was right in his conclusion that there was no other way of entering the cave than by the skylight above.
“Which the same thing being the case, I propose that we thry and see how the new blanket answers for a bed. Begorrah! but its fine, as me mither used to say when she run her hands over the head of me dad, and felt the lumps made by the shillelah.”
And, having spread the blanket out in the dark-ness, he rubbed his hands over its velvety26 surface, admiring its wonderful texture27. The texture is such that water can be carried in these Apache blankets with as much certainty as in a metal vessel28. But Fred protested against both lying down to sleep at the same time. He thought it likely that the Apaches meant to visit the cave during the night; but his friend laughed his fears to scorn, assuring him that there could be no danger at all. In view of the reception tendered the blanket, the Apaches would take it for granted that the parties beneath were too vigilant29 to permit anyone to steal a march upon them.
Mickey at once attested30 his sincerity31 by stretching out upon the inviting32 couch, and Fred concluded at last to join him. It was not long before the Irishman was sound asleep, but the lad lay awake a long time, looking reflectively up at the spot where he knew the opening to be,—the opening which had been the means of letting himself and comrade down into that dismal33 retreat of solitude,—and wondering what their enemies were doing.
“They must know that I am here. Lone34 Wolf will punish them if they don't keep me, so I am sure they will do all they can to catch me again. I wish I was certain that there was no way of getting in but through that up there, and then I could sleep too, but I feel too scared to do it now.”
This anxiety kept him awake a long time after Mickey became unconscious; but, as hour after hour passed and the stillness remained unbroken, his fears were gradually dissipated and a feeling of drowsiness35 began stealing over him.
Before consciousness entirely36 departed, he turned upon his side, that being the posture37 he generally assumed when asleep. As he made the movement and his ear was placed against the blanket, which in its turn rested upon the ground, he heard something which aroused his suspicions instantly and he raised his head. But when he rested on his hands, with his shoulders thrown up, he could hear nothing at all. The earth was a better conductor of sound than the atmosphere, which accounted for what at first seemed curious.
The boy applied38 his ear as before, and again he heard the noise, faintly, but distinctly; As the eye was of no use, he pressed his head against the blanket and listened. Several minutes were occupied in this manner, and then he said, in an undertone:
“I know what it is!—it is somebody walking as softly as he can. There is another way of getting into this cavern39, and those Apaches have found it out. They've got inside and are hunting for us!”
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1
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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6
descend
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| vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降 | |
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7
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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8
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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9
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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10
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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11
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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12
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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13
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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14
rebounded
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| 弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效 | |
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15
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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18
fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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outlet
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| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
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inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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24
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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pebble
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| n.卵石，小圆石 | |
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26
velvety
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| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
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27
texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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28
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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30
attested
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| 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 | |
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31
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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32
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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34
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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35
drowsiness
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| n.睡意；嗜睡 | |
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36
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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37
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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38
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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