"Yes, he is all alone," remarked Howard, in response to the statement that Tim had made on first seeing the fire. "But he has no gun, so far as I can see."
"Has he anything to eat?" inquired Elwood. "For that is getting to be the most important matter."
"There doesn't appear to be any."
"Jist howld still where you baas, till I takes a look around," said Tim, with an admonitory wave of the hand.
They obeyed while he went still nearer on tiptoe. When he was scarcely twenty feet away he paused, and stooping down and bending his head first to one side and then to the other, and raising and arching his neck until his longitudinal dimensions became fearful, he at last satisfied himself that the Indian was alone.
Without moving his feet, Tim now turned his head and motioned for his companions to join him. They did so very carefully and silently, and the three men then stood where the light of the fire shone full in their faces, and where they could not help being the first objects the Indian would see when he was pleased to look up.
"We'll have to wake him," whispered Tim, "and shall I yill, or hit him with a stone on top of the head?"
"Neither; I have heard that the slumber2 of Indians is very light, and if you just speak or make a slight noise I have no doubt it will rouse him."
The fire, which had at its first kindling3 been large, was now smouldering as though it had not been touched for several hours. The Indian was seated on a large stone, his arms hanging listlessly over his knees, and his head sunk so low that his features could not be seen. Instead of the defiant4 scalp-lock drooping5 from his crown, his hair was long and luxuriant, and plentifully6 mixed with gray. It hung loosely over his shoulders, and in front of his face, and helped to give him a strange, repulsive7 appearance.
"I say, owld gintleman, are you draaming, or—"
As quick as lightning the head of the Indian flashed up, and his black eyes were centered with a look of alarm upon the individuals before him. Tim had had some experience with these people when a miner, and he now began making signs to the savage8, who seemed on the point of springing up and darting9 away. Naturally enough the Irishman continued talking, although it was certain that the one could not understand a word the other uttered.
"We maan no harrum," said the Irishman, raising his hands and letting them fall at his side, to show that he carried no weapons, and held good will toward the stranger. The boys judged it best to imitate their comrade; and after standing10 a few moments, the three walked quietly up to the fire. The startled Indian instantly rose to his feet and placed his hand upon the haft of a large knife at his waist.
"None of that, ye spalpeen, or I'll smash you to smithereens!" said Tim, who, although his words were of such dire11 portent12, spoke13 as gently as if he were seeking to quiet an infant.
They now noticed that the Indian was very old. His face was scarred and wrinkled, his body bent14, and his limbs tottered15 as if scarcely able to bear his weight; but his eye was as keen and defiant as the eagle's, and he stood ready to defend himself if harm were offered him.
Tim did the most prudent16 thing possible. He advanced straight to the savage and offered his hand. This means of salutation was understood by the latter, who, after some tottering17 hesitation18, raised his right hand from the knife and returned the pressure. Dropping it, he looked toward Elwood and Howard, who saluted19 him in the same manner, and the parties were now satisfied regarding the feelings of each other.
"Ask him for something to eat!" said Elwood; "I am beginning to feel faint for the want of food."
"What good will the same do? He hasn't anything to give."
"He must live some way himself, and what will support such an old man as he is, is surely good for us."
The signs that Tim now made were unmistakable in their import. He opened his huge mouth until the cavern20 was fearful to contemplate21; then he snapped his teeth together like a dog that has failed to catch a piece of meat thrown to him; after which he carried his hand back and forth22 to his mouth, and opened and shut it again.
The Indian watched these manuevers a moment, and then gave an exclamation23 intended solely24 for his own benefit—and which, therefore, it is not necessary to give, if we could, and we can't—and turning his back, commenced moving away with the feeble, uncertain gait of old age.
"What does that mean?" inquired Howard.
The savage, seeing they did not follow, paused and looked back.
"That is an invitation," said Tim; "do yees foller."
"But where will he lead us?"
"How can I tell?"
"But it may be into danger," admonished25 the most cautious Howard.
"It's the only chance we've got to save ourselves from starving, and for me getting a shmoke out of a pipe, which I am as hungry for as I am for a few pounds of mate."
The three, the Irishman taking the lead, did not hesitate longer, but stepped forward, and the Indian immediately resumed his guidance. The boys could not avoid some alarm and misgiving26 in thus following blindly an Indian whom they had not seen until a few minutes before, and who, they had every reason to believe, was hostile; but there seemed no other course, and they obeyed the suggestion of Tim O'Rooney.
The Indian led the way for several hundred yards, when he halted before one of the rudest and oddest habitations imaginable. It was made of stones, stumps27, limbs, dirt and skins, its dimensions being about twenty feet in every direction. The savage paused but a moment when he shoved a large skin aside, entered and held it open for his friends to do the same. Tim O'Rooney peered cautiously into the lodge28 before trusting himself within it, but seeing nothing alarming, he stepped briskly forward, and was followed by the two boys and Terror.
A dim fire was burning in one corner, against the face of a rock, and opposite it lay a bundle of clothes, which, upon being rather roughly touched by the foot of the Indian, resolved itself into a being of the feminine gender29, unquestionably the partner of the master of the lodge. A few words were exchanged between the two, when the squaw busied herself in preparing a meal, while her husband stirred the fire into a cheerful blaze that brightly illuminated30 every portion of the singular dwelling31. He seemed entirely32 forgetful of the presence of the strangers, who seated themselves upon a broad flat stone and calmly awaited the result of his doings.
The old lady speedily appeared with a huge piece of meat, which was soon roasting on the fire, its savory33 odor filling the apartment, and rendering34 our friends half frantic35 in their starving condition. It was quickly cooked; the Indian severed36 it into four equal portions with his hunting-knife, and tossed one to each of his visitors, including the dog, which was really suffering for the want of nourishment37.
As Elwood and Howard ravenously38 ate the well-cooked, juicy meat, free from pepper and salt, they were sure they had never tasted such a delicious morsel39 in all their life. The pieces were of a generous size, and after all three had gormandized themselves until, absolutely, they could contain no more, each had some left. This, as a matter of course, was thrown to Terror, and by the time he had swallowed them all, he licked his jaws40 to show that his pangs41 of hunger were also fully1 satisfied.
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1
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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3
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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4
defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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plentifully
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| adv. 许多地，丰饶地 | |
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repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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8
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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9
darting
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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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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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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portent
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| n.预兆；恶兆；怪事 | |
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13
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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14
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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15
tottered
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| v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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16
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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18
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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24
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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26
misgiving
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕 | |
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27
stumps
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| （被砍下的树的）树桩( stump的名词复数 )； 残肢； （板球三柱门的）柱； 残余部分 | |
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28
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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29
gender
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| n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性 | |
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30
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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31
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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32
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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36
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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37
nourishment
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| n.食物，营养品；营养情况 | |
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38
ravenously
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| adv.大嚼地，饥饿地 | |
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39
morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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40
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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41
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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