"No doubt he needs rest, and so I will not wake him!" was Elwood's thought, as he carefully raised himself to the sitting position. But he had scarcely moved when the end of Shasta's blanket was raised, and the boy saw his dark eyes fixed3 inquiringly upon him. Satisfied that there was nothing wrong the blanket dropped again and all was still.
Elwood now looked around. Howard was sleeping soundly, his feet resting against the shaggy sides of Terror, who was equally oblivious4 to the external world. There could be no doubt of Tim's somnolence5 for he gave unmistakable evidence of it. The light was just sufficient to afford a distinct view of the other shore, and in the clear summer air of the morning it had a cool appearance, very pleasing and refreshing6 to the eye.
Elwood, of course, had no knowledge of the distance they had come during the night; but he believed Shasta had not slept more than an hour or two, and that as a consequence they were many miles from their starting point—far enough at any rate to make them perfectly7 easy regarding the troublesome visitors of yesterday.
He noticed the peculiar8 character of the place in which Shasta had run the canoe. It was a small indentation covered with overhanging limbs and shrubbery in such manner that while the whites could peer out upon the river there was no danger of their being seen by any passers-by, unless particular suspicion was directed toward the spot.
Elwood's limbs were so cramped9 from the forced position in which he had lain during the night, that he concluded there could be no harm in stepping ashore10 to yawn and stretch himself. Of course he would take good care not to wander away from the boat, as he had seen the danger of secession in a small party like theirs. As he was stepping over the canoe he saw Shasta looking at him so intently that he paused. The Pah Utah nodded, but made a rather odd gesture, which Elwood took as a caution not to wander away. He nodded assent11 and stepped out upon the land. At this juncture12 Howard awoke and followed him.
"Shall we try and hunt something for breakfast?" asked Elwood.
"Tim's troubles have proved that it is hardly safe; I think we had better leave all such matters to Shasta."
This was good advice certainly, and the boys acted upon it. They walked up and down the banks of the river admiring the beautiful scenery, but seeing nothing of wild animals. They heard the whirr of a flock of birds overhead, alarmed by the apparition13 of two human beings, but the luxuriant vegetation allowed but a glimpse of them as they shot away.
While a few rods distant, they heard the discharge of a rifle, and in no little trepidation14 they hastened back to their friends. They were relieved by finding that it had been done by Tim O'Rooney for the purpose of affording a means of ignition to some sticks and leaves. He and the Pah Utah were on shore, making as much preparation for their breakfast as though they had a dozen men to provide for.
"What does yez think of it?" asked Tim.
"All very well, but where is your breakfast?"
The Irishman jerked his thumb in a very significant manner toward Shasta.
"You don't mean to eat him," laughed Elwood.
"Git out wid yer nonsense!" retorted Tim. "He and meself have been talking together, and we've fixed the whole thing."
"What language did you use?"
"This kind of talk."
And the Irishman explained himself by several extravagant15 but meaningless gestures.
The fire being nicely burning, Shasta took some white crumbs16 from a sort of receptacle in his hunting-shirt, stepped carefully into the canoe, and then gently dropped them upon the surface of the water. Our friend watched his movements with interest.
Leaning carefully over the boat, he curved his arm and held his closed fingers so that they were just within the water, looking down into the stream all the time with the fixedness17 of gaze that characterizes the hawk18 when about to dart19 downward after his prey20.
Suddenly a flight ripple21 was heard, and before either of the three on shore comprehended what he was doing, something flashed before their gaze, and a plump, glistening22 fish, fully2 two pounds in weight, lay floundering at their feet.
"Capital!" shouted Elwood in his excitement, and he was proceeding23 to pay the Pah Utah several highly flavored compliments, when he raised his hand as a warning for them to remain quiet. Bending still further over the canoe, he soon thrust his hand beneath, and with the same lightning-like quickness flung a still larger fish up the bank. This was continued for some time, until he had five fine plump-looking fellows all shining and fresh, waiting for the hungry stomachs.
They had an abundance of food, and its preparation now only remained. Here Shasta displayed his remarkable24 culinary skill. With his keen-edged hunting-knife he slitted the fish, excepting Terror's portion, which of course was devoured25 raw, the entire length of the bodies, and throwing aside the superfluous26 portion, then skewered27 them upon some green prongs in such a manner that they were completely flat, and the entire internal and external surface exposed.
The fire, which had been burning some time, was now raked down until several square feet of live red coals lay bare, when one of the fish was held down within a few inches. As soon as one side was thoroughly28 cooked the other was turned under, and after this same fashion the four were most speedily and thoroughly prepared for the palate.
"Luxurious29!" exclaimed Howard, as he took his prize and buried his teeth in its flesh. "It is cooked to perfection—a trifle of pepper and salt would make this the best dish I ever tasted."
"I never enjoyed a meal more," replied Elwood. "But when I come to think, the first one I tasted in California was nearly as good as this."
Tim was too much engaged to take time for conversation. He waited until he had filled himself to repletion30, when he gave a great sigh of relief and remarked:
"I ain't hungry—not a bit; I've lost me appetite very quickly. Mr. Shasta, you're an excellent cook—worthy of the honor of attending to the wants of Timothy O'Rooney, Esquire."
The Pah Utah paid no heed31 to this praise, but contented32 himself with devouring33 his fish, which he did until he had all that he wished, when from some hidden recess34 he produced a beautifully carved Indian pipe.
"There I'm wid yees agin," remarked Tim, as he replenished35 his own. "The pipe is very soothin' to one's faalings after sevare labor36, as me brother's wife used to say after whacking37 a few hours wid her broomstick—what is your opinion upon the same, Mr. Shasta?"
The Indian nodded his head and murmured some unintelligible38 reply.
"Precisely," assented39 Tim, as he puffed40 forth41 a thick volume of smoke; "that's me own idaas exactly, and the boys here will bear me witness that I've always contended for the same."
"What's that?" asked Elwood.
"Ax him," replied Tin, nodding his head toward his dusky friend. "He's able to explain better nor is meself."
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1
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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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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3
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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somnolence
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| n.想睡，梦幻；欲寐；嗜睡；嗜眠 | |
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6
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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7
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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8
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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13
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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15
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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17
fixedness
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| n.固定；稳定；稳固 | |
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18
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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19
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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21
ripple
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| n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进 | |
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22
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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23
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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26
superfluous
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| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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27
skewered
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| v.（用串肉扦或类似物）串起，刺穿( skewer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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29
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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30
repletion
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| n.充满，吃饱 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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32
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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33
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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34
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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35
replenished
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| 补充( replenish的过去式和过去分词 )； 重新装满 | |
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36
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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37
whacking
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| adj.（用于强调）巨大的v.重击，使劲打( whack的现在分词 ) | |
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38
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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39
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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41
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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