Tim O'Rooney, with an ejaculated prayer, caught up his rifle, and turning his back toward the fire, stood like a person driven at bay and waiting to decide in his mind the best way to strike his last blow. In his haste and alarm his pipe fell from his mouth and lay unheeded at his feet. Shasta quietly picked it up, handed it to him, and motioned for him to seat himself upon the ground again. Tim stared alternately at the animals, the Indian and his pipe, and finally gathered the idea that no imminent4 danger threatened them.
Howard and Elwood also held their rifles ready for it charge from the growling5 wolverines, for such they were, while the Newfoundland growled6 in turn, and glared defiantly7 at them. The intelligent brute8 appeared to comprehend that it would not do for him to sally out and charge upon the enemy's works, but he stood ready to fight and die in the defense9 of his friends.
"Why don't they attack us?" asked Elwood, seeing that they didn't advance nearer than a dozen feet.
"Don't you know that wild animals are afraid of fire? That is what restrains them."
"Of course! I didn't think of that. How fortunate that we gathered enough wood to last!"
"Just look at Shasta! He doesn't even stop smoking!"
"He must know there is no danger."
"Let us try our guns upon them!"
The proposal pleased both, especially as there was no fear but what they could make every discharge tell. Each of them singled out two of the largest wolverines, and fired their guns at the same instant. An ear-splitting clamor succeeded, and as the brutes10 scampered11 away in the darkness two of their number were seen stretched out, quivering and dying.
The wolverine is an animal found in California which unites the characteristics of the bear, weasel, fox and wolf. It is sullen12 and ferocious13, and one of the most troublesome of the wood-denizens. When first seen it is apt to be mistaken for a small bear, or rather heavy-looking wolf. The sensuous14 neck and head bespeak15 the wolf and weasel nature, the sly persistency16 the fox, and the savage17 stubbornness that of the bear; while a resemblance to all four can be seen in the general contour, appearance and habits of the animal.
Attracted, no doubt, by the smell of the cooking fish, a number of these brutes had slyly gathered and crept to the camp, where, finding their prey18 protected by the fire, they proclaimed their furious disappointment by loud howls—half bark and half yell—springing hither and thither19 among each other, sometimes vaulting20 over each other's backs, and darting21 as close to the bristling22 dog as their mortal dread23 of the fire would permit.
Terror stood on the outskirts24 of the camp, occasionally moving forward toward the animals, as if to match his long white teeth and massive strength against their glittering fangs25 and treacherous26 ferocity.
When the two guns were discharged the rest disappeared as if a bombshell had exploded in their midst; but scarcely a dozed27 seconds elapsed ere they closed together again, fiercer and more clamorous28, if possible, than before.
In a few moments the boys had their guns reloaded, and they immediately repeated their former proceeding29 with precisely30 the same result. At this point a surprising occurrence came to pass. The dead wolverines were pounced31 upon by their survivors32 and torn instantly to shreds33, and even devoured34 with as much avidity as if they were Terror and his human companions.
"Did you ever hear of such a thing?" asked Elwood, watching them in great amazement35.
"Yes; I have read of wolves doing the same, even when one of their number was not killed but only wounded slightly."
"Any animals that act in that manner deserve death; so let's send a few more rifle-balls among them."
"If we keep this up for a few hours I don't see that there will be any left, and we may rest in peace."
"They will keep on gathering36 until there are twice that number. If it wasn't for our fire we should have to take to the trees; and what, then, would become of poor Terror?"
"He will get into trouble as it is," said Howard, "if we don't keep an eye on him."
The dog had continued advancing closer to the wolverines, until there was an imminent probability of a collision occurring between him and two of the largest, that sprung forward until they were within a few inches of him, when they darted37 back again to repeat the feint, seemingly with the purpose of drawing the Newfoundland further toward their clutches.
Howard spoke38 sharply to Terror, but he paid no heed3 to the call. The boy repeated it with the same uselessness, and he was beginning to become seriously alarmed for his fate when Shasta laid down his pipe and rose to his feet. The eyes of the three were now centered upon him.
The Pah Utah left his gun and blanket upon the ground, so that his arms and breast, excepting a few ornaments39, were bare. He then drew his keen hunting-knife and held it rigidly40 grasped in his right hand. Stooping down, he caught a blazing brand with his left, swung it rapidly over his head a few times to give it additional blaze, and then darted away like a meteor directly among the wolverines. The latter scattered41 in greater terror than ever, but the Indian, instead of returning, actually followed them.
The brand could only be seen flitting among the trees, its flaming glare giving a wild, unearthly appearance to the face and breast of the Savage as he sped swiftly in and out among the trunks and vegetation, like an avenger42 bent43 on destroying the entire band.
One of the largest wolverines, in his wild fear, sprung so close to Elwood that his tail whisked against him. Ere he could clear himself the Indian burst upon him, his iron arm flashed out with lightning-like swiftness, the wire-like fingers caught the brute by the neck, and the knife was buried so deep in his throat that when he was thrown back he fell limp and dead to the ground. After which Shasta sat down upon the ground again, folded his blanket over his shoulders and appeared much occupied in contemplating44 the burning sticks before him.
"Mr. Shasta, that was well done!" exclaimed Tim in admiration45. "I very much doubt whether it could be excelled by your humble46 servant, the undersigned."
"I very much doubt it also," said Elwood. "I shouldn't fancy chasing those animals with a firebrand."
"No; if you should drop it or fall down unpleasant consequences might follow."
The boys kept up their loading and firing among the wolverines until they had slain47 over a dozen. But instead of diminishing, the number continued to increase till there must have been nearly two-score growling, snapping and snarling48 around the camp-fire.
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1
utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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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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3
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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6
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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7
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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10
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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11
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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12
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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13
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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sensuous
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| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
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bespeak
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| v.预定；预先请求 | |
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persistency
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| n. 坚持(余辉, 时间常数) | |
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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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18
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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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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vaulting
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| n.（天花板或屋顶的）拱形结构 | |
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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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22
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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24
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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25
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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26
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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27
dozed
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| v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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31
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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32
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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33
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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34
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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35
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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36
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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37
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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38
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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39
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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40
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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41
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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42
avenger
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| n. 复仇者 | |
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43
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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44
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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45
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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46
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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47
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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48
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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