They were plainly surprised at finding a boy pressing against the rooks with an appearance of the greatest terror, and they gazed at him a moment as if uncertain what to do about it. However, they didn't seem to be particularly savage3 or blood-thirsty, nor frightened, as they kept their guns in their hands and their knives in their belts.
He who stood nearest to Elwood reached out his brawny4 arm, grasped him firmly and drew him out from his hiding-place. All then scrutinized5 him as if to make sure whether he was some wild animal or human being. Satisfied on this point, the boy was then shoved forward so as to be between the savages6, and as they stepped off he was motioned to do the same. Elwood understood that he was a prisoner, and he philosophically7 submitted to his fate.
As yet they had not disturbed his weapons; but he had gone a short distance only when the Indian directly behind him placed his hand upon the muzzle8 of the gun which was protruding9 over the youngster's shoulder and began drawing it. The latter disliked very much to part with the rifle, and held it as tightly as possible; but as the savage only drew it the more powerfully, he finally let go and it instantly went from his possession.
Elwood could not forbear looking around at the one who had thus deprived him of his property. As he gazed into his face he was at a loss to understand the expression. The Indian fixed10 his black eyes upon him, but his lips were closed and not a feature moved or twitched11. The boy could not withstand the fierceness of those orbs12 and was glad to turn his head again.
They walked quite rapidly up the path, making a turn that gave them a very steep ascent13. The thunder was booming louder than ever, and the rain by this time was falling furiously. The party hurried forward until they reached the camp which Tim O'Rooney and Howard had so recently deserted14. Here Elwood took the liberty of protecting himself by backing against the overhanging rock. This was precisely15 the position which he occupied when Howard Lawrence gazed over and missed seeing him by such a narrow chance.
When the descent of the rain became so copious16 as to scatter17 the savages, two of them ran up beside Elwood and imitated his action in protecting himself from the descending18 deluge19. This was only a partial success, yet much preferable to standing20 in the open air and receiving the full pelting21 of the storm.
It will be remembered that Howard Lawrence waited until he saw the Indians hurry away for shelter, when he returned to Tim O'Rooney and the two effected a safe retreat from the dangerous locality. They saw nothing more of the savages, and their conjecture22 that Elwood was a prisoner among them was merely a conjecture, although absolutely correct.
The tiny stream running so quietly at the feet of the two aboriginal23 Americans and Elwood Brandon increased so rapidly that it was evident it would speedily become a torrent24 that would sweep them off their feet, and that the only safety was to effect as speedy an escape as possible. Taking him between them, they started directly up the path in the direction of their companions. The falling rain and splashing water almost blinded Elwood, but he pressed bravely forward until conscious that they were beneath some kind of covering, and looking around, saw that they stood in a sort of cave, and where they had rejoined the three Indians who had fled some time before.
The shelter proved a secure one, although it was reached rather late to be of much benefit to Elwood, who was thoroughly25 wetted to the skin. He was, however, rather pleased at the lenient26 disposition27 shown by his captors. They had not offered him the least violence, rudeness or insult, and appeared to maintain a very indifferent watch over him. He did not believe they intended him any bodily harm, although he trembled at the consequences when they joined another party or should reach their own homes. They probably intended to hold him a prisoner so long as he was no particular trouble to them; but their leniency28 was more the result of indifference29 than of genuine kindness—and indifference that would as soon witness death as life, and that would not stretch out the hand to avert30 the impending31 doom32.
The storm raged with unabated fury for several hours, and the tiny stream, whose murmur33 could scarcely be heard as it coursed its way through the hills, was now swelled34 to the dimensions of a torrent, and roared through its course with a clamor almost deafening35. A vast amount of water had fallen within the few hours, and it would have been very perilous36 had any of the party remained where the fire that cooked the antelope37 was kindled38. A yellow stream some six feet in depth rushed furiously through the narrow passage, like some river when compressed into its narrow canyon39.
The Indians stood as motionless as the rocks themselves until the storm was over. Each had his blanket slung40 over his shoulder, extending down to his knees, and effectually protecting their bodies from the rain which had so thoroughly soaked poor Elwood. None of them sported the defiant41 scalp-locks so common among the more northern Indians; but their long, black, stiff hair, resembling precisely that of a horse's mane, dangled42 around their shoulders, neck and ears and over their breasts. Mixed in among the hair on the crown were a number of painted feathers, which, having had a touch of rain, drooped43 down like those of an humbled44 chanticleer that has been rescued from the river by some kind hand. Their faces being daubed over with green, yellow and red, mixed and mingled45 with a sublime46 disregard of proportion, gave their features a peculiarly unnatural47 appearance, such as we see when we survey our particular friends through differently and highly colored pieces of glass. They were fine specimens48 of the "noble red man" that are occasionally met with now-a-days; but they are of that species of sights of which it may be said "distance lends enchantment49 to the view." However, they were happy, for as yet they had not come in contact with civilization, and had had no taste for the white man's "fire-water," that scourge50 of the aboriginal race, and which seems destined51 finally to sweep them from the continent.
Elwood occupied himself in looking from one of these Indians to the other, and speculating regarding their thoughts and opinions about himself, of whose presence they seemed so unconscious. Indeed, they scarcely looked at him except when he sneezed, and then their heads shot round as suddenly as if they were moved by machinery52 and the spasm53 had let on the steam.
Finally, when the falling of the rain ceased, two of the Indians went out to look for the remainder of their prisoner's party, which they knew, if not already there, had been so recently among the hills. The vast rush of water, of course, had obliterated54 all signs where they had made any, and they could only hope to find them by discovering the trail made since the storm, or by the sight of themselves.
Not a word did the savages exchange with each other. They appeared to understand what each thought, and what duty was required of them, which duty for the present resembled that of watching and waiting.
As the day wore away the boy began to feel chilly55 and hungry. His wet clothes were anything but comfortable, and his hollow stomach was a poor protection against the sinking feeling. As his captors showed no disposition to leave the place, or even to change their statue-like positions, he began to grow anxious. He feared an attack of sickness if his wants were not supplied; and after debating with himself a few moments, he walked up to the tallest Indian and motioned that he needed something to eat.
The reply was startling and decisive. The dusky rascal56 surveyed him sharply a moment, and then drew his knife and raised it in a menacing manner over his head. And thereupon Elwood retreated to his position, and concluded he wasn't quite as hungry as he first imagined.
It is hard to tell what this singular captivity57 of Elwood Brandon's would have eventuated in had not an unexpected diversion occurred in his favor. Just as it was getting dark, the two Indiana who had gone out at the close of the storm returned. They had a companion with them, and we leave our readers to imagine what the boy's feelings were when he recognized in the third his old friend Shasta, the Pah Utah.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
brawny
|
|
| adj.强壮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
scrutinized
|
|
| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
philosophically
|
|
| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
muzzle
|
|
| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
protruding
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
twitched
|
|
| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
orbs
|
|
| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
ascent
|
|
| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
copious
|
|
| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
scatter
|
|
| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
deluge
|
|
| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
pelting
|
|
| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
conjecture
|
|
| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
aboriginal
|
|
| adj.（指动植物）土生的，原产地的，土著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
torrent
|
|
| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
lenient
|
|
| adj.宽大的，仁慈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
leniency
|
|
| n.宽大（不严厉） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
avert
|
|
| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
impending
|
|
| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
murmur
|
|
| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
swelled
|
|
| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
deafening
|
|
| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
perilous
|
|
| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
antelope
|
|
| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
kindled
|
|
| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
canyon
|
|
| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
defiant
|
|
| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
dangled
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
drooped
|
|
| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
humbled
|
|
| adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
sublime
|
|
| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
specimens
|
|
| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
enchantment
|
|
| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
scourge
|
|
| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
destined
|
|
| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
machinery
|
|
| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
spasm
|
|
| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
obliterated
|
|
| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
chilly
|
|
| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
rascal
|
|
| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
captivity
|
|
| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |