Shasta exchanged a few words with his friends, and immediately several of them went out in the darkness. When they returned, which was very speedily, they each bore a goodly bundle of sticks and kindlings. In what part of the wide creation they obtained them, directly after such a deluge2 of rain, it is impossible to tell, but American Indians have a peculiar3 faculty4 of doing such odd things.
A few minutes later a blaze sprung out from the center of the bundle placed in the middle of the cave, and when Elwood looked downward toward it, he saw that Shasta was kneeling before the pile engaged in igniting it. As the flame flared5 out and illuminated6 the cave, the Pah Utah looked up and met the eyes of Elwood. For an instant, his black eyes were fixed7 upon him, and then he placed his finger to his lips and looked down again. The boy understood it all. He didn't know anything of the Pah Utah.
The fire burned vigorously and soon diffused8 a genial9 warmth throughout the cave. It was most grateful indeed to Elwood, who approached and subjected himself to a toasting process. The savages10 offered no objection, and he soon managed to secure a pleasant warmth, and partially11 to dry his damp clothes.
He could not prevent himself from continually glancing at Shasta, but he never once caught his eye, and understanding the Indian's wishes, he compensated12 for this impertinence by staring twice as long at the other hideous13 visages.
After all the great want of Elwood was food. He had fasted for thirty hours, and was faint and feeble. A month before such severe abstinence would have left him unable to stand; but the severe deprivation14 and hardship of the last week, united with its firm, buoyant constitution, and his freedom from the degrading use of tobacco, had developed a strength and endurance remarkable15 in one so young. He felt that he could wait until the next day without a mouthful, and still be able to travel; but the fainting, craving16, hollow feeling rendered him uncomfortable and caused more than one longing17 look around the cavern18 and in the faces of his dusky-hued friends; but if the Indians understood his suffering they certainly did not care enough about them to give them heed19.
His hope was in the Pah Utah, but his situation was such as to deprive him of the expression of this hope. Shasta had given him to understand in an unmistakable manner that for the present they were to remain strangers; and no matter what his distress20 might be, he dare not disregard this command.
Yet Elwood Brandon believed, if the Indian understood his case, he would find some means to relieve him, slight though it was. Finally he decided21 upon his course of action.
Walking up to the tall Indian, who had received his previous request in such a threatening manner, and halting when at a safe distance, he motioned to him for something to place in his mouth. The unfeeling fellow scrutinized22 the boy a moment, and then coolly turned his back upon him, and acted as though the supplication23 had not been made.
He was equally unsuccessful with the others, and the refusal of Shasta was made in a most emphatic24 manner. Glaring at the boy like an enraged25 tiger, he brandished26 his knife and sprung toward him with such a curdling27 yell that the youngster sprung trembling back to the furtherest verge28 of the cavern, and the eyes of the other Indians were all turned toward the expected tragedy. But Elwood wasn't frightened—not a bit; he understood what it all meant.
The performance was followed by a conversation between Shasta and the tall Indian, who doubtless belonged to the Pah Utah nation or some tribe friendly with them. It's precise import Elwood found impossible to determine, but he could not avoid a feeling of uneasiness when he saw by unmistakable signs that it referred to himself.
It looked very much as though Shasta was urging immediate1 disposal of the prisoner, and his friend was strenuously29 maintaining a different action. The Pah Utah showed great excitement, very often turning and gesticulating toward Elwood, and once or twice he look a step or two in that direction, as if he had resolved on a certain and speedy death for him.
Finally, he appeared to yield the point, and turned his back upon his disputant and walked to the fire. As he did so his face was revealed alone to Elwood Brandon, and looking toward him, the boy again saw him place his finger to his lips and give that warning expression, which said as plainly as words, "Don't be frightened; all things are working right!"
This was certainly gratifying, but our young friend was already satisfied upon this point, and would have much preferred a more substantial mark of friendship in the shape of something to supply the craving within. But on the very eve of despair he was delighted to see a couple of Indians—whose absence he had noted30 for the last half-hour—return heavily laden31 with fish. These were immediately taken in charge, by Shasta, and the savor32 of them as they were cooking drove the famishing boy almost frantic33.
While he sat with longing eyes, watching the motions of the cook, one of the fat roasted fellows suddenly shot from his hand and fell into the lap of the boy. The Pah Utah did not raise his head, and the act looked as if it were a voluntary one upon the part of the fish to escape the hands of its tormentors—so dexterously34 was the whole thing done.
Elwood did not stop to thank his considerate friend, but devoured35 the food precisely36 in the fashion that a boy attacks a pile of gingerbread which he has been expecting and longing for during a half-day. When he had finished the fish, another in just as prime condition dropped into his lap, apparently37 from the top of the cave above.
This satisfied his hunger, and he arose to his feet, casting his eyes toward Shasta, and testifying by his looks the gratitude38 which he dare not express audibly. He remained in the rear of the cavern, patiently waiting the pleasure of the Pah Utah regarding himself.
The Indians completed their meal, and then exchanged a few words, when they prepared to leave. Elwood watched them with interest, and when the tall fellow motioned for him to come forward, he did so with alacrity39, and took him place in the rear of the line which was formed. Glancing back as they were about to start, he saw by the light of the fire that the one immediately behind him was Shasta.
The night was utterly40 dark—above, below and all around. The hand of the Pah Utah was placed upon his shoulder, as if to guide him aright, and the march began.
Of course it was impossible for Elwood to tell where he was going, but he followed blindly the direction of him behind for a hundred yards, when he knew by the brushing of his hands against the sides that they were passing through a narrow passage. All at once he felt himself seized by an iron grip from behind, lifted from his feet and tossed into the air. He did not fall back in the path they were traversing, but lit lightly upon a ledge41, where he concluded to remain until he heard further from the gentleman who had elevated him to that position.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
deluge
|
|
| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
faculty
|
|
| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
Flared
|
|
| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
diffused
|
|
| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
savages
|
|
| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
partially
|
|
| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
compensated
|
|
| 补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
deprivation
|
|
| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
craving
|
|
| n.渴望,热望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
cavern
|
|
| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
distress
|
|
| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
scrutinized
|
|
| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
supplication
|
|
| n.恳求，祈愿，哀求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
emphatic
|
|
| adj.强调的，着重的；无可置疑的，明显的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
brandished
|
|
| v.挥舞( brandish的过去式和过去分词 )；炫耀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
curdling
|
|
| n.凝化v.（使）凝结( curdle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
verge
|
|
| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
strenuously
|
|
| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
savor
|
|
| vt.品尝，欣赏；n.味道，风味；情趣，趣味 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
frantic
|
|
| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
dexterously
|
|
| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
devoured
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
precisely
|
|
| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
alacrity
|
|
| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |