It has been said that the travellers—for we cannot now appropriately style them fugitives—had reached a more open country, and that Hockins’s fight with the wild bull had taken place on the margin2 of a wide grassy3 plain.
This plain, however, was limited. In front of them the scenery was undulating and beautifully varied—almost park-like in its character, and only in one direction—to the right—did it extend like a sea of waving grass to the horizon. Behind them lay the dense4 forest through which they had passed. The forest also curved round to their left, and stretched away, apparently5 unbroken, on to still far-off mountains.
After they had breakfasted, packed their dried meat, and sallied forth6 on the journey of another day, they walked in silence until they reached the edge of the plain, where there was room to walk abreast7.
“Now, comrades,” said Mark Breezy, “we will go to the top of yon mound8, see how the land lies, and hold a council of war.”
They soon reached the spot, and found the view from it unexpectedly beautiful. The whole landscape was clothed with tropical verdure. Past the foot of the mound ran a considerable stream, which opened out into a series of lakelets in the hollows beyond, the waters of which seemed to be the home of considerable numbers of wild-fowl,—but there was no sign of the presence of man.
“Strange,” said Mark, in a low voice, “that such a lovely scene should have been created a solitude10, with no one to profit by or enjoy it.”
“Well now, sir,” remarked the sailor, “d’ee know that same thought has puzzled me now an’ again; for although my purfession is the sea, I’ve travelled a good bit on the land—specially in South America—and I’ve seen miles on miles o’ splendid country, that made me think of Adam an’ Eve in paradise, with never a soul, as you say, to make use of or enjoy it. I’ve often wondered what it was all made for!”
“Don’t you tink,” said Ebony, with his head a little on one side, and his earnest eyes betraying the sincerity11 of his nature, “don’t you tink dat p’r’aps de ducks an’ geese, an’ sitch-like, makes use ob an’ enjoys it? to say nuffin’ oh de beasts, hinsects, an’ fishes.”
“You may be right, Ebony,” returned Hockins, with an approving nod; “we human being’s is apt to think too much of ourselves. Moreover, it has come into my mind that Great Britain was a solitood once—or much about it—an’ it’s anything but that now; so mayhap them lands will be swarmin’ wi’ towns an’ villages some day or other. What d’ee think, Doctor?”
But the young doctor said nothing, for while his companions were thus indulging in speculations12, he was anxiously considering what course they should pursue.
“You see, comrades,” he said, turning to them abruptly13, “if we go to the right and traverse this fine country we may very likely fall in with villages, but the villagers may be savages15, like those we met on the coast. On the other hand, if we go to the left, we shall have to traverse the somewhat dark and difficult forests, but then we shall be making for the mountains and table-lands of the interior; and as the capital, Ant— Ant—”
“Anty-all-alive-O!” suggested Hockins.
“No, ’s not dat. It ends wid ‘arrive O!’ w’ich is just what we wants.”
“Well, whatever may be its name, I know that it is in the centre of the island somewhere, and the centre of any land always means the mountains; so I think we had better decide to go to the left, and—”
“Hallo! look yonder, sir,” said Hockins, pointing towards a low cliff which rose in front of them not a quarter of a mile from the spot where they stood.
Turning in the direction indicated, they observed a man running swiftly, as if in pursuit of something. They could see that he was clothed, and that he carried several spears, from which they judged that he was a hunter. Coming to the foot of the cliff before mentioned, the man ascended16 the face of it with wonderful agility17, and had almost gained the top, when a treacherous18 root or stone gave way, causing him to lose his hold and roll violently to the bottom.
“Poor fellow, he’s killed!” cried Mark, running towards the fallen hunter, who lay on the ground motionless.
He was not killed, however, though stunned19 and bleeding profusely20 from a deep wound in the arm, caused by one of his own spears while in the act of falling. When the three strangers suddenly appeared the hunter grasped one of the spears and made a vigorous attempt to rise, evidently under the impression that he was about to be attacked; but the fall and the loss of blood were too much for him. He sank back with a groan21, yet there was a look of quiet dignity about him which showed that he gave way to no craven spirit.
Our young doctor, kneeling down beside him, proceeded at once to staunch the wound and bind22 up the arm with his pocket-handkerchief. While he was thus engaged, Hockins brought some water from a neighbouring stream in a cup which he had extemporised out of a piece of bark, and applied23 it to the man’s lips. Ebony stood by, with a look of profound pity on his face, ready for whatever might be required of him.
The hunter showed by the expression of his handsome brown features that he was grateful for these attentions. Yet, at the same time, there seemed to be something of perplexity, if not surprise, in his looks as he gazed on the white men’s faces. But he did not utter a word. When the dressing24 of the arm was completed—of course in a most businesslike manner—he again attempted to rise, but was so weak from loss of blood that he fell back fainting in the Doctor’s arms.
“This is a most awkward business,” said Mark, as he laid the man carefully on the ground, and put a bundle of grass under his head for a pillow. “It behoves us to push on our journey without delay, yet it will never do to leave him here alone, and we can’t very well take him on with us. What is to be done!”
Both Hockins and the negro looked their incapacity to answer that question. Just then the answer came in the form they least expected, for a sound of many voices in clamorous25 talk suddenly broke on their ears. The speakers, whoever they might be, were still distant, and the formation of the ground prevented our travellers being seen by them.
“Savages!” exclaimed Mark and Hockins in the same breath.
“Hide!” cried Ebony, with a roll of his huge eyes, as he suited the action to the word, and leaped into the bushes. The others followed his example, and running about a hundred yards back into the woods, climbed into the branches of a lofty tree, from which outlook, well screened by leaves, they saw a band composed of some hundreds of natives walking smartly over the open plain. From the manner of their approach it was evident that they searched for some one, and as they made straight for the cliff where the wounded man lay, it seemed probable that they were following up his trail.
“Why d’ee think so, Doctor?” asked Hockins, who did not by any means seem to take such a gloomy view of their case.
“Don’t you see? Savages can follow up people’s trails almost as well as dogs. They’ll easily trace us to the foot of this tree by our footprints, and then they’ve only to look up!”
“That’s true. I had forgotten that.”
“Dere’s time to drop down yit, massa, and squatilate,” suggested the negro, excitedly.
Mark shook his head.
“Might as well try to run from tigers as from savages,” he returned, “unless you’ve got a good start.”
“But they ain’t all savages, sir,” whispered Hockins, as the band drew nearer. “Some o’ the naked black fellows look savage14 enough, no doubt, but there’s a lot of ’em lightish brown in the skin, an’ clothed in fine though queer garments. They carry themselves, too, like gentlemen. P’r’aps we’d better go for’ard an’ trust them.”
“Trust to ’em, ’Ockins!” said Ebony with a decided27 shake of the head, “trust men wid brown faces? Nebber!”
The whispered conversation ceased at this point for a loud shout of surprise mingled28 with alarm was raised as the band came to the foot of the cliff and found what appeared to be the dead body of the wounded man. Evidently they were friends, for while some of them kneeled down beside the injured hunter to examine him, others gave way to gestures and exclamations29 of grief.
Presently the watchers observed that one of those who kneeled beside the body looked up with a smile and a nod of satisfaction as he pointed30 to his chest.
“They’ve discovered that he’s not dead,” said Mark.
“Yes, massa, an’ dey’ve diskivered de bandaged arm.”
It did more than puzzle them. They had not observed it at first, because, just before running into the woods, Mark had covered it with a loose shawl—a sort of linen32 plaid—which the man had worn round his shoulders. When they removed this and saw the bandage which was wound round the limb in the most careful and perfect manner, they looked at each other in great surprise; then they looked solemn and spoke33 in low tones, glancing round now and then with saucer-like eyes, as if they expected to see something frightful34.
“I do believe, Doctor,” whispered the seaman, “that they think your work has been done by a goblin of some sort!”
It would indeed seem as if some such idea had entered the minds of the band, for instead of examining the ground for footprints and following them up—as was natural to have done—they silently constructed a litter of branches, covered it with some of their garments, and quietly bore the wounded and still unconscious man away in the direction of the plains.
With thankful hearts our travellers slid to the ground, and hurried off in the opposite direction towards the mountains.
That night they came to a deeply-shaded and rugged35 piece of ground in the heart of the forest where there were caverns36 of various sizes. Here the solitude seemed to be so profound that the fear of pursuit gradually left them, so they resolved to kindle37 a cheerful fire in one of the caves, cook a good supper, and enjoy themselves. Finding a cave that was small, dry, and well concealed38, they soon had a bright fire blazing in it, round which they sat on a soft pile of branches—Mark and Hockins looking on with profound interest and expectation while the negro prepared supper.
“If I only had a quid o’ baccy now,” said Hockins, “I’d be as happy as a king.”
“I have the advantage of you, friend, for I am as happy as a king without it,” said the young doctor.
“Well, there’s no denyin’,” returned the seaman, “that you have the advantage o’ me; but if I only had the baccy I’d enjoy my disadvantage. P’r’aps there’s a bit left in some corner o’—”
He plunged39 his hands into each pocket in his garments, one after another, but without success until he came to the left breast-pocket of his coat. When he had searched that to its deepest recesses40 he stopped and looked up with a beaming countenance41.
“Ho! got ’im?” asked Ebony, with interest.
Hockins did not reply, but, slowly and tenderly, drew forth—not a quid, but—a little piece of brown wood about five or six inches long.
“A penny whistle!” exclaimed Mark.
“Speak with reverence42, Doctor,” returned the sailor, with a quiet smile, “it ain’t a penny whistle, it’s a flageolet. I stuck it here the last time I was amoosin’ the crew o’ the Eastern Star an’ forgot I hadn’t putt it away. Wait a bit, you shall hear.”
Saying this Hockins put the tiny instrument to his lips, and drew from it sounds so sweet, so soft, so melodious43 and tuneful, that his companions seemed to listen in a trance of delight, with eyes as well as with ears!
“Splendid!” exclaimed Mark, enthusiastically, when the sailor ceased to play. “Why, Hockins, I had no idea you could play like that! Of course I knew that you possessed45 musical powers to some extent, for I have heard the tooting of your flageolet through the bulkheads when at sea; but two or three inches of plank46 don’t improve sweet sounds, I suppose.”
“Ho! massa, didn’t I tell you t’ree or four times dat he play mos’ awrful well?”
“True, Ebony, so you did; but I used to think your energetic praise was due to your enthusiastic disposition47, and so paid no attention to your invitations to go for’ard an’ listen. Well, I confess I was a loser. You must have played the instrument a long time, surely?”—turning to the seaman.
“Yes, ever since I was a small boy. My father played it before me, and taught me how to finger it. He was a splendid player. He used sometimes to go to the back of the door when we had a small blow-out, an’ astonish the company by playin’ up unexpectedly. He was great at Scotch48 tunes—specially the slow ones, like this.”
He put the little instrument to his lips again, and let it nestle, as it were, in his voluminous beard, as he drew from it the pathetic strains of “Wanderin’ Willie,” to the evidently intense enjoyment49 of Ebony, who regarded music as one of the chief joys of life—next, perhaps, to cooking!
But Mark and Ebony were not the only listeners to that sweet strain. Just outside the mouth of the cave there stood a man, who, to judge from the expression of his face, was as much affected50 by the music as the negro. Though he stood in such a position as to be effectually screened from the view of those within, a gleam of reflected light fell upon his figure, showing him to be a tall, handsome man in the prime of life. He was clothed in what may be styled a mixed European and native costume, and a gun on which he rested both hands seemed to indicate him a hunter. He carried no other weapon, except a long knife in his girdle. The mixed character of his garb51 extended also to his blood, for his skin, though dark and bronzed from exposure, was much lighter52 than that of most natives of the island, and his features were distinctly European. Quiet gravity was the chief characteristic of his countenance, and there was also an expression of profound sadness or pathos53, which was probably caused by the music.
When Hockins finished his tune44 the three friends were almost petrified54 with astonishment—not unmingled with alarm—as they beheld55 this man walk coolly into the cave, rest his gun on the side of it, and sit gravely down on the opposite side of the fire.
The first impulse of our three friends, of course, was to spring up, but the action of the man was so prompt, and, withal, so peaceful, that they were constrained56 to sit still.
“Don’t be alarmed. I come as a friend. May I sit by your fire?”
He spoke in good English, though with a decidedly foreign accent.
“You are welcome, since you come as a friend,” said Mark, “though I must add that you have taken us by surprise.”
“Well now, stranger,” said Hockins, putting his musical instrument in his pocket, “how are we to know that you are a friend—except by the cut o’ your jib, which, I admit, looks honest enough, and your actions, which, we can’t deny, are peaceable like?”
The seaman put this question with a half-perplexed, half-amused air. The stranger received it without the slightest change in his grave aspect.
“You have no other means of knowing,” he replied, “except by my ‘jib’ and my actions.”
“Dat’s a fact, anyhow,” murmured Ebony.
“Who are you, and where do you come from?” asked Mark.
“That’s plain-speakin’, an’ no mistake,” said Hockins, with a laugh, “an’ deserves as plain a return. We can’t say exactly that we are outlaws58, but we are out-an’-outers, an’ we’re going through the forest to—to—Anty-all-alive-O! or some such name—the capital, you know—”
“Antananarivo,” suggested the outlaw.
“That’s it! That’s the name—I couldn’t recall,” said Mark, quickly. “We are going there, if we can only find the way.”
“I know the way,” returned the outlaw, “and my reason for coming here is to offer to show it you.”
“Indeed! But how came you to know our intentions, and what makes you take so much interest in us?” asked Mark, with a look of suspicion.
“My reason for being interested in you,” returned the stranger, “is a matter with which you have nothing to do. How I came to know your intentions it is easy to explain, for I have followed you from the sea-coast step by step. I saw you escape from the savages, saw you frightened out of the cave by my friends the outlaws, who dwell in it, followed you while you traversed the forest, listened to your conversations, witnessed your exploit with the bull, and observed you when you helped and bandaged the wounded native.”
It would be difficult to describe the looks or feelings with which the three friends received this information. Ebony’s eyes alone would have taken at least half-an-hour of the pencil to portray59.
“Never mind the why,” continued the outlaw, with a pleasant look. “You see that I know all about you—at least since you landed—and I also know that you have been several times in unseen danger, from which I have shielded you. Now, you have arrived at a part of the forest which is swarming61 with brigands63, into whose hands you are sure to fall unless I am with you. I therefore come to offer myself as your guide. Will you have me?”
“It seems to me,” returned Mark, with something of scorn in his tone, “that we have no choice, for you have us at your mercy—we cannot refuse. I suppose you are the brigand62 chief, and are guarding us for some sinister64 purpose of your own.”
“I said not that I was a brigand,” returned the stranger, quietly; “I said I was an outlaw. What else I am, and my motives65 of action, I choose not to tell. You say truly—I have you in my power. That is one reason why I would befriend you, if you will trust me.” The outlaw rose up as he spoke.
There was such an air of quiet dignity and evident sincerity in the man that Mark was strongly impressed. Rising promptly66, he stretched his hand across the fire, saying, “We will trust you, friend, even though we were not in your power.”
The outlaw grasped the youth’s hand with a gratified look.
“Now,” he added, as he took up his gun, “I will go. In the morning at day-break I will return. Sleep well till then.”
With something like a courtly salute67, the mysterious stranger left them, and disappeared into the depths of the forest.
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1
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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grassy
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| adj.盖满草的；长满草的 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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abreast
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| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
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mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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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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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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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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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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clamorous
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| adj.吵闹的，喧哗的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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seaman
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| n.海员，水手，水兵 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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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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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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kindle
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| v.点燃，着火 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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recesses
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| n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 )；（工作或业务活动的）中止或暂停期间；学校的课间休息；某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 )；将（墙）做成凹形，在（墙）上做壁龛；休息，休会，休庭 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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48
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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49
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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50
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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51
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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52
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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53
pathos
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| n.哀婉，悲怆 | |
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54
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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55
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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56
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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57
outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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58
outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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59
portray
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| v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等) | |
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60
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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62
brigand
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| n.土匪，强盗 | |
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63
brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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64
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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65
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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66
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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67
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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