When Jake escaped from the ranch1 of Roaring Bull he tried the mettle2 of Captain Wilmot’s charger to the uttermost, for well he knew that the pursuit would be instant and vigorous; that his late comrade Charlie Brooke could guide the troops to the cavern3 in Traitor’s Trap, and that if his companions, who would doubtless ride straight back, were to escape, they must be warned in time. He also knew that the captain’s charger was a splendid one. In order to accomplish his purpose, therefore, he would ride it to death.
The distance between the ranch and the outlaws5’ cave was not so great but that any mustang in the plains could have traversed it in a day, but the cruel man had made up his mind that the captain’s charger should do it in a few hours. It is not so much distance as pace that kills. Had any consideration whatever been extended to the noble creature by the ignoble6 brute7 who rode it, the good horse would have galloped8 to the head of the Trap almost without turning a hair. At first he strode out over the rolling prairie with the untiring vigour10 of a well-made frame and a splendid constitution, leaping the little cracks and inequalities of the ground in the exuberance11 of his strength; though there was no need to bound, and coursing over the knolls12 as easily as he cantered down the hollows, while his flashing eye betokened13 at once a courageous14 and a gentle spirit. But when the lower slopes of the hills were reached, and steepish gradients were met with here and there, the horse began to put back first one ear and then the other, and sometimes both, as if in expectation of the familiar “well done,” or pat on the neck, or check of the rein15 with which the captain had been wont16 to sanction a slackening of the pace, but no such grace was allowed him. On the contrary, when the first symptom appeared of a desire to reduce speed Jake drove his cruel spurs into the charger’s glossy17 side. With a wild snort and bound the horse stretched out again and spurned18 the ground as if in indignant surprise.
Then the breath began to labour slightly; the sweat to darken his rich brown coat, and the white foam19 to fleck20 his broad chest. Still Jake pressed him on with relentless21 fury. It could not be expected that a man who cared not for his fellows would have much consideration for his beast. Murder of a deeper dye than that of a horse was seething22 in the outlaw4’s brain. This to him useless expedition, which had so nearly cost him his life, would be the last that Buck23 Tom should command. After blowing out his brains he would warn the others of the impending24 danger and lead them away to other and more favourable25 fields of enterprise.
At this point the good horse stumbled and almost threw his rider, who, with horrible curses, plied26 the spurs and tugged27 at the bit until blood was mingled28 with the flying foam. Never, save once—when Captain Wilmot was caught alone in the plains by Cheyenne Indians and had to fly for his life—had the good charger been urged to anything like such an effort as he was now called on to make, and then there was no cruelty mingled with the urging. The very tone of his master’s voice, as he patted the neck and shook the rein and gently touched him with the spur, must have convinced the intelligent creature that it was a matter of life or death—that there was a stern need-be for such haste.
Turning at last into the gorge29 of the Trap, the charger gasped30 and sobbed31 with distress32 as he faced the steep ascent33 and tried, with the unabated courage of a willing heart, to pull himself together while the unmerciful monster still drove in the spurs and galled34 his tender mouth. But the brave effort was unavailing. Stumbling over a root that crossed the path, the horse plunged35 forward, and fell with a crash, sending his rider over his head. Jake, alighting on his face and right shoulder, lay stunned36 for a few seconds. Then he jumped up, displaying torn garments and a face covered with blood.
Running to the horse’s head he seized the rein and shook it savagely37, kicking the animal’s face with his heavy boots in his anxiety to make it rise, but the poor charger was beyond his cruelty by that time, for its neck had been broken by the fall.
Oh! it was one of those sights which are fitted to make even thoughtless men recognise the need of a Saviour38 for the human race, and to reject with something like scorn the doctrine—founded on wholly insufficient39 evidence—that there is no future of compensation for the lower animals!
The outlaw did not waste time in vain regrets. Bestowing40 a meaningless curse on the dead charger, he turned and went up the narrow glen at a smart pace, but did not overstrain himself, for he knew well that none of the troop-horses could have kept up with him. He counted on having plenty of time to warn his comrades and get away without hurry. But he reckoned without his host—being quite ignorant of the powers of Black Polly, and but slightly acquainted with those of her master Hunky Ben.
Indeed so agile41 were the movements of Polly, and so thoroughly42 was the scout43 acquainted with the by-paths and short cuts of that region, that he actually passed the fugitive44 and reached the head of Traitor’s Trap before him. This he managed by forsaking45 the roads, keeping a straighter line for the outlaws’ cave, and passing on foot over the shoulder of a hill where a horseman could not go. Thus he came down on the cavern, about half-an-hour before Jake’s arrival. Clambering to the crevice46 in the cliff against which the cave abutted47, and sliding down into a hollow on its earthen roof, he cautiously removed a small stone from its position, and disclosed a hole through which he could both hear and see most of what took place inside.
Lest any one should wonder at the facility with which the ground lent itself to this manoeuvre48, we may as well explain that the bold scout possessed49 one of those far-reaching minds which are not satisfied without looking into everything,—seeing to the bottom of, and peering round to the rear of, all things, as far as possible. He always acted on the principle of making himself acquainted with every road and track and by-path, every stream, pond, river, and spring in the land. Hence he was well aware of this haunt of outlaws, and, happening to be near it one day when its owners were absent, he had turned aside to make the little arrangement of a peep-hole, in the belief that it might possibly turn out to be of advantage in course of time!
The clump50 of shrubs51 and grass on the rugged52 bank, which formed the top of the cave, effectually concealed53 the natural hollow which he had deepened, and the overhanging mass of the rugged cliff protected it from rain and dew.
What Hunky Ben saw on looking through his peep-hole filled him with surprise and pity, and compelled him to modify his plans.
Almost below him on a brush couch, lay the tall form of Buck Tom, with the unmistakable hue54 of approaching death upon his countenance55. Beside him, holding his head, kneeled the much-wasted figure of Leather—the reputed outlaw. Seated or standing56 around in solemn silence were six of the outlaws, most of whom bore tokens of the recent fight, in the form of bandage on head or limb.
“I brought you to this, Leather; God forgive me,” said the dying man faintly.
“No, you didn’t, Ralph,” replied the other, calling him by his old familiar name, “I brought myself to it. Don’t blame yourself, Ralph; you weren’t half so bad as me. You’d never have been here but for me. Come, Ralph, try to cheer up a bit; you’re not dying. It’s only faint you are, from loss of blood and the long gallop9. When you’ve had a sleep and some food, you’ll feel stronger. We’ll fetch a doctor soon, an’ he’ll get hold o’ the bullet. Dear Ralph, don’t shake your head like that an’ look so solemn. Cheer up, old boy!”
“No,” he said sadly, “there is no cheer for me. I’ve thrown my life away. There’s no hope—no mercy for me. I’ve been trying to recall the past, an’ what mother used to teach me, but it won’t come. There’s only one text in all the Bible that comes to me now. It’s this—‘Be sure your sin will find you out!’ That’s true, boys,” he said, turning a look on his comrades. “Whatever else may be false, that’s true, for I know it.”
“That’s so, dear Ralph,” said Leather earnestly, “but it’s no less true that—”
Just then a noise was heard in the outer passage; then hurrying footsteps. Instinctively58 every man drew his revolver and faced the door. Next moment Jake entered.
“Here, one of you; a drink—I’m fit to—ha!”
His eyes fell on the figure of Buck and he shrank back for a moment in silent surprise.
“Yes, Jake,” said the dying man, with a glance of pity not unmingled with scorn, “it has come sooner than you or I expected, and it will save you some trouble—maybe some regret. I’ve seen through your little game, Jake, and am glad I’ve been spared the necessity of thwarting59 you.”
He stopped owing to weakness, and Jake, recovering himself, hastily explained the reason of his sudden appearance.
“Fetch me a rag an’ some water, boys,” he continued. “It looks worse than it is—only skin deep. And we’ve not a moment to lose. Those who have a mind may follow me. Them that wants to swing may stop.”
“But how about Buck Tom?” asked one who was not quite so depraved as the others.
“What’s the use o’ askin’?” said Jake. “It’s all up with him, don’t you see? Besides, he’s safe enough. They’d never have the heart to hang a dying man.”
“An’ Leather!” cried another. “We mustn’t quit Leather. He’s game for many a fight yet. Come, Leather; we’ll help you along, for they’re sure to string you up on the nearest tree.”
“Don’t trouble yourself about me,” said Leather, looking round, for he still kneeled beside his old friend, “I don’t intend to escape. Look to yourselves, boys, an’ leave us alone.”
“Unless you’re all tired o’ life you’ll quit here an’ skip for the woods,” said Jake, as, turning round, he hurriedly left the place.
The others did not hesitate, but followed him at once, leaving Buck Tom, and his friend to shift for themselves.
During all this scene Hunky Ben had been intently gazing and listening—chiefly the latter. When the outlaws filed past him he found it extremely difficult to avoid putting a bullet into the Flint, but he restrained himself because of what yet remained to be done.
As soon as the outlaws were well out of sight Ben arose and prepared for action. First of all he tightened60 his belt. Then he pulled the hood61 of his coat well over his head, so that it effectually concealed his face, and, still further to accomplish the end in view, he fastened the hood in front with a wooden pin. Proceeding62 to the stable he found, as he had hoped and expected, that the outlaws had left one or two horse-cloths behind in their flight. In one of these he enveloped63 his person in such a way as to render it unrecognisable. Then he walked straight into the cave, and, without a word of warning, threw his strong arms a round Shank Leather and lifted him off the ground.
Of course Leather shouted and struggled at first, but as well might a kitten have struggled in the grip of a grizzly64 bear. In his worn condition he felt himself to be utterly65 powerless. Buck Tom made a feeble effort to rise and help him, but the mere66 effort caused him to fall back with a groan67 of helpless despair.
Swiftly his captor bore Leather up the side of the hill till he got behind a clump of trees, into the heart of which he plunged, and then set his burden down on his feet. At the same time, throwing back his hood and flinging away the horse-cloth, he stood up and smiled.
“You’re right, young man, though you’ve only see’d me once that I know of. But most men that see me once are apt to remember me.”
“Well, Hunky,” said Leather, while the indignation began to return, “you may think this very amusing, but it’s mean of a big strong man like you to take advantage of a fellow that’s as weak as a child from wounds an’ fever. Lend me one o’ your six-shooters, now, so as we may stand on somewhat more equal terms and—but a truce69 to boasting! I’m sure that you wouldn’t keep smiling at me like a Cheshire cat if there wasn’t something behind this.”
“You’re right, Mr Leather,” said Ben, becoming at once grave and earnest. “There is somethin’ behind it—ay, an’ somethin’ before it too. So much, that I have barely time to tell ’ee. So, listen wi’ both ears. There’s a bunch o’ men an’ troops close to the Trap even now, on their way to visit your cave. If they find you—you know what that means?”
“Death,” said Leather quietly.
“Ay, death; though ye don’t desarve it,” said Ben.
“But I do deserve it,” returned Shank in the same quiet voice.
“Well, may-hap you do,” rejoined the scout coolly, “but not, so far as I know, in connection wi’ your present company. Now, there’s Buck Tom—”
“Ay, what of him?” asked Shank, anxiously.
“Well, in the nat’ral course o’ timings, death is comin’ to him too, an’ that’ll save him from bein’ strung up—for they’re apt to do that sort o’ thing hereaway in a loose free-an-easy style that’s awkward sometime. I was within an inch of it myself once, all through a mistake—I’ll tell ’ee about that when I’ve got more time, maybe. Well, now, I’m keen to save you an’ Buck Tom if I can, and what I want you to understand is, that if you expect me to help you at a time when you stand considerable in need o’ help, you’ll have to do what I tell ’ee.”
“And what would you have me do?” asked Shank, with a troubled look.
“Remain here till I come for ’ee, and when you meet me in company say nothin’ about havin’ met me before.”
“Can I trust you, Hunky Ben?” said Shank, looking at him earnestly.
“If you can’t trust me, what d’ye propose to do?” asked the scout with a grin.
“You’re right, Ben. I must trust you, and, to say truth, from the little I know of you, I believe I’ve nothing to fear. But my anxiety is for Ralph—Buck Tom, I mean. You’re sure, I suppose, that Mr Brooke will do his best to shield him?”
“Ay, sartin sure, an’, by the way, don’t mention your Christian70 name just now—whatever it is—nor for some time yet. Good-day, an’ keep quiet till I come. We’ve wasted overmuch time a’ready.”
So saying, the scout left the coppice, and, flinging open his coat, re-entered the cave a very different-looking man from what he was when he left it.
“Hunky Ben!” exclaimed Buck, who had recovered by that time. “I wish you had turned up half-an-hour since, boy. You might have saved my poor friend Leather from a monster who came here and carried him away bodily.”
“Ay? That’s strange, now. Hows’ever, worse luck might have befel him, for the troops are at my heels, an’ ye know what would be in store for him if he was here.”
“Yes, indeed, I know it, Ben, and what is in store for me too; but Death will have his laugh at them if they don’t look sharp.”
“No, surely,” said the scout, in a tone of real commiseration71, “you’re not so bad as that, are you?”
“Truly am I,” answered Buck, with a pitiful look, “shot in the chest. But I saw you in the fight, Ben; did you guide them here?”
“That’s what I did—at least I told ’em which way to go, an’ came on in advance to warn you in time, so’s you might escape. To tell you the plain truth, Ralph Ritson, I’ve bin72 told all about you by your old friend Mr Brooke, an’ about Leather too, who, you say, has bin carried off by a monster?”
“You’re quite sure o’ that?”
“Quite sure.”
“An’ You would know the monster if you saw him again?”
“I think I would know his figure, but not his face, for I did not see it.”
“Strange!” remarked the scout, with a simple look; “an’ you’re sartin sure you don’t know where Leather is now?”
“Not got the most distant idea.”
“That’s well now; stick to that an’ there’s no fear o’ Leather. As to yourself—they’ll never think o’ hangin’ you till ye can walk to the gallows—so cheer up, Buck Tom. It may be that ye desarve hangin’, for all I know; but not just at present. I’m a bit of a surgeon, too—bein’ a sort o’ Jack-of-all-trades, and know how to extract bullets. What between Mr Brooke an’ me an’ time, wonders may be worked, if you’re wise enough to keep a tight rein on your tongue.”
While the scout was speaking, the tramp of cavalry74 was heard outside, and a few minutes later Captain Wilmot entered the cave, closely followed by Charlie Brooke.
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1
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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2
mettle
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| n.勇气，精神 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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outlaw
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| n.歹徒，亡命之徒；vt.宣布…为不合法 | |
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outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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6
ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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8
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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10
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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11
exuberance
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| n.丰富；繁荣 | |
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12
knolls
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| n.小圆丘，小土墩( knoll的名词复数 ) | |
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13
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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16
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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spurned
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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foam
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| v./n.泡沫，起泡沫 | |
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fleck
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| n.斑点，微粒 vt.使有斑点，使成斑驳 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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tugged
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| v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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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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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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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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saviour
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| n.拯救者，救星 | |
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insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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bestowing
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| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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45
forsaking
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| 放弃( forsake的现在分词 )； 弃绝； 抛弃； 摒弃 | |
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46
crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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abutted
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| v.（与…）邻接( abut的过去式和过去分词 )；（与…）毗连；接触；倚靠 | |
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manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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49
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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51
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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52
rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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53
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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54
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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55
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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56
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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57
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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58
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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59
thwarting
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| 阻挠( thwart的现在分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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61
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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62
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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63
enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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65
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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66
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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67
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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68
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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69
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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70
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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71
commiseration
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| n.怜悯，同情 | |
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72
bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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73
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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74
cavalry
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| n.骑兵；轻装甲部队 | |
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