Meanwhile, accustomed to think and act for herself, Old Peg, on the first alarm, had made up her mind to do her fair share of work quietly.
She did not require to be told that danger threatened the family and that flight had been resolved on. A shout from some one that Nor’-Westers were coming, coupled with the hasty preparations, might have enlightened a mind much less intelligent than that of the old woman. She knew that she could do nothing to help where smart bodily exercise was needed, but, down by the creek2 close by, there was a small stable in which a sedate3, lumbering4 old cart-horse dwelt. The horse, she felt sure, would be wanted. She could not harness it, but she could put a bridle5 on it and lead it up to the house.
This animal, which was named Elephant on account of its size, had been totally forgotten by the family in the hurry of departure.
Old Peg found the putting of a bridle on the huge creature more difficult work than she had expected, and only succeeded at last by dint6 of perseverance7, standing8 on three or four bundles of hay, and much coaxing—for the creature had evidently taken it into its head that the old woman had come there to fondle it—perhaps to feed it with sugar after the manner of Elspie.
She managed the thing at last, however, and led the horse up towards the house.
Now, while she had been thus engaged the family had left, and the half-breeds—having combined their forces—had arrived.
Ben Nevis was the first house the scoundrels came to. Dismounting, and finding the place deserted9, they helped themselves to whatever was attractive and portable—especially to a large quantity of Canada twist tobacco, which old Duncan had found it impossible to carry away. Then they applied10 fire to the mansion11, and, in a wonderfully short time Ben Nevis was reduced to a level with the plain. Another party treated Prairie Cottage in a similar manner.
It was when the first volume of black smoke rose into the sky that Old Peg came to the edge of the bushes that fringed the creek and discovered that Ben Nevis had suddenly become volcanic13! She instantly became fully12 aware of the state of matters, and rightly judged that the family must have escaped, else there would have been some evidence of resistance.
Fortunately the old woman had not yet passed quite from the shelter of the bushes. She drew back with a degree of caution worthy14 of a Red-skin, leading the horse with her. When well out of sight she paused for the purpose of meditation15. What was now to be done! As we have said, she possessed16 decision of character in an eminent17 degree. She never at any time had taken long to make up her mind; she was not going to begin now, though the position was probably the most perplexing that she had ever experienced. Suddenly she raised her head and laughed.
In the circumstances it would not have been surprising had hysteria seized Old Peg, but there was nothing hysterical18 in her nature. Calm, cool, calculating courage dominated her every thought and feeling, but the idea of what she was driven to in her old age had tickled19 her fancy. Leading the big cart-horse close up to a bank, she prepared to mount him—having previously20 broken off a good strong switch from a neighbouring bush.
Never before in her life had Peg mounted a steed of any kind whatever. She knew the lady’s position on horseback by sight, of course, but not by practice. To attempt it even with a side-saddle would have been impossible; but Elephant was barebacked. Fortunately he was fat and broad, and without a visible back-bone. Old Peg at once made up her mind, and, climbing the bank, scrambled22 on his back in gentleman’s position. It was more comfortable than she had dared to hope.
But now an unexpected difficulty met her. Elephant declined to move! She pulled at his bridle, and he turned sluggishly23, but he would not advance. Peg administered a sounding whack24 with the switch. She might as well have hit a neighbouring tree. Elephant’s hide was like that of his namesake, and he had no feelings to speak of that could be touched, or hurt, or worked upon.
In this dilemma25 the old woman had recourse to a weapon with which her broad bosom26 was at all times furnished. She drew a large pin, and drove the point into Elephant’s flank. The result was instantaneous. Up went his hindquarters, and Peg found herself sprawling27 on his bushy mane. She held on to that, however, and, gradually working her way back, regained28 her old position—thankful that she had not been thrown to the ground.
Another result was that Elephant condescended29 to walk. But this was not enough. Escape at such a pace was impossible. Old Peg prodded30 him again—this time on the shoulder, for she rightly conjectured31 that he could not well kick up with his fore-legs. But he might rear! The thought caused her to grasp the bushy mane with both hands and hold on. He did not rear, but he trotted33, and poor Old Peg came to the conclusion that there were disagreeable novelties in life, even for her.
When Elephant at length burst out of the fringe of wood and gained the track that followed the course of the river, she was immediately seen by the plunderers, who laughed at the strange rider but did not follow her, with the exception of one man—an Indian, painted and feathered,—who started in pursuit, hoping, possibly, for an easy scalp.
He soon came close up, and, being armed with a bow, sent an arrow in advance of him. The shaft34 was well aimed. It grazed the flank of Elephant, inflicting35 a painful wound. This woke up the old horse surprisingly, so that it not only broke into a gallop36, but set off at racing37 speed as it used to do when young. The Indian was badly mounted, and gradually lost ground, whereupon he sent after the fugitives38 several more arrows which all fell wide of the mark.
The change to Old Peg was as a reprieve39 from death! The trot32 had almost dislocated her bones, and shaken her up like an addled40 egg, and the change to racing speed afforded infinite relief. She could scarcely credit her senses, and she felt a tendency to laugh again as she glanced over her shoulder. But that glance removed the tendency, for it revealed the Indian warrior41, in all his paint and feathers and streaming scalp-locks, in hot pursuit, while the whiz of another arrow close past her ear convinced our heroine that it was not a dream.
The jolting42 to which the poor old creature was subjected had disturbed her costume not a little. Her shawl came nearly off, and, holding on by one pin, fluttered like a flag of defiance43. Her slippers44, which were of the carpet pattern, were left behind on the prairie to perplex the wolves, and her voluminous hair—once a rich auburn, but now a pearly grey—having escaped its cap and fastenings, was streaming out gaily45 in the breeze, as if to tempt21 the fingers and knife of the pursuer.
A stern-chase is a long one, whether ashore46 or afloat. Pursuer and pursued went rapidly down the Settlement until they came in sight of the band which had come to rescue Peg. They received her with a wild cheer of surprise and joy, which turned the Red-skin to the right-about, and sent him back to his friends much faster than he had come.
On receiving his report, the half-breeds at once dashed off in pursuit of the settlers, and did not draw rein47 until they reached the place where the Scotchmen had made a stand. The latter were greatly outnumbered, at least in fighting men, but they showed such a resolute48 front, that Cuthbert Grant, the half-breed leader, again interfered49 to prevent bloodshed if possible. After calming his men, and advising forbearance, he turned to Duncan McKay senior, who was the settlers’ spokesman, and said—
“If you will go peaceably away out of the colony, we will spare you, but if you show fight your blood be on your own heads, for I cannot restrain my men much longer.”
“Iss it sparin’ us you will be talkin’ of, Cuthbert Grant?” answered the Highlander50, with scorn. “Wow! but if it wass not for the weemen an’ children that’s with us, you would hev a goot chance o’ bein’ in need o’ sparin’ yoursels; an’ it iss not much o’ the blood o’ the Grants, either, that’s in your veins51, or ye would scorn to consort52 wi’ such fire-raisin’ cut-throats. It iss the fortune of war—whatever, and we can’t affoord to leave our weemen an’ bairns defenceless. So we accept your terms, if we are not hindered from carryin’ away our arms.”
“Carry away whatever you like,” replied Grant, quietly, “only be off at once, or I’ll not answer for the consequences.”
Thus the angry Highlander was dismissed, and in the end the unfortunate settlers, being a second time driven into exile, took refuge, as before, at Jack53 River.
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1
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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sedate
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| adj.沉着的，镇静的，安静的 | |
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lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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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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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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16
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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sluggishly
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| adv.懒惰地；缓慢地 | |
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whack
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| v.敲击，重打，瓜分；n.重击，重打，尝试，一份 | |
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dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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28
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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inflicting
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 ) | |
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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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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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39
reprieve
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| n.暂缓执行（死刑）；v.缓期执行；给…带来缓解 | |
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40
addled
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| adj.（头脑）糊涂的，愚蠢的；（指蛋类）变坏v.使糊涂( addle的过去式和过去分词 )；使混乱；使腐臭；使变质 | |
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41
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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42
jolting
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| adj.令人震惊的 | |
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43
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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44
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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45
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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46
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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47
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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48
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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49
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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50
highlander
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| n.高地的人，苏格兰高地地区的人 | |
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51
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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52
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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53
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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