It seemed to the young leader, as they fared forth3 across that ghastly moonlit field, that his life had been spent on trails. Daily he walked along some trail. At night he slept beside one. When chill morning broke across a bleak4 snow-covered land, it was only to resume that never-ending, continuous trek5.
It was a sort of Nemesis6 that haunted him. Somehow he couldn’t get away from it. The trail!——It was there always. It beckoned7 to him. It defied him. It led him wearily, doggedly8 on to new dangers and disasters.
195
On the night in question, the four miles seemed inconceivably long. The feet of his party dragged. A moody9 silence hung about them. No one laughed. Conversation had ceased. Behind him came the monotonous10 crunch11, crunch, crunch of scores of snowshoes, beating out a path. Crunch, crunch, crunch—tired, laggard12 feet moved hesitatingly, moved fearfully, ready at the slightest pretext13 to turn and flee.
Neither Dick nor his two chums believed that in case of an attack, any of the Indians, comprising their party, would make a stand. They were too fearful. In the final crisis, so Dick believed, he would be forced to depend solely14 upon his two friends and himself. Yet in numbers there is strength. Their imposing15 array would be sure to impress the enemy.
They reached the village. They bore down upon it, forty strong, shouting their defiance16. With their rifles ready, they entered the outskirts17, laggard steps becoming more laggard, frightened faces becoming more frightened as the crisis approached. They were offered no resistance. Could it be that the village was asleep? A few huskies sniffed18 at their heels. A papoose cried in one of the tepees they passed. Still they went on.
196
In the brilliant star-sprinkled sky a few clouds were visible. One particularly dark cloud passed across the moon. Shadows fell athwart the tepees. It was darker now. The forms of Dick’s followers19 became shrouded20 in gloom. Along the white snow surface crept a huge dark stain, an immensity of shadow that blotted21 the earth.
The tepees were black blotches22 now against a dark background. Out of this obscurity, coming as unexpectedly as a fire-siren, shrieking23 its warning, there rose a blood-curdling, hideous24 yell. Dick literally25 froze in his tracks. A cold sweat broke out upon his face. He had scarcely the strength to stand upon his tottering26 legs.
The yell was followed by the cracking of rifles, the whining27 of bullets. Appalled28, his men drew back. For a brief moment they stood their ground, then broke and fled in confusion. The retreat became a rout29. Panic spread, rifles were hurled30 to one side, and a few minutes later Dick’s valiant31 supporters disappeared from view, swallowed up in the semi-darkness.
Dick saw the absolute futility32 of attempting anything further that night. Moving more leisurely33, he and his two chums followed his defeated column. Again the trail oppressed him. Hope had gone glimmering34. He had reached the end of the road. He heard Sandy speaking in mournful tones:
197
“Well, I guess there isn’t much we can do now. It’s all over. I wouldn’t give one whoop35 for Dr. Brady’s chances now, or the priest’s either. What do you think about it, Toma?”
For once the young Indian was at a loss to know what to say. He shook his head and walked on beside them.
“I’m tired of it all,” said Dick. “Our luck has deserted36 us. There used to be a time, Sandy, when we could stumble through difficulties blindly. But I’m afraid that that time has passed. We’re up against a solid rock wall. We can’t scale it. It’s too high for our puny37 strength. We’re helpless.”
“And yet,” said Sandy, almost reverently38, “Corporal Rand came up here single-handed to accomplish what we have failed to do with forty men. Have you stopped to think about that?”
“Yes, but Corporal Rand is licked too.”
“The trail did that. I’m willing to bet that if Corporal Rand were here now, he’d dare to go back to that Indian village alone, and would probably be successful too.”
“I realize that. But how do they do it? It’s a thing I’ve often wondered at.”
198
“I can’t explain it myself,” said Sandy, “unless it is the awe39 in which they are held. You see, Dick, all the people who live in this north country know what wonderful men they are, how brave and determined40. They’re afraid of them. But it’s something more than fear. It goes deeper than that. It’s—it’s——I can’t tell you what it is. It isn’t exactly awe or reverence41 or fear. Perhaps it is a mixture of all these things. I really can’t tell you.” They struggled on, soon reaching the village, where they were met by Father Michaud, who was now in charge of the mission. Father Michaud carried a lantern. He was a much older man than either of his two associates. He held the lantern out before him, and as the boys came closer, peered up anxiously in their faces.
“Ah, monsieur, is it not terrible. Ees everyone safe? Are there no dead? So terrible—so terrible!” he lamented42. “Even from here I hear those awful shouts an’ ze sound of ze rifles. Did you make a brave ree-sistance?”
“How could we?” answered Sandy. “Everybody ran away. At the first sound of firing, our brave little army vanished like a flock of frightened sheep.”
“An’ you saw nothing of ze Father Bleriot an’ ze good Dr. Brad-ee?”
“No. We saw nothing of them.”
“Et ees so terrible,” wailed43 the priest “Tomorrow will you go again?”
“I’ll have to think that over,” Dick replied. “But what is the use. If you can supply me with some really brave and courageous44 men, I’ll undertake to bring the good father and Dr. Brady back.”
199
“Ah, but my people, zey are so prostrate45, so heavy with grief. Ze spirit has gone out of them.”
“Well, I’m not surprised at that,” said Sandy, a little more charitable.
“Et ees to be regretted zat ze policeman ees seeck. He ees a wonderful man, zat Corporal Rand. Nothing on earth can stop zat man.”
“What did I tell you,” whispered Sandy, nudging Dick’s arm. “He knows it too.”
“What will monsieur do now?”
“First of all, we’ll have something to eat and a few hours sleep. After that, we can make our plans. To be perfectly46 frank, Father Michaud, I don’t know what to do.”
Dick’s shoulders seemed to droop47 as he made the assertion. He was feeling the weight of his responsibilities, had reached the point where it seemed impossible to go on.
And then, suddenly, there flashed through his mind the grim figure of the Inspector48 of Police. The steel-gray eyes were regarding him.
“If I didn’t have implicit49 faith in you, I wouldn’t send you on this expedition.”
Implicit faith in him! Yet he wondered if Cameron, knowing of the odds50 against them, would have held out hope for their ultimate success.
200
“Et ees too bad zat Corporal Rand ees ill,” Father Michaud repeated. “Zey would be afraid of him; monsieur. Zey see ze mounted police an’ zey are afraid.”
Suddenly Dick had an idea. He turned quickly to the priest.
“Father Michaud, where is the man I captured earlier in the night? Where is he now?”
“In one of ze cabins. Zey have put a guard over him.”
“Father, will you lead me to that cabin?”
The priest nodded. He commenced hobbling down the road. They followed him and turned into the narrow street, with the row of cabins on either side. They hurried on through the dim light of early morning, presently drawing up before a low structure, in front of which stood a native, a rifle clutched in his hands.
“Open the door,” said Dick in Cree. “I wish to see the prisoner.”
They entered the dark interior. The guard struck a match and lit the tiny taper51 that had been placed on the mantle52 above the fireplace.
In front of the fire, rolled in a blanket, which had been provided him, lay Dick’s former track-mate. Toma aroused him by shaking his shoulders none too gently, yanking him to an upright position. The man daubed at his eyes, looking sleepily about him.
“What is your name?” asked Dick in Cree.
“Tawanish.”
201
“All right, Tawanish, I’m about to release you. You can go back to your own people.”
“Dick, are you mad?” suddenly interposed Sandy. “Have you taken leave of your senses? Do you realize what you are saying? No, Dick, we will hold him here as a hostage. They have Dr. Brady and Father Bleriot. We have this man.”
Dick turned almost angrily upon his chum.
“Please, Sandy, don’t interfere53. I know what I’m doing.”
He turned again to the Indian.
“Tawanish, I am sending you back to your own people. You can go free.”
“It is very good of my brother,” stammered54 the Indian, blinking at his liberator55.
“You will carry a message to your people,” Dick went on. “Do you understand that, Tawanish—carry a message. You must remember what I say, else it will go hard with you and them.”
“What is the message?” Tawanish asked.
“You must tell them,” Dick replied, choosing his words carefully,”—you must tell them, Tawanish, that the mounted police have arrived. Corporal Rand is here. Tell them that they must release the good father and the white medicine man. As soon as you return and tell them this, they must release these two men and give them a convoy56 back to this village. Do you understand what I have told you?”
202
“Yes,” answered the Indian. “I understand.”
“This Corporal Rand,” Dick resumed, “is a terrible man. He is one of the greatest among all of the mounted police. If you do not comply with his request, his vengeance57 will be sure and certain. Do you follow me, Tawanish?”
“I understand what you have said. It shall be done.”
“Very well,” said Dick. “Know you then that if the good father and the white doctor do not return to us before the time of the noonday sun, Corporal Rand will proceed to your village.”
Sandy and Toma stared in open-mouthed amazement58.
“You’re mad!” sputtered59 Sandy.
“If you will come with us, Tawanish, I will give you back your gun. Then you can start at once.”
They filed from the room. Outside Dick dismissed the guard, then led the way to his own billet, where he had left his captive’s rifle. Extracting the cartridges60, he handed it over to Tawanish.
“Go,” said Dick, “and give your chief and your people my message.”
The Indian’s departure was sudden and abrupt61. He streaked62 for the door. Father Michaud touched Dick’s arm.
203
“I hope,” he declared, “zat you have not made a serious meestake, monsieur. Do you think zey will heed63 your request?”
Dick sat down on the edge of his bunk64, under the accusing gaze of his two chums.
“I don’t know,” he answered. “There’s a chance.”
The pent up rage and anger, which had been seething65 within Sandy’s breast, suddenly broke forth.
“You fool! You fool! Of all the unthinking, crazy actions I’ve ever witnessed, this is the worst. Do you realize what you’ve done? Do you know what will happen now? Wouldn’t listen to me, would you? Nor Toma? Nor Father Michaud? You—you——”
Sandy’s tirade66 ended in a choking and sputtering67 wholly unintelligible68.
“What have I done?” asked Dick.
“You haven’t the sense to see it, so I’ll tell you. The Indians might hesitate about killing69 Dr. Brady and Father Bleriot as long as we had one of their own people here. They’d be afraid that if they did commit such an act, we’d retaliate70 by taking the life of that Indian.”
He paused, clearing his throat.
204
“Now, by your colossal71 blunder, you have made the way easy for them. They can kill them with perfect impunity72. Dick, how could you be so thoughtless. Your plan won’t work. You acted on impulse. I’m sure,” more kindly73, “that if you’d paused to reason it all out in your mind, you’d never have taken that step.”
Dick had nothing to say. It did seem as if Sandy were right. It was an awful moment.
“Well,” said Sandy, “we might as well go to bed. There is nothing more that we can do now. Come on, Dick, let’s tumble in.”
The priest turned away quietly and left the room. They could hear the crunch of his footsteps outside. Toma and Sandy sat down and commenced pulling off their moccasins. But Dick did not stir. His hopeless, tragic74 eyes stared into the fire.
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1
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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fraught
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| adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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trek
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| vi.作长途艰辛的旅行；n.长途艰苦的旅行 | |
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6
nemesis
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| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
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beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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crunch
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| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
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laggard
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| n.落后者；adj.缓慢的，落后的 | |
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pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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16
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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17
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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18
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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shrouded
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| v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密 | |
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21
blotted
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| 涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干 | |
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22
blotches
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| n.（皮肤上的）红斑，疹块( blotch的名词复数 )；大滴 [大片]（墨水或颜色的）污渍 | |
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23
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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24
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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25
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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26
tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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27
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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28
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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29
rout
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| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
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30
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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31
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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32
futility
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| n.无用 | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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34
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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35
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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36
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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37
puny
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| adj.微不足道的，弱小的 | |
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38
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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39
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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40
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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41
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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42
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
wailed
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| v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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45
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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46
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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47
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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48
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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49
implicit
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| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
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50
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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51
taper
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| n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小 | |
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52
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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53
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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54
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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55
liberator
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| 解放者 | |
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56
convoy
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| vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队 | |
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57
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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58
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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59
sputtered
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| v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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60
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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61
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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62
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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63
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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64
bunk
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| n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位；废话 | |
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65
seething
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| 沸腾的，火热的 | |
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66
tirade
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| n.冗长的攻击性演说 | |
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67
sputtering
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| n.反应溅射法；飞溅；阴极真空喷镀；喷射v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的现在分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出 | |
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68
unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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69
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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70
retaliate
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| v.报复，反击 | |
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71
colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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72
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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73
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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74
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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